Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Twilight. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer. I do own the original characters created for the storyline. Please support the official release.
Writer's Notes: Happy Wednesday everyone! I apologize for being late with this chapter. we have just a few more chapters before we wrap up this story. I know I know. everything comes to an end eventually and I have a great ending in store for you guys! I'll be updating alot over the next few days so stay tuned for more! The website is coming along. I am building it myself so of course it is time consuming but I want it perfect before I launch it for the world to see. I want to shout Happy birthday to one of my dear friends on here. Her birthday is this month and I have a special story in the works just for her so keep a look out for that story when this one ends. Happy belated birthday to my beta and editor. She is my little rock. I wouldn't be able to do this without her. Thank you Roxy for being my sounding board. *hugs* Keep a look out for her special story coming soon. *winks* As always I appreciate all of you. Thank you for being amazing readers. With that, don't forget to follow, favorite and review!
~~Until I found you by Stephen Sanchez~~
[5 months later: Bella 34 weeks pregnant]
Bella lay in bed, rubbing a hand over her very pregnant belly. Things were quiet for so long that the pack had relaxed some of it's patrols. It was winter again and the cold, damp air of Washington, made things dreary.
Charlie stared at the directions that came with the cribs while Paul took the pieces out of the box. They had four cribs to put together and both men didn't understand the foreign design of the instructions. "I don't know Paul, looks like crib A is missing something."
Paul studied the parts laid out in front of him. "How difficult can it be? It's just wood and screws."
"Why are there extra screws?" Charlie muttered, looking at the part list and then at the screw package that came with the crib."
"Maybe in case we screw something up and need it." Paul suggested. "Either way, the crib can only go together one way." He said and then moved the crib pieces in a square.
The old house was going to be too small, Charlie knew that, but they figured that for the time being since Bella was overdue for the quads, that they would assemble the cribs in the room Colin was using since he was sleeping on the couch mostly anyways, while they went through the process of selling and buying a new house. They were supposed to close next month, but the quads would be here by then and they wanted to make sure they had a place to sleep.
"It's just temporary anyways." Paul said.
"Right." Charlie said and sighed then bent to help Paul get the first crib put together.
After several hours of grumbling and fussing with the crib pieces, Colin came home from school and walked in to see four cribs put together in his old room. The adoption papers came through and he was officially Colin Littlesea Swan. Paul didn't mind that they dropped Lahote. In a way Charlie adopted him too. He spent all of his time there. The trailer that was technically his dad's sat empty. Terry Lahote was still in the hospital in a medical coma from his alcohol poisoning and Paul let it stay that way. Terry was breathing on his own, just in a coma and hadn't woke up. There was nothing more to do about that situation and Paul had too many things to worry about than to worry about a dead beat father. He was thinking of selling the trailer to Embry anyways since he was eighteen and wanted to get out on his own anyways and thought about sharing with Quil.
The new house was still there in Forks, but closer to the rez. Bella wanted to put the money the Cullen's gave her to good use. It was compensation for Edward's trauma that he inflicted on her. They had moved back to Forks, staying in their old house in the woods. Jasper and Emmett spent time clearing trees away from the house to build a baseball field of sorts. Jasper spent more time at the Swan residence than the other Cullen's but it was because Jasper was making his presence known so other vampires would steer clear since nomads frequented the area. Victoria had vanished like she had never existed, but she was still in the back of Bella's mind everyday, worrying about it.
In any case, even with the Cullen's staying in town for the next few years, they left Bella nearly ten million dollars. It was more than she could ever imagine using, but they wanted her to live comfortably and to be able to provide for the quads in any way possible. She hadn't told her dad it was ten million, only that she had enough for a really nice house and that it was okay. She had fought Carlisle on the money before, but he had insisted that it wasn't nearly enough for what kind of trauma she endured and told her that he would give her more each year but she shut it down and accepted the nearly ten million because if she hadn't, she was afraid he would try to give her even more.
The house that they found in Forks was large. It was costing her three million to even buy. The house was one of the new ones a fancy architect came in and built for some author that decided to live somewhere with less rain. It had a lot of open space, giving it a nice open concept and the main bedroom was on the first floor so Bella didn't have to go up and down the stairs. Upstairs there were four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and a rec room that Bella envisioned turning into a play space for the quads.
