a/n--thansk mediate89 for betaing this for me, you do a great job. I appreciate all the reviews I got for the last chap, I hope I get more for this one though.. **hinthint** also... like I always say... go read liljenrocks story, and also go check out she's a booza's story, i love both of their stuff.

Chapter 12

I went into the store still feeling half asleep as I pushed the moving door back to get behind the counter. I was tired. I'd stayed up in complete silence with Paul all night. He didn't speak and neither did I. All we'd done was sleep together and then lay there unmoving.

I sat down, putting my books on the counter thinking about the night before. It'd felt so warm and right lying with Paul. He'd actually allowed himself to wrap his arms around me. He'd consciously kept his hands away from my stomach, though. I'd taken that as a sign that all he'd wanted was to randomly hook up with me, not show me he was changing his mind.

I rested my head on one hand as I stared out the window. I almost wished I was going to school today. At least it'd be more exciting than sitting here. I heard someone clear their throat and snapped out of my daze, realizing Mr. Kimkirk was standing above me, looking out of place.

"Um, Sarah? I'd like to speak with you."

I nodded, wondering what I'd done, if I was being fired or something. I sat up straight, looking at him

"Did I do something?"

He shook his head quickly. "No. No, Sarah. I'm afraid my son's the one that's done something wrong here."

I felt my heart jump. He knew. I got up slowly from the stool. "I'm sorry, I understand if you came to tell me to go home. I'll---"

He cut me off. "No, sit back down. I'm not firing you. I just wanted to let you know that Paul and his friend Sam came to talk to my wife and me this morning about your situation, and that we do think this is our grandchild." He looked at me with a somber expression on his aged face.

"You do?" I asked slowly, not believing this. "But I thought that since Paul said…" I trailed off, looking away from Mr. Kimkirk.

"Yes we do, and if there's anything at all that we can do to help you don't hesitate to ask us, okay? I know my wife wants to speak with you herself; we're not quite believing Paul's side to this. I've known you for some time now, and I know you well enough to know that you wouldn't lie about something like this."

I nodded, meeting his eyes. "I didn't want to tell you. I thought Paul should, and I didn't want you to say I was lying and fire me. I need my job right now to help pay for everything."

Mr. Kimkirk made a movement like he was brushing that aside. "Don't worry about your job. You're family now. You're having my first grandchild." He smiled at me then, the first time I could recall seeing him smile. "My wife would like if very much if you'd come to our house this evening for a while, to meet with our family."

I shook my head quickly. My parents would be furious with me for going over there. They were already going to be mad that Paul's parents knew. They'd been hoping they wouldn't ever find out and we wouldn't have anymore problems with Paul.

"I can't. I'm not allowed be near Paul. I'm sorry."

Mr. Kimkirk looked surprised. "But this is his child too. Paul might not want to be around but we certainly do. Maybe I should have a word with them myself…"

I felt the color draining from my face. "No, please don't. My dad won't like this. He doesn't want Paul to be involved."

Mr. Kimkirk looked at me carefully. "And what do you want from Paul?"

I turned away from him quickly so he couldn't read the expression on my face. "I don't know. I have to do what they want. I can't do this alone." I knew I was treading on dangerous ground now. My parents might not want to help me anymore if I let Paul's family around. It was still a non-existent relationship between us.

"Well, I want you to at least think about it please. Don't keep us away because of our son's stupidity; don't hold his actions against us." Mr. Kimkirk said sadly as he started to walk off. After a few steps he paused and turned back around. "Don't do any of the stocking, either. Just leave it. I don't want you up and lifting things." He turned and walked off quickly before I could say anything.

I sat back down, unsure of myself. I didn't know what to do now. I was a mixing bowl full of emotions. I could hardly wait for the shift to be over with. I flipped through the book my mom had brought home with work- What to Expect When You're Expecting. I frowned as I looked over the pictures; I was going to be huge. I turned the page, engrossed in what I was reading.

"Excuse me, Sarah?" I heard a soft, throaty voice say. I jerked my head up quickly, shutting the book. A dark-haired woman dressed in a pantsuit was smiling at me.

"Hi, can I help you?" I asked giving her a small smile.

She held out her hand, revealing nicely polished nails and a few gold rings. "I'm Mrs. Kimkirk," she introduced.

I looked at her hand for a moment before hesitantly shaking it. "I'm Paul's mother, I'm sure you realize that. I just thought it'd be nice if we could talk for a while. My husband said it'd be fine if you left for a short lunch with me."

I bit my bottom lip as I looked at her and nodded slowly to show her I'd go. I grabbed my purse and my jacket and pulled it on before I stood up, not wanting her to stare at me. I could feel her eyes as I got up and zipped it up quickly.

"I have to be back by three," I told her softly as I followed her out of the store.

Mrs. Kimkirk nodded back smiling. "We're just going to go down the street to the small diner. I didn't think you'd feel like going anywhere further."

