a/n-- Sorry this is so long you guys, its so worth it though, I think you'll be happy :D special thanks to mediate for being patient and editing all 11 pages :D major brownie points goes to everyone who reviewed, and to liljenrocks for her nice comments about me :D go check her out... and while youre at it.. check out shes a boozer, she has a kick ass Embry story. Dont forget to leave me some more reviews!! :D

Chapter 13

I sat with my knees pulled up to my chest waiting. I knew he'd come I just didn't know when. My mom had managed to convince my dad that my hurting was just normal stuff. I certainly didn't want him to know it was from sleeping with Paul and being stressed from arguing with him. I didn't think I'd have that problem again, though. He'd looked too remorseful when I left the hospital.

I got up slowly, seeing a shadow outside and moved to the window. Paul's hands reached underneath the bottom and pushed it up slowly. I stood back watching him as he climbed in slowly. He stood up and let his eyes fall on me. He reached his hand out to touch my stomach, making me flinch and move back. He looked pained.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

I studied him a moment before I stepped back toward him and took his warm hand and pressed it exactly where he wanted to feel. I felt his fingers curve around my skin.

"Thank you," he said softly. I nodded and looked at him for a moment as he stood there with his hand pressed on me.

"Come on," I whispered, moving back to my bed to lie down. He followed me closely, lying down beside me and moving me over so that I was lying on his chest and he could still hold my stomach.

I shut my eyes, listening to his long, even breathing. Paul shifted again, wrapping his other arm around me. I nestled my head against him, breathing in his cedar and cologne mix as always. I didn't say anything to him and he didn't say anything to me as we lay there.

I drifted off, feeling content and not worrying about a thing.

-Paul's POV-

I pressed my hand against Sarah's soft skin, feeling the heat from her stomach. A side effect from having my baby, I realized. She moved, rubbing her face into my shirt, making me smile slightly. I let my thumb slide back and forth over my baby. My baby. I rested my head, relaxing as I thought back on what had happened at the hospital. I'd been terrified when I thought that something was wrong with Sarah and the baby. It didn't really hit me until I heard the heartbeat, though.

It was strong, stronger than normal. Proof that this really was my baby. I let out a deep breath as we lay there, Sarah was falling asleep. I didn't care as long as she let me stay and feel the baby even though I couldn't really feel him moving yet. I could hear the heartbeat still though, just not as clearly as I could at the hospital. I could sense something around Sarah now that made me want to stay by her side and watch over her.

I'd been horrible to her. Cruel. I'd thought being hateful would push her away from me, make her not want me. I was dead wrong. I had to be with her, she was carrying my child. I needed to be around Sarah. If she'd let me. If she didn't, I understood why. I'd done so many uncalled for and horrible things to her over the past two months. I'd known all along that this had to be my baby; Sarah really hadn't been with anyone else. I'd taken her virginity, not some other guy. And Sarah was loyal to me, unbelievably loyal, it was almost like she'd imprinted on me and me not on her.

I had no idea what I'd do now with the imprinting thing. I couldn't let it happen. I couldn't imprint and leave her ever, she had my baby. This baby was mine, Sarah was mine and I'd almost driven her away. I kissed the side of her face now that I was sure she was asleep. I would have to start over from scratch. I laid back and shut my eyes, not daring to fall asleep here; I wouldn't wake up in time before someone came in and found us. I didn't want her to get into any trouble over me.

I took a deep breath, letting Sarah's melon scent fill me. It had another something added to it and I realized it must be from the baby. I felt my stomach flutter every time I heard the word or it popped into my mind. Baby. I was having a baby. I laid there, touching her stomach and listening to her sleep until daylight started to pour in through the window. I hated to leave.

I moved slowly, not wanting to wake her as I slid her over onto the bed instead of my chest. I moved my hand off of her stomach, regretting it. Sarah's eyes opened up slowly.

"Paul?"

