After more than seven months I finally show up again. What has gotten into me? I have no idea.

I hope you don't hate me for always taking so long to update.

I hope you like this chapter.

Kisses.

The Ghosts of my life

Chapter 18: Force of nature

The phone ringing woke me up from a restless sleep. I hurriedly accepted the call, looking at my still unconscious boyfriend.

"Hi, honey". My mom's voice, soothing and warm on the other end brought tears to my eyes.

"Hi, mom" I had the feeling she knew what has happened. Or well, the edited version.

"How are you?"

"Tired, worried. He hasn't woken up." I half sobbed. I told her everything that happened from the moment I got the news.

"He's strong, baby. He just needs time to heal. Everything will be perfectly fine by the time he wakes up. You'll go home with him and look after him." I allowed myself to smile. He wouldn't like being confined to the house.

"I hope so"

I talked to my mom for approximately an hour, catching up with both our lives and our significant others. She promised to visit again soon, and given the circumstances, I wasn't worried about it.

I returned to my seat next to Sam's bed. He had an IV connected to his arm, and some more cables attached to his chest. There was a machine that marked his vital signs and let me know he was very much alive, with me. I sent a thank you to whoever was taking care of him. Harry and Alison came and went all day, checking on both of us, and updating me on Paul's state. Alison had been equally worried, but never said anything, which I appreciated and returned the favor.

Clara, Sam's mom, had stopped by a few times over the day to check on him. For some reason, she didn't like the hospital. I understood the sentiment. Each time she came by I emptied the room giving her privacy with her son. She deserved as much time with him as I. A couple of times she told me it wasn't necessary for me to leave the room, but I quickly dismissed it, saying she needed her alone time. The truth was, she wasn't very good at hiding her emotions, and to see her so worried, so destroyed, was too much for me. I never told her any of that, because I didn't want to burden her, and she deserved to unburden herself in her own way.

Emily, Chelsea, and John had stopped by as well. Emily cried a little and hugged him fiercely. Again, I left the room and took advantage of the visit to pay a visit of my own to Paul. He was as unconscious as Sam was, with Angie by his side reading. I engaged in small talk with her and asked if there were any news about her guy. She shook her head.

Sue had managed to contact Angela and let her know that Paul was involved in an accident. She was also attached to his side. She was a very strong person. I don't know what would have I done, were I had been in her position so early in my relationship with Sam.

I told Angie I was going to be in Sam's room if she needed anything, she said the same and I left. Emily hugged me and thanked me for taking care of her brother. I told her I loved him, and that was my job now, then I managed, somehow, to fall asleep again. This time I was woken up by my dad, who was shaking me lightly. I looked up to Sam, but yet, nothing had changed.

"Have you eaten?" I shook my head and he frowned. "Come on. Let's grab something to eat." I hesitated. I wasn't feeling well. "Come on, kiddo. You need something to eat. Sue will call us if anything changes." Knowing he was right, I nodded and stood up.

I found something that didn't make me dizzy or looked suspicious. Dad didn't comment on the amount of food I ingested. I didn't offer an explanation either. Sam was the first I wanted to tell. However, I knew I needed to make an appointment with the doctor. Better to get it done now. I hate hospitals.

After barely eating the barely good food of the hospital cafeteria, I went to the maternity section, passing advanced pregnant women, newborns that were so damn cute and nurses. I asked one of them where could I find an OB/GYN and she pointed out the direction of the doctor's office. Surprisingly, and luckily for me, the office was empty of mothers, future mothers, and ghosts. And my luck continued as the secretary let me in, alleging one of the patients canceled. I was a wreck of nerves, but I was also excited. Was I really pregnant? Was I really doing this? After filling a form with my personal information the doctor proceeded to check on me.

"You said, you took one of the home pregnancy tests." I nodded at the doctor's words. "Let's see if the results are true." He poured the jelly-like gel on my lower stomach and then put the wand thing and moved it around. "Well, Miss Swan. Congratulations. You are indeed, pregnant. Four weeks to be exact." I smiled happily. Sam would be over the moon. We have discussed briefly the whole having children, but it was always in the future, never so close, so fast in our relationship. We haven't even been living together for a month. The doctor let me clean myself privately, and then he proceeded to answer all my questions. He also prescribed some vitamins. He gave me the sonogram pictures and I even cried a bit.

I returned quickly to Sam's bedside. I fell asleep again, this time, waking up the next day, with a stiff neck.

Paul regained consciousness first, making the wolves that were at the hospitals very happy and noisy. I smiled amusedly at the noise. Boys will always be boys. And I welcomed the happy atmosphere.

Sue admonished the wolves and threatened them with no visits if they kept it up. They quickly tuned down their excitement. I allowed myself to laugh at them, joining in the joy of one of their brothers waking up after whatever the hell happened. Neither of the wolves wanted to tell me anything. I didn't understand why.

By mid-afternoon, Sam began to groan and stir. I called Sue and she came running with me. She called his name several times, checked something on the machines and checked something on Sam's eyes.

"He's waking up, finally." She announced with a small smile. I smiled back. I hurried to the other side and held his hand.