I walked silently with her down the street, staring down at the iced-over sidewalk as we walked slowly to the restaurant. When we arrived, she held the door open for me to go in. I hesitated, looking around before walking past her and sitting in a booth in the back. I slid across the plastic seat, trying to keep my face expressionless as she sat down across from me. She got strait to the point.

"I know you're wondering what I want from you after you already told my husband you didn't want our help, but it's not that easy," she began.

I nodded, showing her that I was listening. "Paul hasn't been fair to you with this. It pains me to no end to see how cruel my own son can be. I didn't want you to think that we thought you were... well, that you were lying and this wasn't Paul's baby, and our first grandchild. We don't have any reason to not believe you."

I looked down at my hands. I didn't know what they expected me to do. It wasn't that simple to just let them in my life. Paul would be livid if he knew. My parents would be even worse. "I don't understand. Didn't Paul tell you that we weren't together? Or even speaking?" I asked her slowly. We were apparently just sleeping together again.

Mrs. Kimkirk nodded. "I know. And I know my son- he won't stay away from you for much longer. After all, he thought you were worth sneaking around us and your own parents."

I sipped on the glass of Coke the waitress had laid down in front of me. "He won't change his mind. Sam can't even get him to consider this," I gestured down at myself.

She let her eyes linger on my belly. "How far along are you?"

I shrugged as I took another sip of my Cok.e "Twelve weeks now. I just look bigger than most people do at this stage."

She smiled at me kindly "So, you're keeping the baby?"

I looked at her carefully, trying to decide where she was going with this. "Of course I'm keeping the baby. This baby is all I have left of--" I stopped and looked back down. I'd almost let it slip that I was keeping the baby as my piece of Paul.

"You have no idea how relieved I am to know this. I was worried you might be giving the baby up." I gave her a curious look. "We want to be in the baby's life, of course. That's all I ask. Let us be grandparents, don't hold Paul against us."

Her tone was honest and sincere when she spoke. I felt like a bad person from the way she was begging me to say yes to something I wasn't sure of. "I don't know," I finally said.

Paul's mother gave me a small smile. "Would it help if we spoke to your parents?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, don't." I didn't want them to talk to each other. It was too uncomfortable. I looked at the clock, we'd been talking longer than I realized. It was a quarter after and I didn't call my dad to come take me home. I frowned at the time. "I need to go."

Her face fell as I grabbed my stuff. "But you didn't even order anything to eat."

I shrugged as I stood up slowly, feeling light headed. "I'm fine. I just need to get home. I'll talk to my parents." I gave her a quick wave and hurried to the door. I pushed it open and let the cool air hit me as I stepped out. It was freezing again. I started in the direction of home, shivering.

I walked for a few minutes, stopping every few steps to catch my breath. My abdomen had felt funny since last night. Not a painful funny, just…. different. I looked forward as I walked, aware now of a familiar green s-10 slowing down beside me. The window rolled down.

"Get in," Paul ordered.

I shook my head at him. "No, I'll walk. It's fine." I went a few more feet before he pulled off the muddy, icy road, got out and started to follow after me. "You shouldn't be out here walking home in the snow, Sarah. Just let me give you a ride."

I laughed bitterly at him, blowing cold air out as I stopped and turned around. "What do you care?"

Paul smirked at me. "I don't, really."

I turned and took off again, slipping on a patch of ice and flailing just as Paul grabbed me and pulled me back up to my feet. "You're going to hurt yourself, come on. It's not my baby but I still don't want Sam to know I let you walk home knock yourself out."

"Not your baby? You're still saying that?" I asked, staring into his harsh black eyes.

"Yeah, I'm still saying that. It's not mine. It could be anyone's baby. There's no telling who else you slept with," he snapped.

I felt the tears in the corners of my eyes as I pulled free of him and lost my balance again, this time hitting the ice with a thud. "Owww," I groaned, afraid to move. Paul bent down, trying to tug me back up.

"Don't touch me!" I yelled at him, making him let go quickly.

"That's not what you wanted last night. Last night you wanted my hands all over you, just like everyone else that's touched you," Paul snarled, his expression turning ugly.

I shook my head and reached up to pull my beanie over my ears. "Quit saying that. You're the only one I've been with and you know it. You know it's not a lie."

Paul didn't say anything for a moment, almost like he was thinking on it. "I don't know that. I don't know that you weren't seeing someone else. I don't know for sure if this is my baby. And if it is I don't want it or you."

The words I'd heard so many times took a stab at me but this time I felt it for real in my stomach. I turned sideways, holding myself and whimpering as I tried to get up.

"What's wrong?" Paul asked quickly, noticing my pained expression.

"I don't know. Help me up. Please," I begged. He was already reaching down to lift me into his arms.

Paul didn't say a word as he buckled me into his truck and sped off. I crumpled up, crying. What if something was wrong? I hadn't been hurting until Paul had upset me. I sat there and tried to keep my tears silent, not sure if Paul would snap at me for sobbing or not. I didn't pay attention as we entered Forks until I saw the hospital come into sight.

