AN: Hi All!

Gonna be churning these chapters out as fast I can for you now, so I hope that's okay!

Thanks to all who read, follow, fave, and review! Special thanks to the reviewers last chapter, MaidensTouchOfMadness, catgrl, and twi nana!

Mega thanks to twi nana for helping me cure a minor case of writer's block today! This chapter would have taken a lot longer without her advice and probably wouldn't have turned out quite as well either :D

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

Now, I give you Chapter 12!

Chapter Twelve: Shifting Into Parenthood

Once everyone had gone home for the night and we'd cleaned everything up at the hall (with some help from the Clearwaters and a few other friends) we took our brides home and spent the night ravishing them until we all fell asleep in a happy heap.

The next day, we got a phone call from Emmie that Allison had the baby. Baby Samuel Uley was a whopping 9 lbs 6 oz and was thriving.

Emms also said that Sue had come by the hospital to talk to her and Joshua. Obviously, Harry had overheard our conversation at the reception and recommended that Sue talk to Josh before he ended up hearing about it from someone else.

When he learned the truth, Joshua said he had vague memories from when he was very young but that they never made sense to him and he sort of assumed he'd dreamed it. He was apparently thrilled to find out that Lucas was his brother though since they were best friends anyway. That part sort of reminded me of Billy and me when we found out we were brothers.

Emmie said she'd asked him after Suzie left how he felt about finding out she was his sister. He said that he didn't really know her very well growing up because Sue was often over at our house. But it sounded like he was open to getting to know her, which I knew Suzie would appreciate.

In fact, we learned from Harry that the very next week, Joshua took Suzie and Lucas out to lunch and Sue told Lucas that Joshua was their brother. She explained that she'd known since she overheard the grown-ups talking about it when she was fourteen, but she never let on that she knew for fear of their father. I guess, by then, Jonathan had gotten much worse but also much better at hiding it.

Thankfully for all of them, Jonathan died suddenly of a heart attack when Suzie was sixteen. Things got much better for her family after that, as Charlotte and Mirabelle got jobs outside of the home and began to claw their way out of the ruins he'd made of their lives. But of course, by then, Joshua was off seeing the world with Emmie, so there wasn't a great opportunity to tell him the truth until recently.

Lucas was shocked at first but then thrilled to know they were brothers. Of course, he was also sad to know their dad had been so rough on Joshua but relieved that he didn't remember much of it. From Harry's memories of his conversation with Sue after their luncheon, it seemed like Lucas was going to serve as a good bridge for the chasm that existed between Sue and Joshua.

Even though Suzie and Joshua had never been siblings in any real sense of the word, they both considered Lucas a brother and he seemed like he would do his best to bring them closer.

But they'd have to be careful for the time being because Joshua was worried about how Thomas and Ellen would react to finding out they weren't biologically his siblings and that Sue and Lucas were. He feared there might be some jealousy. Honestly, I couldn't blame him for worrying about it.

I had to wonder how differently I might have felt when I learned I have five siblings if I'd also had other people I thought were my siblings and found out they weren't. I'm sure that would be hard.

But as much as we could speculate and sympathize, we couldn't truly know. And we had our own stuff to focus on as well. While Suzie and her family were dealing with their drama, us Blackswans were getting the nursery ready for the twins who were soon to arrive.

Sarah was starting to get uncomfortable and yet the babies seemed determined to stay in there as long as they could, in spite of the fact that twins usually came early. But Rachel and Rebecca didn't seem to care what twins usually did. They clearly wanted to do their own thing.

So it wasn't until about a month after our wedding, on the morning of August 20th, two days before Sarah's actual due date, that she went into labor.

When I woke up that morning, I was in bed alone. Billy was out on patrol and I assumed the girls were making breakfast. When I headed out to the kitchen though, they weren't there. I found them in the living room on the couch.

Renée had a stopwatch and Sarah was breathing funny. I recognized it as the special breathing from the girls' Lamaze classes. Oh heck, it looks like we might be getting some babies today!