Downstairs had four bedrooms. One of which was her fathers that had it's own personal bathroom. The other one was hers and Paul's which also had a nice personal bathroom then Colin was taking one room and the other room was meant to be the nursery for the quads until they got old enough to take on their own room upstairs. Bella's plan is to turn that nursery into an art room when they get big enough to move upstairs. There was a basement that was completed and had a theater room that Charlie was thrilled about. The entire wall was a screen for the projector and watching football games on it was going to be amazing. There was a bathroom down there as well and a bar area that made a great station for snacks and sodas. Off of that theater room there was another rec room that Paul was going to turn into a wolf den, pun intended. He wanted a space for the guys to come to and relax after patrols.
The living room was really massive and had an actual woodburning fireplace. It was the only fireplace in the house and it was beautiful. The kitchen was wide open and had enough room for Bella to cook freely with enough counter space. There were two refrigerators, which she knew she would use with how many mouths she would have to feed on a regular basis. A giant walk in pantry housed two deep freezers that Bella saw as a great addition to the house. Off of the kitchen was another bathroom that would be useful for guests and then there was a large laundry room that had a back door that led out to a deck that wrapped around the entire back part of the house. Part of it was covered and part wasn't, but it was massive. A ramp would have to be put in to accommodate Billy, but Bella figured that wouldn't be too hard for the pack to construct like the one they put on the front of the house here. There was a firepit built into the deck, a built in double grill and there was a jetted hot tub as well that Bella actually couldn't wait to sit in. The backyard was large, Bella saw the potential for a large garden to grow her own vegetables and fruits as well as a great play area for the quads. She envisioned a clubhouse for them to play in and she wanted to put up a large privacy fence to keep them all contained. There was already a large apple tree in the yard that would give them apples every year. There was so much room and Bella liked it. She loved the idea of having freedom. The closing on the house wasn't taking long because of Bella's end, but the owners end. They were out of the country at the moment, so when they came back, they could get the papers signed next month and then start moving in. Bella had to furnish it though, which she knew wouldn't be hard either.
Paul felt weird about the money at first too. Bella told him how much it was and it had made him feel strange about receiving that much money from the Cullen's. But he understood the reasons after a while. It made sense and Bella deserved everything and more. He couldn't imagine his life without her now. She quite literally tamed the wolf in him and the man.
Charlie looked at the cribs in front of them. He smiled. "Well, they'll do what they're intended to do." He said and slapped Paul on the back. "Go check on Bella, I'll start dinner."
Paul smiled and nodded, walking upstairs to check on Bella. He could feel when she was anxious and lately it was up and down with her. He knew it was because of the hormones. She had made it farther than they thought with the quads. She had been on bedrest for a little more than a month now and of course she was going stir crazy. He opened the door and walked into their bedroom. "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"I'm okay. They're stretching a lot and it shoots pains across the front some, but it comes and goes." Bella explained and rubbed her hand over her belly again.
Paul frowned and walked over and lay his hand over her belly. "How bad are the pains?"
"It's not too bad I suppose."
"Is it consistent?" Paul asked. Mathias had told him to watch out for preterm labor signs and the pain coming and going like that across the front of the belly was a symptom.
Bella thought about it. "Hmm. I guess so. It's been like this for a few hours now I suppose."
"I'm going to call Mathias."
"What. No, don't bother him for them stret-" She didn't get the rest of her sentence done when she felt more pain shoot across more intense. Her belly tightened more too, hardening. Paul felt her belly tighten under his hand and he knew instantly that they were contractions.
"Bella, baby, we need to get you to the hospital. No chances remember?" Paul coaxed her.
Bella tried breathing through what she was certain was a contraction now and when it finished, she nodded. "Okay." She managed to say.
Paul took his phone out and called Mathias's personal cellphone and it rang a couple times before Mathias answered.
"Is it time?" Mathias asked.
"I believe so. She's been having contractions off and on for a few hours. I'm taking her to the hospital now." Paul said quickly.
"I'll be there." Mathias said and hung up.
"Colin!" Paul called as he grabbed Bella's bag from the closet.
Colin bounded up the stairs and rushed into the room. Paul's tone brought him rushing up there fast. "What's wrong?"
"Bella's in labor, we're going to the hospital. Go tell Charlie what's going on and get the cruiser turned on and warmed up. I'll need help getting her down the stairs safely too." He said and then handed Colin the bag for the hospital.
