Lunar Ascension

Chapter 16: Unexpected

Disclaimer: All things in the Twilight universe belong to Stephenie Meyer and her publishers. The song and lyrics belong to the band and their representatives. Any other copyrighted material included in this story belongs to their rightful owners. Cheers ma dears! Rated M

And I would give all this and heaven too,
I would give it all if only for a moment,
That I could just understand the meaning of the word you see,
'Cause I've been scrawling it forever,
But it never makes sense to me at all.
All This and Heaven Too by Florence + The Machine

Days passed until they became weeks, weeks passed until it became a month. Being on the protected list meant that I was stuck in the house with Bella and Travis while the others and the packs went to watch the area. Apparently they didn't send the double the troops they'd promised, or they got lost on the way. Edward and Emmett had even checked the house in Portland and my apartment in Seattle to make sure we hadn't missed something.

I also hadn't phased since we'd got home that day, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

It had only been a week since we'd faced off with the circle of red eyed fiends in the forest when I'd noticed. I'd decided I needed to stretch my legs, my inner wolf seemed to be getting restless holed up in the house with no action. The moment I stepped into the tree line I tried to phase, but it was like starting up a car that didn't want to want to be started. I puttered then nothing. I tried for almost two hours to get my body to change, but apparently it was just as stubborn as I was and nothing happened. That wasn't like me at all, I was much like Jacob and had learned to easily phase when I felt the need.

I was worried, but I hadn't told a soul since.

It had been three weeks since then and every day I tried and every day less and less happened. I could feel the wolf in me clawing to get out but there was something between point A and point B that just wouldn't let the connection happen. I was starting to really freak out and I knew that I had to talk to Carlisle about it. My wolf body was my main defense. I was strong as a human and I could fight, but not against vampires.

I honestly hadn't thought that nobody would notice my lack of wolf to human ratio, but we were all so preoccupied with the impending doom if there was ever a time to hide something, that was it. I was irritable a lot more but everyone, including Travis, had attributed that to the lack of news. It certainly didn't help, but it wasn't the source of my irritability.

I didn't want to alert anyone to the fact that there was something wrong so I didn't ask Carlisle if I could talk while there were others around, instead I hovered and waited for him to be alone. It took two hours for him to finally wonder down one of the halls without anyone asking questions or organizing defenses.

"Hey Carlisle," I sang, dancing up next to him, my long legs keeping pace with him.

"Hello, Leah," he smiled. "Is everything all right?"

I tried not to let the assumption get to me. He was right, there was something wrong, but that wasn't the only reason I would be talking to him. I tried not to think about the reasoning behind his question. I was over analyzing everything at the moment and it was making me grouchy.

"I would love to say yes and that I just wanted to see how you were, but unfortunately nothing's all right and I may or may not be freaking out a little."

It took me a second to realize he'd stopped walking and I had to back up a few steps in order to be face to face with him. My freaking out was unusual, but I hadn't expected this pensive look he was giving me. I squirmed under his gaze and tried to coax him into saying something, anything.

"Leah, could you meet me in my office in an hour?"

Not what I had been expecting.

"Sure," I replied, trying to hide my disappointment. I was hoping for answers, and it had taken me a while to build up my courage to approach him. It wasn't something I wanted broadcasted, that was for sure.

He took off in the opposite direction without so much of a wave behind him, which left me stranded and confused in the middle of the hall with an hour to kill. My first thought was to find my better half, and when I listened for him I could hear the dogs barking outside and I knew that's where Travis would be. It wasn't that he didn't trust Nessie with the dogs anymore, it was more that he didn't want a repeat performance and knew that if anyone could stop them from taking of it was him.

I made my way out to the front of the house and perched on the porch steps, watching Travis, Nessie and Bella play with the Greg and Steve. Jacob had finally felt comfortable enough to leave long enough to visit his dad, and I guessed that explained his absence. I tried to focus my brain on the scene in front of me but it was impossible to do when my head was filled with questions and concerns. It wasn't like I had lost the shifter gene, I could still feel that mental hold with the animal inside of me, and the strength ebbing through my body. Even my hearing and sense of smell were still enhanced. I just couldn't find the link that was broken.

I went over everything in my head. My diet, my sleeping habits, my thoughts, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The only substantial change in my life was the man I was watching run across the field with a child on his back. My heart, my soul, my imprint. If this was the cost of having him I would gladly give it, but I still wasn't sure that was the reasoning. Everything felt fine, I felt fine. I just couldn't push my body into it's other state of being.