"Is this what I think it is, or are we practicing?" I asked, not sure if I should be laughing or panicking.

"It's labor, Charlie, but don't panic," Renée insisted, heading my freakout off at the pass. "Please call Harry and have him spell off Billy on patrol so he can meet us at the tribal clinic. Sue and June should already be down there, they were scheduled to work today."

"Yes, Ma'am!" I nodded, calling Harry.

"Buddy, we need you. We're about to become daddies! Can you take over Billy's patrol shift, please? Are Sue and June at the clinic today?" I said into the phone.

"Yep, they are. Sure, sure, Chuck. I'm on my way! And hey, good luck, Buddy! You're gonna love fatherhood!" Came his heartfelt reply.

I'd seen enough in Harry's thoughts of LeeLee to know he was probably right. It seemed like there was a lot about fatherhood to love.

I double-checked Sarah's overnight bag to make sure it had everything she'd need for the birth, then we headed to the car. Sarah had been laboring for several hours already, but they'd let me sleep, knowing I'd need to be alert to drive so that Renée could sit in the back with Sarah.

I had the tribal police cruiser, which I usually only used when I had to go out on a call, which wasn't very often. We were a small tribe and there weren't a lot of troublemakers. But I decided that a pregnant woman in labor was enough to justify running the lights and sirens. Really it was just because I missed those days from my time on the Forks PD.

Renée rolled her eyes at me and Sarah just laughed, but we got there in no time at all and I think they both appreciated my promptness.

I helped Sarah out of the car while Renée went inside and talked to June, who was working the desk. She also grabbed a wheelchair and met us at the curb while June went back to tell Sue, who was with a patient. Suzie is a nurse practitioner, which is basically like a nurse with extra training who functions in lieu of a doctor. She's also a trained midwife.

So when we wheeled Sarah back into the laboring room that June quickly prepared for her, we knew she would be in good hands. At least, with Suzie, we knew that. June, on the other hand, I wasn't so sure about. Especially when I saw her getting ready to stick a big needle into Sarah's arm.

"No offense, Sweetie, but do you even know how to do that?" I frowned. Renée seemed even more concerned than I was and she'd known Junie all her life.

"Yes, Charlie. I do," she huffed, sticking the needle in quickly with barely a wince from Sarah. "For your information, Sue has been teaching me things."

"Well okay then, I'm glad you're getting some good experience here. Sorry, I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers. I guess I'm just a nervous wreck," I apologized.

"It's okay, Charlie." She smiled, coming around behind me once she had Sarah all set up. "You must be so tense right now," she pouted as she began rubbing my shoulders.

Sarah's eyebrows shot up and Renée just giggled, knowing Junie well enough to know she was always just a little too friendly and didn't mean anything by it beyond harmless flirtation.

I, on the other hand, did not know Junie that well yet and was firmly convinced she was making a pass at me.

"Much as I love a good bedside manner as much as the next guy, I don't especially want Harry to have to punch me the next time he sees me, June. But thanks anyway," I said, gently taking her hands from my shoulders.

"Suit yourself, but he wouldn't care about a little ol' backrub, Silly." She giggled, rounding up a few things that Suzie might need for her exam, and then heading out of the room just as Sue came in to check on Sarah.

"Perfect timing, June just finished preparing Charlie, I mean...Sarah, for the exam." Renée giggled.

"Oh, has she been flirting with him, too? This girl flirts with all our patients. We've seen about a 500% increase in appointments booked since she's been working here. I've had guys come in just to get a mole looked at who previously hadn't been to a doctor in over twenty years. Just because they heard about the hot blonde with the perky tits who gives out shoulder rubs. It's getting a little ridiculous." Sue whispered, even though June was out of earshot.

"How does Harry feel about that?" Renée asked Sue while she took Sarah's blood pressure.

