Author's Note:

Warning for Major Angst! This chapter was hard to write as it was very emotional for me.

Shout out to Superdani4ever, thank you so much for being my main reviewer, it means a lot to me. I'm sorry I keep making you cry.

This story is about to become pretty fluffy with minor bits of angst in future chapters.

x-x-x Minor change to Year of Death to fit Book Timeline. x-x-x

With Love,

Reira

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Becca was screaming for her mate, her back pressing firmly against Paul's chest as their hands were locked. Her fingers were crushing his, she could hear Lyla telling her to breath. All proper thought was gone while the contraction tore wildly through her body. The wave of pain was dying down horribly slow, her body slumping against Paul's.

"You're doing great, honey." He brushed her hair away from her face, Lyla offering him a cool cloth to wipe across her forehead. Becca was breathing hard, trying to focus on something, anything to keep her mind off the pain. She knew it was only going to get worse.

The pregnant wolf locked eyes with Lyla, her gaze holding compassion and a touch of sadness. Over the course of the last week and a half, she and Lyla had grown close. I don't want to leave my baby.

Becca had accepted that her body was dying, it was dying the moment David had left the earth. Even with the agony of losing a piece of herself from it all, she didn't want to leave her child. She and David had tried for ten years to have a baby, and finally, when she was pregnant… It's not what she wanted, but she had to accept it.

The shewolf could feel another contraction beginning to build and she couldn't decide what was worse; feeling the pain of birth or the cold grip of death clawing at her soul. She fought it, with everything in her so she could see her child come into this world before reuniting with David in the next.

"Breath deep and push, Becca." It was Lyla's voice that rung through the haze of pain, Paul's hands in hers with her back pressing hard against his chest. These were the last people she would see, the last memories she'd form before leaving this world.

She screamed and begged deliriously, she could smell the blood and scent of birth. She could feel Lyla's hands brush her legs as she held the baby and pulled him free, Paul's intake of breath at the sight of the newborn. Becca's body collapsed with exhaustion in his grip, his strong arms holding her without hesitation.

Everything seemed to slow down then, her ears ringing and her vision blurring. Despite it all, she was cold. Becca's soul screamed to remain, demanding to hold her child before she died.

Lyla wrapped the bloody infant in a clean towel, Paul pulling Becca gently to sit up. Her senses snapped back into reality, seeing the child in Lyla's arms. Becca reached for the baby, feeling the lightweight settle against her chest. Before Lyla spoke again, she let out a soft sob as disbelief colored her features.

"He looks just like David." The baby was a soft bronze like his father had been with David's nose and ears, and Becca's thin lips. He had a thick mess of ebony hair on the top of his head, but he wasn't crying. It took Becca longer than it should have to understand this, but then the baby was just looking at her. His eyes were a light chocolate brown just like hers, little gasps and coos coming from his mouth.

Lyla's eyes were tearing, her gaze meeting Paul's as they both felt the surge of love for the newborn. He was beautiful, by far the most beautiful baby and he's all ours.

"We love you so much, so so much." Becca kissed the crown of her son's head, her lips stark white and face pale. She knew she was speaking for David too, somehow she could feel his presence there with her.

"Lyla…" The woman moved forward to take the child, feeling almost the instant Becca's soul slipped from her body. Paul didn't waver in his hold, even as she went completely slack. The mated pair watched the woman that gave them their son die, feeling helpless despite knowing they couldn't stop it.

The baby cried then as if he knew his mother was gone, too. Paul looked at the child and then to his grief stricken mate, and finally at Becca's lifeless body. His heart jerked hard with emotion, carefully lifting her into his arms.

They moved apart, Lyla taking the newborn to the other side of the room to clean and dress him while Paul settled Becca into a simple coffin. He breathed out a soft goodbye, tying the tan cloth around her eyes before closing the coffin. His hand moved over the top of it, wishing things could have been different.

Lyla held back tears as she wiped the last bit of blood off the boy's face, putting the baby into a diaper and dressing him in a simple striped onesie. Paul was watching her, moving to wrap his arm around her waist. His other hand stroked over the top of her skull, kissing the side of her neck as she lifted the child into her arms.

"Becca picked a really beautiful name for him." Lyla turns to face her mate, both gazing down at their son. He smiles though sadly, his hands shaking a bit as he holds the baby for the first time. His son isn't crying anymore, though his eyes are teary and huge in his little face.

"Ly, I think we should hyphenate his last name so he can be David Blay Autumn-Lahote." She meets the sincere gaze of her mate, a few tears slipping down her face as she leans up to kiss Paul; careful of the baby in his arms. "Yes, I think that's a beautiful idea."

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The following morning, Lyla, Paul, and Sam leave La Push with Becca's coffin in the bed of Sam's truck. It's covered with a tarp as they drive to Vancouver. She had asked that her body was buried with David's and for the mated pair to take anything from their home to give to Blay once he was older.