"Hey beautiful," Travis called across the field. Nessie and Bella both looked up and waved with him as they saw me, and I returned the gesture with the best smile I could muster. I just hoped it was enough to convince them that I was happy just watching them play.

Travis, however, knew better. He left Bella and Nessie chasing the dogs with smiles and laughter and made his way to the porch where he crouched in front of me, his hands on my knees, eyes immediately connecting with mine. He'd see it, I was certain of it.

"Where have you been? I was looking for you," he said, rocking forward to give me a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Around the house mostly," I replied, cupping his cheek before letting my hand fall to his shoulder. I already felt better being this close to him. I couldn't stop the questions rolling around my head, but my body seemed to relax a little with his touch. It was the beauty of the imprint, and the one thing I hadn't understood before I'd met him.

Travis flicked the viper on his bottom lip as he watched me and it was all the confirmation I needed to know he wasn't buying what I was selling. He could see through the shit, he just couldn't make out what was on the other side.

"Will you stop moping, babe. I know you don't like being protected, I'm sure as soon as we find out something you'll be back in business. Though I have to say the thought of you not being in harms way is something I actually like."

"You say the sweetest things." I deadpanned.

He chuckled, his hands flexing on my knees making me squirm. He knew every spot I was ticklish and he used it against me.

"I have an idea, it may distract you enough to get those lines off your forehead."

Self-consciously I raised my hand to my brow before rolling my eyes. I wasn't frowning or scowling, but it seemed to amuse him to no end that I actually had to check.

"Asshole. So what's this grand scheme of yours?"

"I never said it was a scheme."

"Semantics." I pointed out. "What's the idea?"

"Take me to meet your mom. Properly. I want to see where you grew up, I want to see what made you, you."

"You want to meet my family?" I wasn't sure what that was such a foreign concept to me.

"Yes. It that so unusual? We're essentially soul mates, it makes sense that we should do the usual family crap that's expected with a relationship. I promise I won't torture you with my family though."

"That wouldn't be awkward," I snorted. I thought about his proposal and figured it wouldn't hurt. He really did need to get to know the people in my life seeing as he would be bound to them. I also wanted to introduce him to Emily. When I'd visited her the previous week, she'd been nagging me to bring him with me. The only problem I could foresee was Embry who still refused to talk to me after I turned him down.

"Well? Yes?" He kissed me. "No?" He kissed me again. "Maybe? Throw me a bone here."

"Sure," I grinned. "My mom would like that and so would Emily. Some of the guys in the pack may give you a hard time, or may start to offer some whimsical stories of growing up with me, I need you to promise to walk away."

"That bad?"

"I told you, I can be a grade A bitch."

"Can we take the dogs to the beach? We can make it a family outing," he smiled, leaning in to kiss me again.

I couldn't help but laugh at him and his enthusiasm. I couldn't believe I hadn't been the one to suggest it. We'd been here an month and I made constant trips to see my mom while Bella and Nessie visited with Charlie. I'd never even asked Travis if he'd wanted to come. I hated how thoughtless I could be sometimes, he'd been cooped up here just like the rest of us and I'd never even offered him a reprieve.

"Sounds like a fun day if you ask me," I replied, cupping his cheek and brushing my thumb over the stubble there. I loved the rough feel of it against my skin. "Let me just take care of a few things, then we can head out."

"Sure thing," he winked, not even asking what I had to do. It was just another reason I loved him so much. He knew when to ask questions and when to let it drop.

The thought that we would get to do something normal couples do seemed to raise my spirits. He sent me on my way with a slap to my ass and told me to hurry, and I fully intended to. I only had another fifteen minutes until I had to meet Carlisle so I took a chance and passed his office hoping that I could get this done and be on my way.

The office was empty, but I invited myself in anyway and pulled one of the medical books from the shelves, letting my eyes coast over the words. I missed college, and I missed learning. I'd chosen nursing because of the benefits it would give to the reservation, which was the reason they'd approved it in the first place. I'd never suspected I would enjoy it as much as I had. I found it interesting.

I turned the pages, surprised by how many words I recognized.

"Ahh, that's always a good reference book to have," Carlisle mused as he entered the office and closed the door behind him. "I'm sorry I had to push our meeting back but I'm hoping it's relevant."