"Oh, he loves it. It gives him a huge ego boost to know that other men are coveting his girl. You know, I was the first Miss Indian World, when it launched in 1983. I'm pretty sure that's why Harry asked me out in the first place." Suzie boasted adorably.

"Oh, I'm well aware. Don't forget who went with you to the competition." I chuckled.

She'd had to go all the way to New Mexico to compete. The council had paid her expenses for the trip because it was an important cultural event and they wanted our tribal nation to be represented. But her mother insisted she have an escort, and my mother insisted I should be the one to take her. I think they were trying to get me to court her. And don't get me wrong, I probably would have.

But we got back from Albuquerque and then all of a sudden Harry was all over her and she only had eyes for him. They had a whirlwind courtship and got married the very next year.

"I could never forget." She smiled, clearly reflecting on that time in our lives.

Just then, Sarah had another contraction and our attention was brought back to the tremendously important task at hand...bringing our babies into the world.

Thankfully, it was only a couple minutes more before Billy barged in out of breath and looking frantic.

"The babies are coming?" He gasped. I had to wonder how far away he'd been and how fast he'd run once Harry told him.

"They sure are." I beamed, giving him my seat next to Sarah.

I pulled a few items out of Sarah's overnight bag. The teddy bear she'd had since she was a baby. A little handheld fan to keep her cool. The cassette tapes she'd asked us to bring. Thankfully, there was a tape deck in the labor room which we'd had the foresight to ask for ahead of time.

"Rock or Country, Baby?" I asked her.

"Hmm, what've we got for Country?" she wondered.

"Whoever's In New England...Storms of Life...Twenty Years of Dirt...Oh, and I brought one of the tapes Columbia House sent us. It's by that guy Dwight Yoakam but I haven't listened to it yet so I don't know if it's any good." I shrugged holding it up for her to see.

"He looks cute, play that one. It'll be a good distraction." Sarah laughed.

"Lemme see?" Renée asked as I put the tape in. Billy handed her the case.

"Oooh, yep, he is cute!" She agreed as the music began to fill the room.

We listened to one tape after another as Sarah's labor progressed and it really did prove to be a great distraction for her from the pain.

But as the pains got worse, so did my shaking. My Imprint was in pain and it was ultimately my brother's fault. My wolf wanted me to fight him.

"I have to leave the room or I'm going to phase. I'm so sorry, Sarah," I apologized through gritted teeth as I quickly fled the clinic.

I got outside just in time as my wolf sprang forth, shredding my clothes in pieces. I ran for the treeline so no one would see me.

Chuck? What happened? Did Sarah have the babies? I immediately heard Harry in my mind.

Not yet. I told him, showing him my memories of everything that had happened so far.

That must be hard for you, Buddy. I mean, I wasn't even a wolf yet when Sue had LeeLee and it still killed me to see her in pain. I don't envy you, Man.

It is hard. I mean, I wanna be in there to support her, but I don't think I can without phasing.

Yeah, I hear ya. Maybe try going back in after you've had some time to calm down?

Maybe, yeah. Thanks, Harry.

No worries. I'm here if you need anything.

Appreciate it, Man, you're the best.

Even though I apparently stole Sue out from under you? Harry snickered.

Oh, you saw that, hey?

Yeah, but don't worry. At least I know if anything ever happens to me, I can leave her in good hands.

Dammit, Harry, don't say shit like that. Nothing's gonna happen to you.

Please, Chuck. Have you spent any time with my Junie? That little firecracker is bound to give a man a heart attack.

Don't be ridiculous, Harry. Your Imprint isn't gonna kill you. That's not how it works. The ancestors would never have made her your Imprint if that were the case. Have a little faith.

Sure, Sure, Chuck, I get it. But seriously, just humor me. If something did happen, you and Billy would take care of my girls, right? You'd take them in? You'd make them your own?

Speaking hypothetically? You're not sick, are you?

Naw, Man, I'm healthy as a horse. You don't gotta worry.

Then yeah, of course. And I'm sure you'd do the same for us?