"Come on," he said urgently, pulling me out of the cab and carrying me inside. He pushed me into a chair in the waiting and I could have sworn I saw a look of panic cross his face as he asked the nurse to page my mom. Another nurse was crouched down beside me with a clipboard. I felt another jolt.

"Paul," I whimpered. He turned around quickly and came back in a flash beside me.

"What's wrong? What can I do?"

I shook my head and grasped his jacket, wincing as I felt another one.

"Sarah!" I heard my mom exclaim as she came around the corner. She ignored Paul as she scribbled on the patient information sheet. She spoke to the nurse as I was whisked off to a room in the maternity section. My mom held onto my hand, glaring at Paul as he trailed behind looking like he was in pain.

"What did he do to you?" She asked softly. I shook my head at her.

"I just don't feel right."

"I'll be right back, I'm going to see if they can hurry up and get in here to examine you." She glared at Paul again as she left.

I looked at him. He was leaning against the window looking out of place. He hadn't spoken since before my mom had found us. A nurse pushed into the room, hooking me up to a monitor and pushing my shirt up to put another one on my stomach. She fiddled around with a machine until a steady thumping sound filled the room. Paul's ears seemed to adjust slightly and he stood up and walked over, looking curious.

"This is your baby's heartbeat," the nurse explained, smiling at me. I shut my eyes, it sounded fine.

"Is it normal?"

"Oh, yes. Surprisingly strong too at this stage." She got up. "I have to leave it on you until the doctor gets in here, okay?" I nodded, listening still. Paul was sitting in the chair beside my bed now, as close as he could get to my stomach. He was staring at the monitor, listening carefully to rhythm as well.

"That's really the baby, isn't it?" He sounded awestruck. I looked at him, wondering what had gotten into him. He reached out and pressed a hand onto me, making me jump. "I really have a baby," he repeated, like it had just hit him. He kept his hand on me, but moved his eyes to my face.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, moving closer to me now, but still keeping a hand on my stomach. "I should've left you alone. I shouldn't have bothered you today. I upset you too much." His apology seemed sincere.

I nodded, wincing as I got another pain. "I'm sorry for everything," Paul continued in a low, deep voice. "I'm sorry for telling everyone you were lying. I know you're not."

I was shocked by his sudden change of heart. Paul never apologized to anyone for anything. I hadn't been expecting him to change his mind about the baby. He leaned back toward the monitor, laying his head on my hip as he listened. "It's amazing. I can hear his heartbeat and know he's mine."

I wasn't sure of what to do. This was exactly what I'd wanted, but it didn't feel as... won over as I'd pictured it. I let my hand reach down and curl into his hair as he laid on my abdomen. A knock at the door made us both jump. The doctor came in all smiles as she saw us there, my mom behind her. She was shooting daggers at Paul. I looked at her and shook my head. This wasn't the place.

The doctor listened too, to the heartbeat and then pressed on stomach to see if I was tender before announcing she needed to examine me. I looked next to me at Paul who showed no signs of leaving now. My mom looked at him too, waiting for him to leave. Paul just leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms, standing his ground. I sat up, moving around as the doctor instructed deciding that if this didn't bother either of them, it didn't bother me either.

My mom held my hand as the doctor checked me over, not saying anything until she told me to dress. I slid my track pants back on slowly and sat down on the edge of the bed wondering what was wrong with me. I was calmed down now, we'd been here for two hours. Paul moved closer as I sat down, my mom did the same on the other side. The doctor glanced at my mom for a moment.

"Would you like for your mother to step out into the hall while I have a few words with you two?"

My mom shook her head quickly. "No, she's a minor, I need to stay. He should leave."

The doctor cleared her throat. "He needs to be aware of this himself." She scribbled on her board, not looking at any of us. "You need to avoid stressed situations and also I can see you've had intercourse recently and I need to advise you to refrain from sexual activity for at least a week, and when you do continue, to be careful- no rough movements, no ignoring the pain next time, okay kids?"

I felt my face turning blood red as she finished speaking. Paul looked out the window, his own dark skin turning a crimson. My mom scowled at us as the doctor left.

"What were you thinking?" She snapped at me, tossing me my jacket. I didn't look at her as I put it on. I moved to get up and felt Paul's hand on my arm and back, helping me.

"Don't touch her, you've done enough," my mom shot at him, taking my hand. I felt relieved to know there was nothing wrong with the baby, just me. I wanted to crawl under a rock now though, that my mom knew I'd slept with Paul. Paul looked hurt by my mom's tone as he followed us out.

"Sarah... I want to talk to you," he said softly.

My mom motioned for me to get into the car. "I can't. Not right now." He nodded as I started to climb into the passenger's side. I mouthed "tonight" to him as my mom got in. He stood there and watched sadly as we pulled out of the parking lot. I looked at my mom.

"I'm sorry. At least there's nothing wrong with the baby."

She nodded, looking at the road. "That's the important part." I didn't try to speak to her again as we drove home, she'd already called dad and told him where I was. He was probably mad that Paul had taken me. Paul. He'd done a complete turn around tonight. All it took was to hear his baby's heartbeat one time and he'd changed.