I closed the book on my lap and let my hand rest on the cover. "You gaining your sons talents there, doc?"

I wasn't sure why I reverted to calling him doc in his office, but it just seemed to happen, and it didn't really look like he minded. I guess the distinction made it feel a little more official. He offered me a smile as he shook his head, his pearly whites showing and almost glinting in the light.

"Sadly no, but as a doctor you learn to pick up signs. Why don't you start? Tell me what's going on and we'll go from there. Why are you freaking out?"

"I can't phase."

"Oh."

"Not what you expected then?" I asked with a bemused smile. I don't think I'd ever really seen the good doctor stumped by one of my queries.

"Yes, and no. I think – if my theory is correct – this could be one of the side effects."

"So it's not permanent? Because to be honest it's driving me nuts and I have tried hard to trigger it but nothing works. Once again I am left feeling like the defective, weak link in a chain."

"How long has this been going on?"

"About a month, I didn't try for a week after the confrontation, when I did it was like a car not turning over. The mechanics where there but there was no follow through."

Carlisle nodded and doodled on the pad in front of him. He was quiet for a long while as he continued to scribble on the paper the scratching was fast and seemed never ending and it was beginning to make me nervous. Carlisle never scribbled, he never took notes, he had a photographic memory for crying out loud, he didn't need to.

"Okay you're once again killing me here. Are you going to tell me your theory?"

Carlisle dug through his pocket and pulled out a small box. He handed it to me, his amber eyes waiting for some kind of reaction while his unmoving arm held it steadily in my direction. There was nothing remarkable about the box, it was a standard rectangle with six sides, yet I couldn't seem to reach out and take it. The box itself may have been generic, but the contents meant a world of change.

"You're fucking kidding me?"

Carlisle laughed, it was his nervous doctor laugh when he wasn't sure how to respond. A glut of emotions seemed to crash inside of me, the most prevalent was disbelief, a close second hope. It wasn't even a consideration in my own theories, because I never once believed it could happen. I'd already come to term with it, and now here I was staring at a fucking pregnancy test.

"Doc, say something."

"Humor me, Leah," he said gently. "Don't get your hopes up, it's still just a theory, but you can see how I would draw that conclusion."

"Uh no, not before I'd said a word. Is this what you were doing for the hour? You went to get me that?"

"I know this isn't going to make you feel any better, but you smell slightly different. I knew the moment you stepped up next to me, but I wanted to make sure and I think this is the first step."

"I – I don't think I can do it."

"I can't do it for you."

"Now he cracks a joke," I cried, throwing my hands in the air.

"I'm sorry, but before you go through all the emotions, lets make sure I'm right."

I took the box and almost stumbled out of the door and across the hall to one of the guest bathrooms. I placed the rectangle on the sink and stared at it. I felt as though this was some cosmic joke; like someone in the universe was pointing and laughing at me as the hope swelled up in my chest. I'd wanted kids, I had since before all this mess had started but this wasn't how I'd pictured it happening. I'd given up hope, so that fact that I was even stood here was just bizarre.

I reached for it again, my fingers tapping on the outside as I contemplated whether or not I could do this. Even as surprising as this was the flux of emotions pointed to a huge well of disappointment if the doctor was wrong.

I took a breath and opened it slowly, my hands shaking as I took out the foil covered stick. I left the other inside and tried to steady myself as I tore the stupid thing open. I went through the motions mechanically, and found myself tearing open the second one and following through with that as well.

It had only been a minute, but I knew I couldn't do this alone, so I discarded the now empty box, and dashed across the hall to the doctors office, pushing the door closed behind me. I set both sticks on a piece of paper and stepped back, eyeing the doctor anxiously.

"It's been a minute and a half but I can't look. You're going to have to do it."

Somewhere between the bathroom and the office I'd decided that I really fucking wanted this. Stood with my back against the wall and staring at the two sticks only seemed to confirm it as images filled my mind. I could almost see our kids in my minds eyes, and I knew it would kill me if the tests were negative, but I couldn't stop myself from letting myself dream.

The doctor was right about it making the non phasing make sense. A child growing in my stomach couldn't be subjected to the phase, so it only seemed right that my body would pause in order to create the right environment.

And just like that, I could have cared less about not phasing.

I was beyond hope, I was into planning.

