Chapter 23: The Arrival
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
The trees were coalescing into one big blur, as he raced past them. In fact, he was running so fast, his lungs were just about ready to burst. He had to slow down; it wouldn't help anything if he inadvertently got injured in his attempt to get to his laboring wife. Setting his pace at a comfortable speed, his thoughts obviously were in utter turmoil—wringing Sam's neck would definitely be at the top of his list.
Maybe it was time to step up to his rightful place as Alpha. Jacob certainly didn't need the extra responsibility at this stage of his life, but damn, after everything settled down, he made up his mind to do just that. And when he and Bella went off to college, Sam could take over again—temporarily—until he returned to lead his pack.
Closing in fast, he was only two doors away when her cries reached his sensitive ears. His heart was torn apart as each word filled the air.
"Where is he? I want Jacob!" she shrieked aloud. "Somebody find him. I need Jacob, please! I can't do this alone. He's got to be here."
Charlie was pacing; worried about his daughter. Jacob had better appear soon. He'd never seen her so frantic. Could Jacob even calm her he wondered?
Her dad had been keeping himself busy, phoning people, trying to locate his son-in-law. He filled the birthing tub, and laid out the supplies that would be needed. Luckily, Jacob had them all in one big plastic container in the closet.
He didn't remember being this nervous when his own daughter was born. Damn, Jacob better get here right away.
Maria, the midwife, did her best to assure Bella that everything was progressing normally. The time was getting nearer for her to get into the birthing pool. She cautioned her to stay focused. The baby would be here within the next hour—two hours at the most.
Jacob made it to the house and went around to the back porch to get some shoes that were lying there. No sense in inviting questions about being barefoot. He practically tore the door off its hinges in his haste to get inside, as her continuing cries ripped through the night.
"Thank god," Charlie greeted him. "Hurry up, she's been screaming for you for hours. I can't take any more of it. It was tearing me up inside. I'm staying downstairs. If you need me, I'll be lying on the couch."
Bella's anguished wails drifted down from her bedroom. "I want Jacob! I need Jacob! Please … I want Jacob," she whimpered.
"You hear that? She's calling for you, Jake."
Heeding her pleas, he bounded up the stairs three at a time, and swept into the room like a tornado. "I'm here, Bells; I'm here. Everything's gonna be okay now."
Sweeping her into his arms, he cradled her to his chest. Her heart was thumping at an alarming rate. And he could feel each stroke through his bare skin. Jacob exhaled loudly and ran his hands down Bella's arms. "You all right, honey?"
"I don't know. Maria says I'm doing fine, but … oooh, oooh, no. Here comes another one … Jake …!"
She grabbed hold onto Jacob's neck with a viselike grip, wincing softly through the contraction. He steadied her as she rode the wave of pain. When it was over, he glanced at Maria for some reassurance. She gave him the thumbs up sign.
"How much longer," he asked the midwife.
Maria took a peek at her watch. "About an hour or so." Then she added, "Uh … Daddy, I hope you're not planning on getting in the tub looking like that. No offense, but you are an absolute mess."
Looking a little embarrassed, Jacob agreed. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that. Do I have time to take a shower?"
A finger on Maria's hand gestured at her watch's crystal. "As long as you get in and get out fast."
His lips grazed Bella's cheek as he whispered. "I won't be long, sweetheart—just a couple of minutes."
He stepped back from her as a contraction hit, and she pulled at his neck again bracing herself for the next short battle. "No, wait—oh god … oooh," she breathed out. Jacob held her, helplessly, and wishing he could trade places with her. He closed his eyes, listening to her panting and feeling sick inside. Why did women have to suffer so, to bring children into the world? Love produced this child, but fear and agony would deliver it, and he was definitely feeling both emotions here and now.
Bella let go of him reluctantly. He turned, walking to the dresser, and got some clean clothes out of the drawer, on the way to the bathroom. Slipping into the shower, he was soaped up and rinsed off speedily.
Maria motioned to Jacob when he returned to the room; it was time for Bella to get in the water. He stepped into the tub with her, and holding her by the hips, eased her down carefully, so she wouldn't lose her footing. Then kneeling beside the pool, he waited. With each contraction, she held onto him drawing strength from his words of encouragement and empathy.
A little more than an hour went by, and damn, even being in the water was no longer helping. Bella was beside herself trying to get into a comfortable position. She was exhausted and praying this would end soon. Finally she felt an overwhelming urge to bear down, but it hurt so bad, and she was so tired. "I can't," she wailed. "It's too hard; I'm tired."
"C'mon, Bells. I know you can do this," he said, more to convince himself than anyone else.
Maria knelt on the floor, leaning over the edge of the tub. "Bella, look at me. You're holding back. You need to focus now. That baby's ready to come, you have to push!"
She tapped Jacob on the arm. "Get in the water, Daddy. Your baby's about to meet you."
He got in position to deliver his child. "It's gonna be over soon, honey," he said to encourage her.
Bella sighed heavily. "Oh, god, he's coming. Huuuh, huuuh, uugh!" she grunted.