I smiled at her as I stood up "I need to go. I'll see you sooner than you think, though okay?" I'd leave it at that for now. I leaned down and gently kissed her abdomen. "Be careful. Don't let anything happen to the baby."

She nodded sleepily as I kissed her forehead and went silently out the window. I had to get home quick. My mom would know where I was this time. She knew I'd taken Sarah to Forks Hospital so she'd assume that I went to see her last night to check on her. I couldn't afford for my parents to know that I was seeing her at night somehow.

I ran quickly through the woods back home, I could smell Jake close by. I took the shortcut to my house and jumped through the window hoping I'd made it in time. I looked around my room, I couldn't tell if anyone had been in it or not. I looked at the bed, decided against sleeping and went to the kitchen instead. I could smell bacon frying as I looked around. My mom was sitting at the table yawning as she lit a cigarette. She smiled at me as I came in and sat down rubbing my eyes.

"Late night?" She asked simply. I nodded slowly not sure if she knew or not.

"Do you think you could convince her to come over? Just see that we're not that bad?" She took a puff of her cigarette. I shrugged. I didn't know if I could get Sarah to do anything right now. I wasn't going to be as pushy as I used to be.

"Maybe."

Mom seemed to take that as a good enough answer. "Today, maybe?" She asked hopefully.

I sighed loudly as I got up and got the carton of orange juice out. "I'll see. I don't know if she can. Her parents won't like it much."

Mom made a face as she passed me a plate. "I'm tempted to go talk to them myself. They can't keep me away from my own flesh and blood."

I rolled my eyes as I sat down, drinking from the carton, with my plate. "Don't go over there. They're kind of... strange. I don't think they like me at all." I knew they didn't like me. Her mom probably hated me now. I stuffed forkfuls of food into my mouth before getting up and putting my plate in the sink. I hurried off to get a shower and change before I went back over to Sarah's.

I pulled my clothes on quickly, not even drying my hair as I walked by my mom who was cleaning.

"I'll be back later. I'll call if she says she'll come." I jumped down the steps and took off through the woods. I didn't dare drive, if someone was still there and saw my truck they'd recognize it. I walked slowly through the trees, feeling nervous about what I had to tell Sarah. It was her decision now if she wanted to be with me or not.

I hid in the trees that lined her yard, waiting until her dad finally left for work. I crept slowly up to her window again and pushed it up so I could climb through. Sarah was lying in her pink and white bed asleep. She looked perfectly peaceful.

I stood there, watching her as she slept for a moment before I dared to take my shoes off and crawl in beside her. I lifted the comforter up and slid underneath it, Sarah stirred slightly and peered at me under her lashes before moving closer to me and hugging me against her before she shut her eyes again. I wrapped my arms around her; I could feel what was drawing me here against my own stomach. I rubbed her shoulders as she slept. After a few minutes I shut my eyes letting myself drift off with her.

I woke up on and off as she slept heavily in my arms. I stared at her face, she really was beautiful. I didn't see how I could ever find someone more perfect for me than she was. Her eyes opened up slowly. They focused on me little by little.

"I thought you left me," she said softly.

I smiled at her, not being able to resist it. "I did for a while. I went home and took a shower and came back in after your dad left. I need to talk to you about something." I loosened my arms from around her thinking of how to say this. She nodded for me to continue. I looked into her blue-green eyes as I spoke softly.

"I know you've seen how Sam and Emily and Jared and Kim are together. The way they stare at each other and how they'll pull toward each other when the other is near." I paused as she nodded. "It's called imprinting. It means that Sam and Jared have found their soul mates in Emily and Kim. As soon as Sam and Jared looked at them they were tied to them forever. They complete their other halves."

Sarah looked at me confused. I pressed my finger to her lips as I started to speak again. "The rest of us haven't imprinted yet. I've been pushing you away from me because I can't stand the thought of imprinting on someone and breaking your heart. I don't want it to happen, but it will eventually. It could be a long time. I could stay just like this for thirty more years while I wait. Or I could go to school one day like Jared did and glimpse her, whoever she'll be and be tied to her."