Colin nodded, taking the bag and rushing back down the stairs.
Paul went to the bed and helped pull the covers back and get Bella sitting on the side of the bed. Charlie walked in then. He looked frazzled, but Paul was calm and thinking through the situation logically.
"It's happening, the babies are coming." Charlie said, running a hand through his hair nervously.
"Dad, it's okay." Bella reassured him. "I'm okay."
"Right. Of course." Charlie blew out a breath. "Okay, let's get you to the hospital." He said and went to help Paul get her standing. When they got her standing, water rushed down her leg and she moaned, shaking a little as another contraction ripped through her. She gripped Paul's hand tight in hers as she groaned through the pain. She felt so much pressure and pain. Sweat beaded on her forehead as her body quaked with the pain and the natural response to labor.
"Breathe, baby." Paul said calmly, rubbing his free hand over her back to help massage some of the pain.
Bella felt the contraction ease up and she blew out a relieved breath. "Okay. I'm okay." She said with a nod. "But my water broke for one of the babies we definitely need to get to the hospital." She said they walked towards the door of the bedroom. She was moving slower than she wanted. She made it to the hall part before another contraction ripped through her more painful than the last. She screamed in pain as she gripped Paul's hand tight as well as her dad's. Her face turned red with the pain and she felt the pressure intensify and she felt like she needed to push. The contraction let up and she panted.
"Paul, my pants, get them off." Bella said quickly.
"What?" Charlie squeaked.
"I need to push, Paul, now."
Paul moved fast, pulling her pants down and helping her out of them. "Charlie, call an ambulance now." He said and Bella screamed out a minute later.
Charlie paled, fished his work phone out of his pocket and called in an ambulance while Colin came up the stairs.
Colin was not prepared to see Bella naked from the waist down and pushing, but he moved into action, grabbing linens from the hall closet to help Paul.
Paul had Bella laying on the ground now, while Colin helped hand him linens. Bella leaned up, her hands on pulling her knees to her chest and she pushed, the natural way her body was supposed to. Her screams of pain did not fall on deaf ears as Paul felt her anxiety through the imprint, but he hated hearing her be in this much pain. He watched as she pushed and he say the head of his first child crowning. "That's it baby. Push one more time, I think you're doing great." He encouraged.
Bella pushed again, giving it everything she had and Paul reacted fast, pulled the sheet around the baby as it slipped into the world. A few seconds later, ear splitting cries filled the air. Dark hair coated the baby's head. They had decided against confirming gender with the ultrasound since the blood panel had shown no male DNA, so they were certain that they were having all girls, but Paul looked down at his tiny son in his hands, screaming his head off at the cold air around him.
Bella felt relieved to hear the cries and that the pressure was gone. "She sounds so beautiful." She said.
Colin smirked. "She is a he Bells. You have a son." He said and Paul handed the bundled infant to Bella on her chest.
Bella felt tears in her eyes as she cradled the baby. "He's breathing so good. His tone is good." She said and the cries softened when she cradled him to her chest as he nuzzled against her.
Charlie rushed up the stairs. "They're on their way. Oh my god." Tears sprang to his eyes as he saw his daughter holding a baby. "She's here."
"He. You have a grandson." Bella said her voice full of emotion.
"Colin, I need something to clamp the umbilical cord." Paul said and Colin nodded, rushing down the stairs to find the kit that he had prepared after he researched about delivering babies. He had been curious about the process.
Bella felt more pain, like she didn't even have a chance to take any rest. "Paul."
"I know." Paul said, seeing her tense up. Colin returned with a box and there were clamps in it that he had collected. He helped clamp the cord before Paul cut the cord. "Charlie take the baby." Paul instructed and Charlie took his grandson, while Paul calmly helped Bella with the placenta from the baby. Paul wasn't phased by any of it, which had impressed Charlie. Charlie felt weak right now, he didn't think he'd ever get to witness his daughter give birth. The plan was a hospital and a surgery, but things didn't always go according to plan.
They heard sirens as it approached the house and Charlie was thankful that they were getting there so quick.
Bella moaned, groaning as she felt another contraction ripple through her. So much pain and pressure hit her that she was leaning up, grabbing her knees again and pushing.