Lyla had left the newborn with Emily who gladly agreed to watch over him. Paul had given Emily a key so she could come and go as she needed to her home and theirs.

Paul was sitting with his arm around Lyla's shoulders, Sam driving. It took about six hours to get over the border and onto the tribe land. They were greeted at the edge where the dirt road began to enter the wolf territory. Sam sighed, looking at the new alpha whom seemed to understand why they were there.

The unnamed wolf gestured for them to enter, disappearing amongst the trees.

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Lyla and Paul were standing outside the small home that belonged to David and Becca. She was shaking at the thought of going inside, but with a gentle push from her mate, she finally opened the door. The home was small with two bedrooms and an open kitchen and living room. Lyla walked slowly through their bedroom, finding Becca's journal on her nightstand. She flipped through it and tucked it into her bag, taking any and all pictures from around the house.

Paul had found the birthing room they had set up, with a crib and diaper stand in the far corner. He saw a photo album resting on the last shelf of the stand, moving forward and taking it into his hands. He moved through the pages slowly, finding photos of Becca and David together, of bonfires and group photos of the wolves. On the last few pages were photos of their wedding ceremony.

They met in the living room, Paul offering the album to Lyla. She tucked it into the messenger bag over her shoulder. She was staring at the object in her hand, shaking from the sight. Paul recognized the item as a mating bracelet. It was made of leather and held a bronze leaf on the center. It was David's wedding band. She had found on top of the kitchen table, as if Becca and placed it down before she left for La Push.

"Hey." She looked up into Paul's reassuring gaze, his hands coming up to cup her face. He leaned forward, pecking her lips quickly. Lyla inhaled slowly, her left hand resting against his forearm. They broke apart reluctantly, knowing they had to make it to Becca's funeral. "I love you."

Lyla laughed quietly as they said it in one breath.

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It was mid-October, the day being chilly as Becca's body was lowered into the ground beside David's. Lyla couldn't bring herself to look away as grief gripped her heart. It hurt to see them bury her, she had come to think of Becca as her sister in the short amount of time they had been together. Becca had given Lyla a son, had given her hope, had given her more than anyone else other than her own mate.

Her eyes jumped to David's tombstone, it read "David Elijah Autumn - April 12, 1980 to October 3rd, 2016 - Loved by Many, Beloved by Becca" The words had been hand carved into the stone, the shape of the rock itself being uneven as if it had been plucked from the forest itself. Paul held tight to Becca's hand, pulling her into his side.

Lyla watched the wolves of her pack bury Becca, the alpha was a young man named Joshua. He didn't hide the fact that he was crying, tears streaking his face. He looked similar to Becca with the same waves in his hair and paler skin. It dawned on her then that this was her cousin, the woman had spoken of him and even written about him in the journal at La Push.

There were four other wolves, only one was helping Joshua. Lyla thought his name was Alex, but she wasn't sure. He was young and a bit clumsy. She thought maybe he was the wolf that David died protecting. In total they had five wolves, they lived on the outskirts of their own tribe despite the people knowing about them being wolves and phasing. They thought it was safer for their people.

Lyla snapped back into reality as Joshua approached her, his eyes were dark and bags were under them. He looked terribly pale as he offered Lyla a sharp rock. She glanced over his shoulder as two wolves settled a tombstone onto the ground a foot or two from Becca's grave.

"I know in my heart Becca would want you to carve into the stone. She has trusted you with her son, there is no one more suitable for this than you." Lyla stared at the sharp stone for a long moment before she took it. Paul gave her a weak smile as Sam nudged her forward. She settled on the ground, staring at the blank smooth stone.

"What should I write?" Joshua wiped at his face, patting Ly's shoulder. "The spirits have never led you wrong. Listen to your wolf."

Confusion crossed her face, but somehow she understood that these wolves listened much more to their spirit guides than her pack did and she had to trust in them for guidance with this task.

Lyla took a breath to calm herself and steady her hand. She took one more look at David's stone before she began to write. She thought of David and Becca, of their bond and love, of the photos they shared and home they built together. And, then she thought of Blay, of her son. Paul's son. A baby that had so many people that loved him.

She was breathing hard when she pulled her hand back, the skin of her fingers was a bright pink as she read over the words. "Rebecca Blayne Autumn - July 7th, 1985 to October 14th, 2016 - Beloved by David, Cherished by All" The stone fell from her hand, without even asking she knew it was perfect. Paul offered her his open palm, pulling her to stand as Joshua placed the stone over her grave.

"Thank you." Joshua's hand affectionately touched the stone, turning to look at the three of them. "You've given Becca peace and released us from her order. We are eternally grateful." Joshua was smiling despite the remainder of his face being so distraught. "We hope you allow us to visit baby Blay."

"Of course, just give us a call." Sam could tell his baby sister was in no shape to speak, the emotion being raw on Paul's face. "We should head back." Sam said goodbye for them to Josh and his pack, the three beginning the trek back home to La Push.

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