I saw her lower lip start to tremble. "I didn't want to let myself love you, Sarah. I can't love you like that. Like Sam does Emily."

Sarah bit down on her lip like she always did when she got upset. "Do you even love me a little?"

I nodded slowly, not wanting to see her cry. "I love you more than a little, Sarah. That's why this is so hard."

She blinked, letting drops fall. "Cant you try and be with me until you imprint?" Her tone was pleading.

I looked away from her, not wanting to cry myself when I saw her start to. "It's only going to hurt you worse when I do, Sarah. I won't even be able to look at you the same way I do now. It won't matter anymore what happened in the past. Sam's had this happen to him too."

Sarah reached over and touched the side of my face lightly. "I'll deal with it when it happens. I'll let you go. I just... need you right now. I'm having your baby and I don't want to be alone."

I felt my heart start to break as I took her hand off my face and held it in mine. "Okay. But only because you understand everything." I kissed the top of her hand as I looked back into her eyes. She looked half happy and half sad as she rolled over to hug me.

"Thank you," she whispered as she sniffled into my neck. I nodded as I held her tightly. I was selfish by doing this, but I couldn't just walk away and leave her.

"Shh," I whispered, not wanting to talk anymore at the moment. She nodded and kept a tight grip around me, like she was afraid I might run off or something. I was letting my guard down little by little with her. I felt better already. I rubbed her back. "What do you want to do today?"

Sarah shrugged partly, not being able to move under my hold. "I don't know. I don't do much except sit here at home or go to Emily's and work." I thought on all three of the options. Work was closed today. Emily's meant too much of an audience as I adjusted to my view on things. If we sat here I might be tempted to do a lot more than sit here and that was against the doctor's orders.

"Would you consider going to my house?" I asked before I could chicken out.

She didn't say anything; I knew she was thinking it over. I blew into her ear, making her shudder and tilt her head away. "I don't know, I don't know about… everything. My parents don't want me to have anything to do with you guys at all. Besides that, Emily kind of told me about all that stuff before…."

Ah, so she thought my dad would go into a rage off hand and that we must be bad people or something. I sighed. "That's all in the past. Everything's the same at my house as it is at yours. I promise. And this isn't your parents' baby, this is our baby. My family just wants you to consider talking to them, getting to know them."

Sarah studied my face for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine, I'll go but... don't leave me alone with them. Either of them. I'm not making any promises on how involved they can be either. I can't completely go against my parents; they're doing too much for me right now."

I nodded and leaned over and kissed her softly. "Thank you."

Sarah stretched out slowly, arching her back as she turned; I couldn't help but stare at her stomach as she rolled over on her side. "When's your next appointment?"

She wiggled out from under the blankets. "Next Monday. I'll be fourteen weeks then. I'm getting bigger and bigger." I didn't think she was getting so big. She'd always been a little on the skinny side on certain spots. I thought she looked pretty damn good pregnant with my baby. She rolled again, this time letting one leg rest on either side of my hips. The pressure of her sitting on me automatically made my blood rush.

"God... get off," I said lowly. She only smiled down at me and acted like she was stretching again. "I'm serious. You know we can't do anything, you should start getting ready to go, anyway." I took a deep breath calming myself as she started to get back off, pressing down as she crawled over me.

"I have to get a shower. You can just... hang out or something, it won't take me long," she said as she went to the closet and flipped through the hanging clothes. She frowned and went to the dresser and started digging through it.

I watched her for a few minutes, watching her plunder through clothes. "Just put on something, I don't care what you look like."

She sighed loudly as went back to the closet and grabbed a pair of jeans. "They don't fit me, Paul. Only my track pants fit and I always wear those. I don't want them to think I'm a slob or something just because I'm pregnant now." She grabbed a pink sweater next and then rummaged back through the dresser again before yanking out a pair of light blue panties and a bra. "These don't even fit me either," she grumbled as she headed out of her room. "I'll be back in a few."