Paul helped count with her and she relaxed after she pushed. She was panting and he could see she was already so tired. "Baby the ambulance is close, we're going to get you to the hospital. Relax, take some breaths before the next contraction in thirty seconds."
Bella nodded, taking in some breaths before the pain radiated again and she was groaning out in pain as she leaned up and pushed.
Paul saw the baby crowning and Colin handed him some towels now, preparing. "You're doing great baby." He said and looked at Colin. "Go let the EMTs in." He said quickly.
Colin nodded, leaving to go downstairs to the front door.
Bella relaxed for just a moment, before she leaned up and pushed again. Pain rushed through her, but then relief as the baby slid out and Paul caught it, rubbing it with the towel. Cries filled the air and Charlie cried too, the miracle of childbirth overwhelming his emotions.
"She's perfect." Paul said with a smile, tears in his own eyes as he rubbed her down with the towel. She was smaller than their son, but that was expected. He wrapped her in the towel and placed her on Bella's chest her cries starting to simmer down as Bella cuddled her close. Paul worked on clamping the cord when he heard the rush of footsteps coming up the stairs.
One of theEMT's, Jasmine, had her bright blonde hair pulled back with a hat on. She went to the ground, her gloved hands taking over for Paul. "Hey there, we're here to help get you to the hospital. How long ago did you deliver?" She asked.
Bella sniffed. "Um. Paul…"
"Five minutes or so. The contractions are coming really fast. She's having quads." Paul explained.
"Oh boy. Yes, let's get you to the hospital." Jasmine said then cut the cord for the second baby and Paul took her from Bella, while the other EMT moved to help get Bella standing.
They had a third guy with them that was supposed to be training, that helped get Bella up and moving down the stairs. They got her on the gurney when she groaned some more.
"We're going to make it to the hospital." Jasmine reassured as they moved her quickly out of the house and into the ambulance. Charlie and Paul got in the back of the ambulance with the two babies already delivered and they went on their way to the hospital.
Bella felt so much pain and she was so tired from pushing already with the first two, but she felt the need to push again. "I need. I can't lay like this, I have to sit up and push." She said, a little out of it.
Jasmine shifted. "We're almost to the hospital. I want you to breathe through the contractions okay. Don't push just yet." She said, her voice calm and friendly.
Bella shook her head. "I can't."
"Yes, you can." Jasmine reassured her.
They pulled up in the ambulance bay at the hospital and the back doors opened. Paul and Charlie got out with the babies and were greeted by nurses immediately that took them to take them to the NICU immediately to be assessed.
Bella groaned as they wheeled her inside. Mathias was there by her side like he came out of nowhere and so was Carlisle.
"Hey, looks like you decided to start the party without me." Mathias said as he walked briskly by the gurney towards a delivery room.
"I need to push." Bella said, trying to get herself sitting up better.
Mathias made Jasmine stop pushing the gurney and he helped Bella in a better position. It was right there in the waiting room and people were looking her way as she cried out in pain. She held her legs and Mathias looked under the sheet that Jasmine put over her for privacy and he saw the baby crowning. "That's it," he said and then she relaxed. "One more Bella and you have it." He said then Bella pushed again and Mathias shifted, catching the baby as it slid into the world. After a few seconds it was crying and there was clapping in the waiting room as they baby wailed. He placed her right on Bella's chest and then Jasmine started pushing the gurney again. "Look at all that hair. The other two have hair like this?" Mathias asked, looking at Paul.
Paul nodded. "Oh yeah. She's doing good right. No heavy bleeding or anything?"
Mathias nodded. "She is." He said as they got her into a room. A nurse came to take the third baby who was still screaming it's head off. They transferred her into a bed.
Mathias examined her better and Charlie stayed in the corner, pacing a little.
Paul could see how exhausted Bella was. He brushed the hair out of her face. "Three babies Bella. You're so amazing. I am so proud of you." He murmured and leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Mathias raised the bed up and Paul helped him get her feet in the stirrups. Bella felt better leaned up like this with the hospital bed. There was still so much pressure and pain, she felt like she was spinning with how fast it was moving. She didn't know if she had any strength left. When the contraction tore through her again, she found the strength then to bear down and push as hard as she could. Mathias counted out loud and then nodded. "Alright relax." He said and Bella tried, leaning back, her eyes closed as she felt her energy leave her body. "You're doing amazing Bella." He said and then looked at his watch, timing it when the next contraction should show up.