"Sam, baby, it's me. Please wake up. Come on." I urged desperate to share the news with him.

He groaned again. This time, opening and closing his eyes a few times, quickly. However, his eyes remained open, though his stare traveled all the room before setting on me. He smiled and raised his hand, cupping my cheek. He cleaned off a tear. Sue kept checking things on his body and writing things on his chart. After a few minutes of this, Sue declared him in good shape, despite everything, and left giving us some privacy.

"I'm so glad you're awake" I whispered-sob and buried my face on his neck. He hugged me back, holding me against him. "I was so worried. I've barely left your side."

I heard noises and howls coming from the waiting room. The wolves for sure knew now that Sam was also awake. We both laughed at their enthusiasm and laughed harder when we heard Sue admonish them, reminding them they were still in a hospital.

Sam returned his attention to me."I'm sorry, baby. Things got out of control." Understatement of the century. "We caught the owners of the scents. They were three vampires. Two of them easily dispatched, the third, we had more trouble getting rid off. He was the one who attacked us. Well, he attacked Paul, I was nearest to him and jumped, but the leech caught me, and the rest is history." Somehow, I suspected there was more to the story but didn't pressure for more.

Either way, I slapped his forehead, doubtful of where to hit him. I still didn't know how bad his injuries were. "You have to be more careful. It's not only you anymore. You have people here that would be lost without you." I was referring to me, our baby and his pack.

"The pack knows what to do in case the Alpha is killed." I hated the way he said it.

"Good thing their Alpha is smart and won't get himself killed." Seriously, if he died, and returned as a ghost I would ignore him until the end of my life. I shuddered. I would not think of that. He smiled at me and tapped my nose.

"What do you have there?" He asked pointing at the pictures I still held. I smiled and handed them to him. He studied them for a few minutes, in silence. "Really?" He sounded unsure but excited.

I giggled. "Yes. Four weeks" His smile widened and he jumped out the bed, disturbing the machines to which he was connected, but clearly not minding it. "Now you understand. We both need you. You can't be reckless again. It's not only you now." Stupid fucking tears that keep running down my cheeks. I wiped them furiously.

He hugged me tighter and I could have sworn that I felt something wet in my neck. Was he crying? I was about to ask him, but Sue came in running with three nurses, stopping when they saw there was nothing wrong.

Sue let out a sigh. "You pack of animals will give me a heart attack one day." I giggled separating myself from him and looking apologetically at Sue, that now stood alone.

"Sorry, Sue." Sam returned to the bed, groaning in pain. Sue shook her head and checked Sam's injuries again.

"You need to stay put. No more jumping out of the bed. You may be a wolf, but you are still human. Your body is still healing. Unless you want to stay here for a week, I advise you to take it easy." Sam looked at me winking.

"I'll make him stay put. Promise" Sue smiled and left.

Once we were at home, Sam laid on the couch, making sure to have the cane at hand. He put up a hell of a fight when Sue ordered him to use it for a week. I have never seen him so stubborn. It was kind of hilarious, to be honest. However, Alison and Harry didn't find it funny. Harry attempted to smack him one time, but he just went through him. Alison just looked at him, I mean, stared at him. I swear if ghosts could harm the living with glares, Sam wouldn't have made it out of the hospital.

The next few days were easy. It was the weekend and we kind of fell into a routine. He complained a few times that I was making too much effort. He didn't like to sit still while I cleaned the house or did the laundry. He liked it when I cooked but that's basically the only thing he let me do on my own.

I smiled and pecked him on the lips. "Moving helps me not get sick. Your child drives me nuts" while I haven't experienced morning sickness in full force, I still got dizzy and nauseated if I sat still for too long.

Sam put his hand on my belly and smiled. I wasn't showing yet and our baby was still very little to move, but we both loved to see the small very imperceptible baby bump. We both knew it was there because my pants were tighter and we both knew my body. But to everyone else, I was the same. We decided to wait a few weeks to announce it.

The first Monday I had to get back to work Sam was impatient. He was feeling claustrophobic.

"You're not allowed to phase. Or attempt to phase. I'll know if you do. You're allowed to go the bistro only if you promise to take it easy. Seth can handle the heavy lifting." I warned him with a serious face. He knew I would not back down.

"I promise to behave." He shot me a smile. I didn't buy it.

"I have eyes and ears everywhere. And remember that Seth is more scared of me that he is of you." It wasn't true. At least the Seth part. And I would make Alison look after Sam. She could tell me if he wasn't following Sue's directions. Harry would probably cover for him. "I love you" I said before kissing him.

"Love you too." He answered after we pulled apart.

I got on my car and waited until I was out of hearing range to laugh about what I said at the house.

"Am I being too paranoid?" I asked Alison and Harry.

"Not really." Was Harry's response. "You're overprotective by nature. And he needed to be reminded."

"Is Seth really more afraid of you?" I giggled at Alison's question.

"Not really. He doesn't fear Sam. He respects him as his pack alpha and loves him as a brother. But he knows I'll kick his ass if he allows Sam to overdo"

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Kisses.

09.07.19