I nodded and waited until I heard the shower come on to get up from the bed. I pulled the sheets and comforter making it up perfectly. I looked at the pictures on the nightstand- Sarah at the beach, Sarah with her parents. I walked around, listening to make sure the shower hadn't stopped before I dared to go out of the room. I followed Sarah's scent to where it seemed to be almost as strong as it was in her room. I pushed the door open slowly to the room down the hall.

A nursery. Or it would be a nursery. The walls were painted pale green and a matching rug covered the hardwood floor. There was a rocking chair in the corner near the window. Everything else was open space except for a white dresser. I couldn't help but open it and looked inside. I frowned when I saw what was in it. Sarah had already been piling up tiny clothes. They looked miniscule in my hands.

I put the tiny pajamas back and shut the drawer before heading back to her room before she could realize I'd been snooping. I hadn't realized I should be getting baby stuff already. I thought of the checks I had from the garage that were stuffed in my wallet at home. I hadn't even cashed them. I didn't need to. I heard the bathroom door open just as I sat down on the bed again.

Sarah padded in with a towel wrapped around her middle and another on top of her head. I stared as she came in, what the hell was she playing at today? She tossed her pile of clothes on the bed and pretended like I wasn't there as she let the towel drop and started to get dressed little by little.

"You're not funny," I told her, looking up at the ceiling. A week ago I would have stared.

Sarah pulled her shirt over her head and then pulled the towel off her hair. "I'm dressed."

I glanced at her. "You're pretty in pink you know," I said randomly, making her laugh as she started brushing out her hair. "I like the way your clothes fit. You don't look fat."

Sarah rolled her eyes as she turned on the hair dryer, blowing out her blonde locks and sending a wave of her shampoo at me. I slid my feet into my shoes as she turned it back off and started pulling her hair up in a bun.

"Almost ready?" I asked.

"I guess. I wanted to put on make-up but I guess it doesn't matter. They've already seen me looking terrible." She grabbed her furry tan boots and slid them on. "Come on, let's get it over with."

I grabbed her hand as we walked out of the house. I should have gone and got my truck, I thought as Sarah walked beside me in the cold. She didn't seem to mind it a lot though. She swung our hands back and forth, a new glow had set into her since I'd told her I'd stay with her. She really did need me.

I tugged her down my road; I could sense her getting nervous as we neared my house. I glanced at her to see her reaction as we walked up the porch. It wasn't as big or as fancy as hers. It wasn't as tiny as others either, though. I opened up the door slowly, giving her a chance to get herself together.

"Relax. They're not going to bite," I whispered to her as she looked around my living room nervously. She was taking in all the odds and ends furniture junk my mom had brought home to accentuate.

"Come on." I pulled her toward the kitchen where I knew they would be. I went through the open doorway first, my mom got up smiling as she hurriedly put out her cigarette when she saw Sarah cowering behind me.

"Welcome, I'm so happy you came," she said happily, hugging Sarah before she could get away. I gave her a look and shook my head. My mom let go of her. My dad stayed seated, smiling at her. I tugged off her jacket and pulled out a chair for her to sit down in.

"Sit down, you're tired from walking," I ordered her as I went and hung her jacket up. She timidly sat down, pulling on her sweater. I slid down beside her, giving her a small smile as she leaned her body closer to me.

"You two should have called, I would have picked you up. Sarah doesn't need to be out walking around in this kind of weather," my dad said sternly.

Sarah smiled at him. "I'm fine. I'm not helpless. It's good for me to get out and move around." I grasped her cold hand in mine under the table.

My mom was up fixing Sarah a mug of herbal tea. "Here, drink this. It'll make warm you up." Sarah looked at the cup a moment before glancing at me, I nodded at her and she took a small sip of it. She paused before taking a bigger one and setting it back down. I could feel my dad watching me interact with her silently, like he was trying to see what the elusion of our relationship was.