When it was time, she leaned up, pushing again hard, putting everything she had into it and soon the fourth baby was born, entering the world silent.
Mathias moved fast, getting the cord clamped and cut, before moving with the baby over towards the infant bed with three nurses as they cleaned the baby's airway.
Bella frowned, tears coming to her eyes. "What's wrong? Why isn't she crying." She croaked.
Paul watched, looking over as Mathias suctioned and rubbed the baby's chest. Suddenly little cries echoed in the room and relief flooded him.
Bella leaned back, tears rolling down her face. "The most beautiful sound." She murmured.
Paul leaned down and kissed her softly. "You did amazing." He whispered against her lips.
Charlie was crying happy tears. He had never been more proud than he was right now. His daughter just delivered quads naturally. It should have been a surgery, but it wasn't. He went to her other side then he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "I love you. I'm so proud of you baby girl." He said and she smiled a tired smile for him.
"I love you too dad." She said.
Mathias smiled, letting the nurse take the baby girl to the NICU with the other three. "Well, that was eventful. Let me check you out Bella and get everything cleaned up. No major tears, but we want to be sure everything is fully delivered." He said and went back to tend to her.
After a few hours of rest, Bella was in a clean bed and in a gown from the hospital for the time being. The babies were in NICU, which was expected. They were breathing okay it seemed, they just wanted to be sure they were regulating their temperature for a while. Paul went to see them in NICU while Bella sslep and Charlie joined him.
"Look at them." Charlie said, looking in on the babies. They were in open-air beds, which was a good sign, but were under the heated lamp so they could stay warm. They were swaddled up and each were snoozing now, a pacifier in their mouths.
"They're the most beautiful things I have seen outside of Bella." Paul said and that was the truth. The boy weighed the most, weighing almost five pounds. The first girl weighed 4 pounds and 4 ounces. The second girl was 4 pounds and 1 ounce and the third and last girl to be born weighed 3 pounds and 10 ounces.
Mathias walked up to them and stood there, looking at the quads. "In all my years of medicine, I have never witnessed anything like what I seen today. Bella gave birth naturally to quads. Two at home. You clamped and cut those cords like a pro. Have you thought about being a doctor?"
Paul shook his head. "No. I've never gave career a thought. I'm used to security work. I'm good with my hands." He said, looking away from his babies to look at Mathias. "My brother, he wants to be a doctor. He'll be up here soon. He had to wait for a friend of ours to come pick him up. " He explained.
Mathias nodded. "You have a knack for it. Maybe it runs in the family." He suggested.
Charlie smiled. "Paul would make a great doctor."
Carlisle approached then and Paul tensed a little. Vampires in general made him nervous, but he relaxed some, when he looked over at Carlisle. "Congrats are in order Paul. They are beautiful and Bella was impressive."
"Thanks Carlisle." Paul said with a nod. "I'm surprised to see you up here so late." He said, noting the time.
"Ah, I had some Chief of Surgery stuff to handle." He said and nodded to Mathias. "Mathias, I wanted to talk to you about being an attending here and not just a doctor with privileges."
Mathias nodded. "With you as Chief, I have no problem coming to be an attending. I'll be happy to run the Obstetrics department here."
Carlisle smiled. "Good. I know we're not a big hospital, but we did acquire the patient load for the other counties since the other hospital closed." He said and then nodded to Charlie. "I know you can appreciate the need for more personnel."
"Oh yes. I'm down a couple deputies. Actually wanting Paul to join the force, but if he's going to be a doctor then-"
Paul smiled a little. "I'll leave medicine to Colin. I know what I enjoy. I know I seemed calm during all that, but I was freaking out on the inside. I just needed Bella to stay calm." He explained.
Charlie smirked. "Alright then. After you and Bella settle with the quads, then I want you to join the force. I can deputize you, get you started."
"Thanks Charlie." Paul said and he meant that. He appreciated the thought. It would help to have a wolf on the police force. Then he had a farther reach outside of Forks and La Push to be able to protect Bella and the babies.
Things seemed to be falling into place nicely. Paul couldn't be happier with how things were turning out. Next, he had to figure out how to propose to Bella without her seeing it coming. He wanted to surprise her with a grand gesture that meant a lot to both of them. He wanted it to be special and perfect.