Oh, you better believe it, Chuck! I'd snap those little fillies of yours up so fast your heads would spin.

Thanks, Harry. It's good to know you have our backs. I laughed.

I could hear Sarah scream on a really bad contraction inside and it was too much. I started growling, unable to handle her pain.

I'm gonna go for a run, Harry. I'll let you know when I have an update.

Thanks, Chuck. Try not to worry. All the pain is leading up to something pretty wonderful.

Yeah, I know. Thanks, Harry.

And with that, I turned my attention to the sound of my paws tearing up the forest floor.

Renée's POV

After Charlie left, Billy and I devoted all our attention to helping Sarah through the rest of her laboring. Billy explained to her that the imprint made it hard for Charlie to see her in pain when he couldn't do anything about it.

She understood and wasn't really mad, just annoyed. It's not like she could escape the pain and go for a run in the forest like he could.

After a few hours more of tireless laboring, Sue was telling her it was time to push.

Charlie must've heard her say so because he came back in wearing fresh clothes just as the first of the babies was crowning.

Sue had June ready to get the first baby cleaned up while she delivered the second. Billy was going to cut the first cord and originally the plan was for Charlie to cut the second cord. But while he was gone, Sarah had said, if he wasn't back in time, I could do it. After he walked in at the last possible second, I wasn't sure which one of us she wanted to have cut it.

But it didn't matter at that precise moment, because the first of our babies was being born into the world. Once she was out, June cleaned her and handed her to Sarah while Sue clamped the cord and Billy cut it.

"Hi, Rachel. I'm gonna have to give you to Daddy while I help your sister join you in the world, okay?" Sarah cried breathlessly, gazing at the tiny little bundle in her arms.

Billy carefully took the baby from her and stepped off to the side out of the way.

It wasn't time for Sarah to push again yet. So she looked at Charlie. "You're back?" she double-checked cautiously.

"I am, yes. Sarah, I'm so sorry I had to leave. It's a small room and if I'd phased in here, someone could have been hurt," he explained, his brow furrowed.

"I understand. But I still feel compelled to assign you to diaper duty for the foreseeable future. Think you can handle that?" she confirmed.

"Most definitely." He nodded. "Do I still get to cut Rebecca's cord?" He pouted.

Sarah contemplated. "Do you still want to?"

"Of course!" he insisted.

"Then yes, you may. But Renée gets to hold her first," Sarah compromised.

"Deal." Charlie smiled, kissing Sarah and I each on the head in turn.

After another few minutes, Sue announced that it was time to push again.

Soon, I had a little bundle in my arms, just like Billy did. Charlie cut the cord, but baby Rebecca could care less. She was clean and safe and warm and oh so very beautiful and I loved her just as if I had brought her into the world myself.

Billy passed Rachel to Charlie but I held onto Rebecca while Sarah delivered both placentas and had her episiotomy stitched. Once she was able to hold Rebecca, I passed her to Sarah and I stole Rachel from Charlie. She was just as easy to love as her twin and the connection I felt was just as instantaneous.

"Hello, Rebecca." Sarah cooed, her eyes bright in spite of how tired she must have been. "Would you like to meet your sister?" she asked, beckoning me over.

I brought Rachel and laid her right beside Rebecca in Sarah's arms. Billy took a picture of Sarah holding the babies as Charlie and I watched them in awe.

"We have such a beautiful family," I whispered.

He smiled and wrapped his arms around me, resting them on my giant belly where Willie was still residing. "We certainly do."

Sarah's POV

Motherhood was proving to be equal parts perfection and chaos. As soon as one baby would finally fall asleep, the other would wake up, needing to nurse or be changed and often the crying would wake her sister.

Thankfully, I had Renée to share the load. Especially since our boys still had their regular patrol shifts as well as their other commitments with things like Charlie's tribal police work and his obligations with the council, as tribal chief.