"So Sarah, how's everything going with the baby? Paul mentioned he took you to the hospital yesterday." My mom started, keeping a smile on her face.

Sarah looked at me again before speaking. "Okay. It wasn't anything major. Just pains from stress." She sipped her tea again.

My dad cleared his throat. "You could have asked me to drive you back home, I wouldn't have minded. It really is too far for you to go on foot."

She shrugged. "It's not that bad of a walk. I was just lucky Paul came by when he did or I would have been there for a while."

"Well you know, next time you don't have to go all the way to Forks. I know a great midwife, she delivered Paul and Ellie. I actually spoke with her already, I was trying to get an idea of everything we'd need to have ready."

Sarah's eyes widened at my mom's words. "Why do I need a midwife?" She asked slowly.

My mom looked at me, then back at Sarah before speaking. "Because it's tribal tradition. All of our children are born here on the lands. We don't go to the hospital for birthing. I'd assumed since the baby is Quileute that it'd be born naturally here."

Sarah's grip tightened on my hand and she looked at me when she spoke. "I hadn't thought about that. I guess the baby really is more Quileute. I don't want to have the baby at the hospital if it bothers Paul."

I thought on it, I really didn't want her overnight in Forks- the Cullens' territory. I didn't want Dr. Fang walking the same halls as me and my brothers who would most likely want to visit as soon as they could after the birth. And I was kinda big on tradition for the tribe.

"It doesn't bother me, but I guess I would prefer it you didn't go to Forks."

She nodded slowly, agreeing with us. "Okay. I don't know how to even start with that though."

My mom got a gleeful look on her face, realizing she'd won herself a new in with Sarah. "I'll help you. I'll call and see when Mrs. Wahall can see you. It means we'll have to be extra careful with what we buy though, since we won't know the baby's sex until after he or she's born."

My dad caught my eye and smiled at me, showing his thanks for bringing Sarah. This was making them happier than I'd seen them in months.

My mom continued. "More importantly, you'll have to explain to your parents what you're planning. I'm not sure if they'll be agreeable with this."

"I don't think they'll mind that much, it kind of works out perfectly. I'd been worrying about the drive to Forks. At least here, I'm only a few minutes away from someone who can help."

I listened to them talk about hospitals and midwives for awhile. At least they were getting along. My dad had decided to go out and get wood for the fireplace, leaving me alone with them. "You know, I know where Paul goes at night," my mom stated with a hint of sternness. "If it were easier for you to come here and stay with him, that's not a big deal for us."

My eyes jerked up to my mom. Was she actually suggesting that Sarah stay the night here, with me? Sarah's cheeks blushed as she looked down at the floor. "I don't think that would work out so well. They know I don't go anywhere but over to Emily's and my dad checks in with Sam sometimes."

My mom shrugged carelessly. "I'm just saying, you're welcome in my home at any time. I figure there's nothing you two can do that you haven't done by now. I only wonder how your parents haven't realized how you're seeing each other yet. At any rate, I'm glad you two have worked things out between yourselves. I was worried you might not even speak when the baby was born." She got up from the table and put her glass in the sink. "I won't smoke when you're over, not in the house." She looked at Sarah and smiled as she stepped out on the back porch, shutting the door behind her.

I turned to Sarah. "Well, do you like her?" I wanted her to like my family. She was kind of stuck with us after all.

She nodded quickly. "She's nice. I like how at-ease she is with everything." She put a hand on her stomach. "I guess I'll have to get ready for a home birth."

I smiled at her, she was taking this so easily. Anyone else would've been terrified at the idea of not being in a hospital.

"Come on, let's go to my room for a while." I pulled her up slowly, shaking my head at the way she acted like she could hardly move already. I led her down the hall to last door and opened it. My room wasn't a mess. It just wasn't very glamorous compared to hers. She glanced around as she let herself flop onto my bed.