Jacob placed his hands under her and could feel the crown of the baby's head, filling him with excitement. "You're doin' it, Bells, you're doin' it. Don't stop, now."
With another couple of pushes, the head emerged, and almost immediately, the rest of Jacob's baby slid into his awaiting hands. He picked his child up from the water, and handed him to Bella with tears streaming down his face.
Bella sobbed as she gazed in wonder at her little boy. "Jacob, he's beautiful. Have you ever seen a more beautiful baby?"
The words were lost somewhere in Jacob's throat. It was all he could do to shake his head, he was so overcome with emotion. It took him a few of minutes to regain a little composure.
He kissed his sweet wife tenderly, and buzzed the top of his baby's head. Then at Maria's direction, Jacob wrapped towels around Bella and the baby, guiding them over to the bed. Covering them snugly, he kissed Bella again, and just stood there gazing adoringly at his wife and new son.
With the newborn lying across her breast, she looked up at her Jacob with love evident in her eyes. He thought she had never looked more beautiful. "My god, Bella, I love you."
The proud father, squeezed her hand, and let Maria finish the rest of her birth related tasks while he went downstairs to tell Grandpa Charlie the news.
Charlie's shoulder was jostled as Jacob shook him repeatedly attempting to get him awake. "C'mon Charlie, you gotta come see your new grandbaby."
Grandpa removed his earplugs. "The baby's here?" he slurred groggily. "What is it—a boy or a girl."
Jacob put up his hands, palms out. "Oh, no—that's a capitol offense. It's Bella's job. Let her tell you."
Together they skipped up the stairs. Jacob knocked lightly on the door. "Is it okay if Charlie comes in to see the baby?"
Maria answered. "Can you give us just a minute?"
Bella was fairly bursting to tell her dad that he had a grandson, but she was busy delivering the darn placenta. A few minutes later it detached itself and whooshed out in a stream of bloody fluid. Maria carted it away in a basin to check that it hadn't torn in the process. Then, she yelled, "All clear—c'mon in Grandpa."
Looking as exhausted as Bella, Charlie stooped down over the bed to get a good look at his grandson.
His daughter simply glowed. "It's a boy, Dad. Isn't he handsome?"
Charlie was all smiles. "Hey, yeah, takes after his granddad." He turned to Jacob. "Okay, so he gets some of that from you too." After that comment, he jumped right into, "Can I hold him?"
"Sure, sure," Jacob touted proudly. He picked up his son and gently deposited him in Charlie's arms. Grandpa was immediately smitten.
When he handed his grandson back to Jacob, he apologized to his daughter. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. I just couldn't stand seeing you in so much pain."
"It's okay, Dad. You can make it up to me by babysitting every now and then."
"It's a deal," he snickered. "Well, I'm going back to bed. You two should get some sleep too. Maria, do you need any help cleaning up here first?"
"Nope, I'm just about ready to get some shuteye myself. Jake, if you'll hand me my bag, I'll be on my way. If you have any problems, let me know."
Maria had been gone for half an hour. It was 6:45 A.M. Charlie tried but was too excited to sleep yet. He was on the phone to Renee. Jacob was in the other room, calling his dad. He couldn't sleep either.
"It's a boy—six pounds, eight ounces and 21 inches long." Charlie told his ex.
"Phil," he heard her call out, "Bella had her baby." Then to Charlie—"I'll take the next plane out, probably tomorrow. I'll call back tonight to talk to Bella; she's probably resting right now, isn't she?"
Charlie agreed. "Yeah, she was up all night in labor. Why don't you call at about 7:00 P.M., our time?"
The two males went about tiptoeing in the bedroom, emptying, drying out the tub and folding up the tarps. The towels got thrown in the washer. The birthing pool got rolled down the stairs. When they finished, their adrenaline was spent and they both collapsed.
Jacob was tired, but it was a happy tired. Charlie returned to his room, and Jacob snuggled up to his wife. It felt kinda weird to him, though. His arms went around her so easily and he could hear the soft rapid breathing of his little one in the crib beside their bed. He closed his eyes and fell right to sleep.
Quil and Embry stopped by that afternoon; they brought Billy with them.
"So what did you name this little guy?" Embry asked, as he gently rocked the infant in his arms.
"Liam Charles Black," Jacob replied.
Billy patted Charlie on the back. "Liking the sound of that, eh, Charlie?"
Liam began to cry. Embry panicked and passed him to Bella who was seated on the couch watching all the menfolk take credit for her labors. She clicked her tongue, and started to stand up from the couch. Jacob helped her up the stairs so she could feed the baby.
All the well-wishers left after a little while, and when Bella put Liam in his crib, she napped at the same time. She never even heard Sue drop by with dinner for them.
At 7:00P.M., on the dot, Renee called and acted genuinely happy for Bella and Jacob both. She promised that she'd be on the plane landing the following afternoon at 2:00 P.M. She would rent a car, and should arrive in Forks at around 3:30 or 4:00 P.M.
Jacob had a hard time staying away from that baby. He would just stare at his little miracle. With his eyes fixed firmly on his son, he imagined what life would be like in his future. Liam was a star in his eyes.