Meanwhile, Billy had taken his love of tinkering and was working on turning it into an income source, fixing cars cheaply for friends and acquaintances. He was starting to turn a small profit and frankly that was great because we needed the money. The vegetable garden we'd planted only carried us so far. Especially with two wolves' appetites to contend with. Thankfully, the boys had turned into exceptional hunters since becoming wolves, so they'd been hunting for most of our meat.

For the first month after RaeRae and Becks were born, which is what the boys were calling the twins, I was so exhausted, I barely noticed how broke we were. But when I tried to make a grilled cheese sandwich one day and realized, much to my chagrin, that Billy had watered down the ketchup, I knew we needed to get a better handle on our finances.

Part of the problem was Charlie's big heart. The council had a fund in place that was supposed to go toward salaries for the "tribal security force". That money was supposed to go to the wolves and their families since being a protector for the tribe was essentially a full-time job in itself.

Salaries were also supposed to go to whoever was running the tribal police department, and whoever was chief. But Charlie didn't feel right taking all that money when it could be used toward better infrastructure and other projects that served the community as a whole.

So, he refused to pay himself. And since he wasn't taking his protector salary, Billy didn't feel right about taking his either, so the only wolf who was getting paid…was Harry. Thankfully, at least we didn't have a lot of bills.

But aside from being tired and broke, things were perfect. I mean, sure, the babies demanded a lot of time and energy, but they were soft and sweet and they made the most adorable little noises. From the contented sigh of a freshly fed baby falling asleep to the quiet little gurgle of a burping one.

They were warm and they loved to be cuddled and snuggled. Their eyes were beginning to focus little by little on the new world around them. When there was a sudden noise or something else would surprise them, their little limbs would splay out involuntarily in an adorable pose called the 'startle reflex' as if they were saying "whoa, Mom, what was that?"

When we would play soft music or they would hear us talking, sometimes they would turn their heads like they were searching for the source of the sound.

In short, they were learning and growing, and becoming distinct little people, right before our very eyes. Newborns often have a similar look to them, and our girls, as sisters, were even more similar than most. So much so that our first few visitors after they were born asked us if they were identical.

But as the weeks went by, their differences became more prevalent. Rachel's chin had a little dimple in it. Her eyes were darker with a subtle sparkle in them. Rebecca's cheeks were chubbier. Her eyes were lighter and brighter and the look in them was more...mischievous.

Even though they were new to the world, I already felt like I knew them. And it wasn't just me. The others seemed to feel the same way. The twins had their tiny fingers wrapped around our hearts already. There was very little we wouldn't do for their happiness.

Billy's POV

It was lunchtime on October 11th when Renée told us she thought she was having her first contractions.

"How far apart are they?" I made the mistake of asking her.

She threw the stopwatch at me. I caught it. "How am I supposed to time them myself while a person is getting ready to rip his way out of my vagina?!" She huffed.

"You're right, I'm sorry, Baby, I wasn't thinking." I nodded. "Just put your hand up when you start having the next one and I'll start the timer. Then put your hand up again when it's over, okay?" I suggest.

"I'll call Charlie. He's at the tribal hall," Sarah offered. Mercifully, the twins were napping and had not woken up yet.

"Charlie? Renée is having contractions. It seems like it's still early stages, so don't feel like you have to rush out of there, but after your meeting can you meet us at the clinic please?" Sarah asked him when she got him on the telephone.

"Oh wow, yep, will do! Thanks, Sarah. You sure I don't need to come right away?"

Sarah smirked. "I think we've proven we can survive a bit of labor without you," she teased playfully.

"Ouch, ha, I deserved that one. Okay, I'll meet you down there in a bit then," he said, hanging up the phone.

"Dang, Girl." Renée giggled. "You're really roasting him aren't you?"

Sarah shrugged, packing the twins' diaper bag. "I mean, considering he almost took a chomp out of Billy for no good reason, I feel at least a little ribbing is warranted."

"Oh, Sare-Bear, don't be mad at him about that, it was his wolf taking over and being protective. And I would have been the same way, I'm sure, if the shoe was reversed." I laughed lightly.