"Carlisle?"

"Take a deep breath."

"Fuck breathing," I gasped.

Carlisle held up both sticks, both with solid pink lines. "Congratulations, Leah."

The world stopped for a second and I felt every breath of air as it brushed over my skin. I was pregnant. Positive = Pregnant. I suddenly felt the need to sit down and stand up all at the same time.

"Holy fucking shit, are you serious?"

Carlisle laughed and dropped them on his desk. His eyes smiling at me. He knew, he knew how much this had meant to me because for the longest time it had been the biggest question mark in my life.

"I would like to do some other tests, but I believe that's just a formality."

"How is it even possible? I mean beyond the obvious." Sex being the obvious.

"All that pain you suffered," he said. "I believe you were . . . Your body was . . ."

"I was in heat," I said unabashed.

"Yes. Unlike dogs wolves only go through that once a year and I think that applied to your body when you imprinted. Your body was dormant, lying in wait for your mate."

Made sense.

I was so happy that my heart swelled in my chest and water pooled in my eyes, for a second the elation was the only thing I felt, it moved through me, into my fingers and toes. I was so filled with joy I could barely breathe. Then that bitch reality stuck her head into the game.

I fell into the leather seat with my mouth open wide, my hands gripping the arms of the chair hard enough to almost enough to break through the wood. All remnants of the smiles had faded and it was just me, and my fear.

"Leah?" Carlisle asked, obviously stumped about how quickly my mood had shifted.

"What if they win? What if they attack? I'm helpless, Carlisle, I can't defend us like this."

"You have us to defend you, Leah. We will never let them have you or your child. You're part of this family, and this family protects its own. That smile on your face when you found out tells me everything I need to know, that child will be loved by you and Travis, just as it will be loved by all of us."

"We're living in a war zone."

"For now, yes, but you can't let this situation dictate your happiness. I have faith that we will prevail, you need to believe the same thing."

"I want to, I really want to believe that."

"Then believe it."

He made it sound like a switch you could flip in your head. I wanted so badly to reach it but it was out of my hands, hanging in the endless space where I couldn't find it. I was a jumble of emotions, happiness was hanging on the edge of the shadows and I wanted so badly to pull toward me and wrap myself in it. I just could help feeling lost, I was a protector, benched and ineffective because my body was nurturing my child. I couldn't protect us.

"This is a good thing, Leah. A beautiful, natural thing, let yourself be happy. When we find out what's going on we'll figure it all out, but for now, let yourself enjoy this."

"Thanks, Carlisle."

"Happy."

He was right. This was something to celebrate, I would cross the bridge when I came to it, but for now I needed to envelope myself in my happiness. I was pregnant, that in itself was a miracle. The rest, I would deal with later.

"I have to tell Travis."

Carlisle smiled and pointed to the sticks still sitting on his desk. "You need some proof?"

"Yes, I think so. We're going to La Push this afternoon. Maybe I could tell him on the way there."

Carlisle just nodded as I grabbed the sticks and eased them into my pocket. I felt out of my body, and the only thing left to offer was a wave and a smile as I once again stumbled out of the room. Unfortunately, my thoughts were on the child in my belly when I bumped into Edward. I noticed immediately that he'd caught it, his eyes went wide.

"Not a word," I mumbled. "I have to tell Travis first."

"I'm excited for you." I could almost feel how genuine the sentiment was. Edward had become a friend these past couple of months, and had I been any more frazzled, I could have honestly admitted that I would have hugged him.

"Thanks, Edward," I grinned back.

He nodded, but squeezed my hand before letting me pass. His smile was just as broad as the dopey one I was sure I was wearing. I could do happy for now. I could enjoy this. I just had to take one day at a time.

I headed down the stairs and grabbed the keys to the Jeep, trying not to think about Travis' reaction. Would he be happy? Worried? Concerned? Angry? We'd never talked about it before. I wasn't even sure he wanted kids. It was one of those things that I didn't think needed to be addressed, especially after he'd shut me down when I'd tried to tell him I couldn't gestate.

Oh how wrong I had been.

Suddenly I found I was anxious all over again. It was the first time I wasn't sure how he would react.

I was starting to feel like I was on a roller coaster and there was no exit. I needed to find an emotion and settle on it before I short circuited and became a blubbering mess. It would help if my brain would stop doing its thing. I could handle whatever was thrown at me, I was strong, I was determined and I had options. No matter what happened, I would be happy and I would love this child with everything I was. That was the important thing, right?