"Not what I pictured."

I smirked at her as I sat down beside her, wrapping an arm over her shoulders. "She's really happy, you know. She's not that upset about the baby. She just wants to be around you and get to know you." Sarah nodded and leaned against me.

"I know. I'm happy for her help with it too. Your dad just seems too out of place with the baby talk."

I laughed out loud. My dad never really spent time with us as kids. "He doesn't know what to do. My sister's really flipping out over this. She's at my aunt's house right now or she'd be asking to feel the baby." I looked down at the small bump. "That's something I wanted to talk about too, actually. I don't think you should let a lot of people feel your stomach. The heat radiating from it might start a lot of questions."

She nodded, taking my other arm and placing it on her. "I know, Sam said it's from your guys' genes or something."

I pressed my hand onto her stomach as another thought came to me. "I have something for you, too." I leaned over to the edge of my bed and grabbed my pants off the floor, tugging my wallet out. I opened it with one hand letting my fingers grasping what I wanted. "Here. You should start getting everything you need to take care of the baby." I pushed the money into her hands.

Sarah shook her head, pulling away from me. "I can't take all of your money." She tried putting it back in my hand. I clamped my hand into a ball. "Paul... this is yours. You'll need your own stuff for here."

I shrugged. "I'll get it. I don't exactly spend money on a lot of stuff. I want to help."

She sighed and looked down at the money before I took it and stuffed it into her pocket. "Next thing is, you need to learn how to drive." She made a face at me when I said it. "You're old enough to have a license. You'll need one soon."

I kissed the side of her face quickly. "Its torture," I said softly as I reached up and pushed her face around to mine and kissed her mouth next. "You're right here and I can't even have you."

She opened her mouth up, letting my tongue slide in and I pushed her back onto my bed. I'd dreamed of this too many times. Only she wasn't pregnant and I didn't have to stop. I felt her hands snaking up my back, running through my hair.

"I love you," she dared to whisper as I started down her neck. I didn't hesitate to answer.

"I love you too" I whispered back, letting my hand go through the back of her sweater. I slid my hand around, cupping it around her perfect mound. I kissed her bottom lip, sighing as she ran her nails up and down my rib cage.

"Good thing she's already pregnant," I heard my mom saying. I hadn't even sensed her in the room. I lifted myself off of Sarah, jerking my hand out from under her shirt in one move. Sarah let go of me quickly, sitting up and adjusting her shirt again.

"I didn't hear you knock."

She rolled her eyes at me as she sat down, forcing me to move over. "Next step of business is getting your family to agree to at least meet us. I don't want them to not like us. Paul hasn't been right but this baby is still a part of our family. I thought maybe I'd call and see if I could get them to meet with us."

I shook my head at her. "Not such a good idea right now, mom. Maybe wait a week… or eight."

Sarah shifted around beside me. "I'll bring it up to them. I'll have to let them know I'm coming over here anyway when I tell her about the midwife instead of a doctor thing." She was leaned back partway, one hand on her stomach.

My mom got up and started looking around my room like she was inspecting it or something. "Hmm... You're going to have to move things around to fit the bassinet in here, Paul." Bassinet? In my room? I frowned at her as she appraised my closet space next.

"Why can't we put it in the spare room?" I wondered aloud, she scoffed at me shaking her head. "The baby will need to be close to you so you can hear him."

I could hear the baby if it was down the hall. I knew I could. But my mom didn't. "I guess in here is okay then. I doubt if I have the baby over night though." She rolled her eyes as she started to leave the room again.

"Do you two want some lunch?" I shook my head and so did Sarah. "You should eat, Sarah. It's not healthy for you to only snack on those little bags of carrots and celery I see you with all the time. You need real food."

Sarah flushed slightly. "I'm trying not to gain a ton. I'm already bigger than most people are at this point."

My mom paused in the doorway. "Paul was a big baby too. Then again, look at his size now."