Sarah sighed, slinging the bag over her shoulder. "I know, I just didn't like seeing the two of you at odds."

"Babe, he's my brother. We are bound to fight on occasion," I reminded her.

"I know that, Billy. I just don't want it to be about me."

Renée put her hand up and I focused on timing her contraction. Once it was over, she added her two-cents on the subject. "Don't worry, Sarah

If they do any fighting today, it will probably be about me. All you have to do this time is sit around looking pretty and keeping our babies happy."

"I know, Hun. And I'm fairly certain with the babies in tow, I won't even be admitted into the delivery room. But even if I have to stay in the waiting room, I want to be there for moral support. It will serve as a reminder that I got through it and you can too," she insisted.

"I like that. Knowing you and our girls are nearby, even if I can't see you, will certainly help." Renée smiled.

"Good. Any way I can help, I'm glad to. Now I'm going to take the diaper bag out to the car, then I'll call the clinic and let Sue know we're coming and then I'll get the babies into their car seats. Billy, will you be okay to drive once we're ready to go?" Sarah confirmed with me.

"Yep, I'm good, Babe. Totally," I assured her.

I was going to be totally cool. Not at all like Charlie when it was his Imprint in labor. I really wanted to be better than him at this one thing. No matter what, I was not gonna freak out. Nope, not me.

"Get out, Billy! You're gonna phase!" Charlie yelled, pushing me toward the door.

It was twelve hours later and Renée had been laboring steadily the whole time. But unlike Sarah, it was not happening for her nearly as quickly. Sarah's labor had begun in the night and she had slept through the more mild contractions in the beginning.

But Renée had started around noon and it was already after midnight and she was nowhere near fully dilated yet. I was trying not to get pissed off but she was crying! My Imprint was crying and begging me to make it stop and I couldn't do anything and it was all my fault!

I hadn't even realized I was shaking until Charlie kicked me out. I raced through the hallway but I'd barely made it to the waiting room when I burst into my wolf form.

Shit!

Thankfully, no one was around besides us because it was the middle of the night, so I pawed at the door and whimpered until Charlie came and let me out.

"Good doggy, go do your business." He snickered, getting a real kick out of my predicament. I woofed at him in an almost-growl and ran off into the trees.

Harry was on patrol, so we shot the breeze until I had a chance to calm down. I stayed hidden in the trees until just before sunrise. Once I was calmer, I phased back and grabbed the shorts we had stashed in the car for such occasions. Thankfully the car was parked by a bush, so no one would see me if anyone was around. I put on the shorts and sauntered inside.

It was another three hours before Sue told Renée it was time to push. After I came back, I held her hand the whole time. I'd have to apologize to my brother after this. Now that I knew how hard it was not to phase when your Imprint is in pain, I could understand how it felt for him with Sarah. I'd seen it through the mindlink, of course, but it was a whole other thing experiencing it myself.

It felt like forever before my son was crying his little lungs out. But one he was...I was gonna remember that moment forever.

The fact that in a couple short months, I had gone from who I was, to being a father of three...it was a lot to take in. But I certainly wouldn't change it. Not in a million years.

AN: Okay, so the Blackswan kids and their future friends already have carefully selected faceclaims to suit their personalities, and rather than wait until they are grown, I'm going to let you know them as each child is born.

I tried to choose indigenous actors as often as possible. But I also wanted them to be people you could easily search by name, if you want to see what they're going to look like. And sadly, there aren't that many young, well-known native celebrities. So I do apologize if some of them are a bit of a stretch when it comes to ethnicity.

For Rachel "RaeRae" Blackswan: I kept the same actress who portrayed her in canon, Tanaya Beatty

For Rebecca "Becks" Blackswan, who was never shown in the movies, I chose Tristin Mays.

For William "Willie" Blackswan, if you type in Eddie Spears and look for the youngest, prettiest picture you can find, that's Willie :D

As always, I love your feedback!