I stopped at the front door and tried to gather myself together before I faced Travis again. Sometimes I felt like an open book to him and I was sure he'd know something was up. Even with the anxiousness I could see the smile in my reflection from the window next to the door. I tried to rearrange my lips but no matter what I did there was still a curve and my eyes still shone.

It was as good as it was going to get. If I stood here any longer I was going to bump into someone else that would demand an explanation. Now, I had to find the right way to tell him.

"You boys ready to go?" I called out as I stepped onto the porch feeling like I was about to puke from nerves.

"Yes ma'am," Travis yelled back, riling up the dogs and racing them toward the Jeep.

I made my way down the steps feeling my lips move into the curl of a smile of their own volition.

"What are you looking so happy about?" he asked, his head cocking to the side.

I tried to think about my answer to that question.

You knocked me up! Nope, that wasn't going to work.

"Nothing, lets head out before we lose the light," I replied, opening the door and settling into the seat. For a second I had to fight the inclination to pat my stomach. It was still flat, still defined by the muscles I'd always had, but knowing something was inside of me, growing, I couldn't seem to shake the need to reassure myself.

Travis loaded the dogs in the back before climbing in next to me, his eyes still full of curiosity as a small smile seemed permanently etched itself on his lips.

Surprise! I'm pregnant! Nope, still not a gentle way of breaking the news to him. That approach sounded more like I'd booked an exotic vacation than me harboring the fruit of our loins in my abdomen. Maybe driving would help clear my head.

"You're starting to freak me out," he said as I pulled out of the tree line and onto the highway. He was turning in his seat studying me and I was sure that my face would give it away before I had a chance to formulate the words needed for the revelation. He reached for my hand and pressed a kiss to the palm as he watched me with curiosity.

He bugged me for half of the drive to La Push, he asked question upon question trying to find what was going on with me. As we neared the treaty line, I knew I would explode if I didn't get it out there and see his reaction. I just wasn't that patient.

I pulled the Jeep onto the shoulder, the damp slush covered leaves shifted under the tires making the car slide as we came to a stop. I had my hands at ten and two on the steering wheel as I stared out at the trees lining the road I had traveled a million times in my life. For some unfathomable reason it looked so different to me now.

"Okay," I said, finally releasing my grip on the steering and letting my hands fall into my lap.

"Leah, you can tell me anything, especially good news. It has to be good with that smile you have going on."

"That's the thing," I said building up the courage to meet his eyes. Finally, with a sigh, I just did it. The blue of his eyes was dancing with excitement and I felt the connection between us crackle. "It's good news to me, but I'm not sure what you're going to think."

"That's ridiculous," he laughed, picking up my hands in his. "Just fucking say it already. The anticipation is killing me."

"Okay I'm sure you've noticed that the last couple of weeks I've been really moody and quiet and I admit I was freaking out a little bit because I just didn't know what was going on. It's never happened to me before, and I didn't know if it was even possible, but I couldn't figure it out."

"Leah, you're rambling," he chuckled squeezing my hands. "What couldn't you figure out?"

"I can't phase anymore."

"What?"

"I know. It's been a month and nothing I did seemed to trigger it. I tried everything and I was really just . . ." I lifted one hand and shook it by my temple to indicate I felt crazy, which made him smile at me. It only distracted me more. "So I went to see Carlisle and he had a theory."

"Leah, what does it mean? If you don't tell me soon my mind will go to dark places and I'll go crazy with worry."

I took a deep breath, which only made my hands tremble in his.

"Travis, I'm pregnant."

A/N: I know some of you may not be happy about this revelation, but there is a point I promise lol! Leah is ecstatic and a little stuck now she can't phase. As you can imagine, this is going to bring up some problems all of its own. I would also like to apologize for lack of Review replies, apparently FFn is back to its old tricks and it won't let me access them. I will keep trying! I also may be out of touch for a week or so. ;)

Thanks to all of you who read, alert, favorite and review. I love hearing your thoughts and theories and I'm interested to see what this new development will bring.

To Hev99 and Sabi'sSookie, I will see you both in a couple of hours and I can't thank you enough for how amazing you two are! PinkIndeed, thank you for being the friend you are! I love you guys loads!

MWAH!