"I hope its all baby. I've already bought a few things, I'm not even sure if they're going to fit the baby though, they're so tiny."

My mom laughed as she walked out then. "They'll fit."

I looked back over at Sarah, she was sitting up again slowly. "You know, technically the doctor only said no actual sex. She didn't say we couldn't do other stuff." She smiled, looking at me like she was ready to jump me. I was torn. I wanted her like crazy right now, but I didn't want to do something that would hurt her. She leaned over slowly, placing one hand on my thigh as she wrapped the other around my waist.

"We could wait until later tonight. Or we could go the beach like we used to."

I looked down at her, noticing how her sweater hugged her when she leaned a certain way. I could see straight down clearly. She'd….grown. I jerked my eyes away, feeling my blood start to pound as she inched her hand up higher on my thigh.

"Stop... I might make you hurt if we do anything more than make out."

Sarah frowned at me, making her bottom lip pout out. "I guess I should get home anyway." She removed her arms from around me and started to stand up.

"No... wait… just..." I sighed as I gave in to her. "Lay back down." She gave me a sly smile as she sat back down and I got up and pushed my door closed. "Don't you dare be loud either. My mom's still in the kitchen. She's cool with you staying here but I don't want her to hear..." Sarah was nodding already and reaching her arms out to pull me down on top of her.

I gasped when I felt what she did when I finally let my weight rest on top of her. She'd lifted one leg up over my hip, pressing me against her. I knew she could feel exactly what she wanted through my jeans and her thin jeans. I pushed my mouth onto hers, shutting my eyes as I felt her relaxing under me. I could feel her hands on my lower back now, pressing down. She bit on my bottom lip a little in between kisses, I had forgotten how exhilarating it was to just lay here and make out.

I pulled my mouth from hers just enough so I could speak. "So are staying with me tonight?" I whispered. Sarah shook her head.

"I can't just say 'hey, I'm going to stay at Paul's'." I blew into her ear before I started nibbling on the lobe.

"Come on… stay." She shook her head again and shut her eyes when I pushed my hand into the waist of her jeans. I rested my hand on her abdomen. "You're right. It'll be fun to stay over when we can actually be together."

She leaned her head up and kissed me, pushing her tongue into mine as she moved her hands up to play with my hair. I heard a knock on the door and called out, still kissing her, "Go away!"

I heard someone laugh and a moment later the door opened. My mom was standing there with an over-excited Ellie. I shot her a dirty look as I let go of Sarah again.

"Come here, kid." Elli ran quickly to me and hopped up into my lap. "I want to show you something, okay?" She nodded, her eyes shining as she looked at Sarah who was sitting on the edge of the bed beside me. I grabbed Ellie's small hand and pressed it against Sarah's stomach. "You're going to be an auntie," I told her watching her smile. Sarah gave her a warm smile as Ellie pushed onto her stomach.

"That's not a real baby," she declared. "The stork's bringing the real one." We all laughed at Ellie's theory as she hopped down off of my lap and took off. "I wanna watch Tv."

My mom smiled at us brightly. "Thank you for letting her feel. I know you probably don't want us all touching your stomach. Are you staying for dinner?"

Sarah looked at the clock beside my bed. "I didn't know it was this late. I've got to get home. They're gonna notice I'm gone and I wasn't supposed to go out because I'm not supposed to do much." She grabbed her jacket and started putting it on, I couldn't help but let out a laugh when she tried to zip it up.

"Come on, I'll walk you back." I got up and grabbed her hand.

I walked her all the way to her driveway this time, daring her parents to come out and say something to me. Sarah looked up at me shyly. "I guess I'll see you later. Or tomorrow or whenever?" I nodded.

"I've got patrol tonight, but I'll come by tomorrow after school by the store and see you." I leaned down and wrapped my arms around her, inhaling deeply before I kissed her goodbye. "Goodnight," I said softly as I let go of her.

Sarah smiled."Night."

She turned to go inside right as I called out, "Love you!"