Chapter 9

"So… what's going on? Are you ok?"

She nodded slowly, absently toying with the hair curling around his neck.

"I think so. But…" his heart constricted,

"But what?"

She met his gaze,

"Well, I'm pregnant."

Wind rushed through the nearby trees, clouds moved to uncover the sun above, someone opened and closed a door inside the house. But Jake remained still, eyes fixed on her.

"Pregnant…." he murmured to himself. She frowned, but nodded slowly. He suddenly looked away from her, staring into space. After a few moments of silence, Leah spoke,

"I'll… leave you alone for a minute, let you think." she said quietly, standing from the chair. Before she could step away, Jake reached out and grabbed her wrist firmly in his hand. She looked down at him questioningly.

"I do need to think, but… I'd rather you stayed with me."

"I can do that."

So she sat down next to him on the grass, listening to his strong heartbeat as he remained silent for a long time. After awhile she was afraid he'd gone into shock, so she leaned up to look at his face. The corner of his mouth was twisted in the ghost of a smile, and his dark eyes were far away. Suddenly he focused on her and quickly planted a kiss on her lips before pulling away.

"Wow." he said.

"Wow what, you weirdo?"

He chuckled lightly,

"Well, that was by far, the very last thing I expected you to tell me. I'm floored, but in a good way!" he added hastily at the darkening in her face. "I'm just… in shock."

"Well brace yourself, cause there's more." she said grimly.

"What is it?" he asked, combing his fingers through her hair.

"Well, it's growing really fast. Sam invited Carlisle over to-"

"Woah, woah! Carlisle, got to see my baby before I did?!"

"Calm down. We didn't know what we were dealing with. I couldn't possibly have gone to a normal doctor, now could I?"

Jake sighed, relenting.

"Anyways, Carlisle said that it's growing healthily enough, but it's as though it already has werewolf blood in it. That's why everything is happening so fast. He also said that I can't phase until after it's born, the resetting of my body could damage it." Leah exhaled loudly as she finished. "Did you get all of that?"

Jake smirked, and then pulled her closer.

"How do you feel?"

"Tired… very tired. And ravenous, as in, more than usual."

"Is that even possible?"

She laughed, the gleam finally returning to her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his waist, tucking her head under his chin.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away. I could barely process everything myself. I told my mom… she wasn't angry, once I promised to still continue with my college plans."

"I agree with her."

Leah sighed,

"Can we do this?"

He was silent for a moment,

"After what we've been through in the past year, I think we can handle it." and he believed it. Just then an indignant voice sounded from inside,

"Now can I break his neck?!"

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"How do you feel?" Kim asked Leah as they sat in the kitchen at Sam and Emily's house a week later.

Leah chuckled,

"Fat."

Kim laughed too,

"I mean other than that."

Leah closed her eyes for a long moment, thinking. Eventually she said,

"I feel scared, and protective, and not at all like I think a mother should feel."

Kim nodded slowly,

"I'm sure all new mothers feel that way."

"Well that's just it, the word 'mother' in itself doesn't even sound like it belongs to me." Leah replied, her eyes fixed on the table top.

"No kidding Leah, do you know how old you are? If it was anyone else I would have thought this was a stupid idea. But you'd be surprised at your own strength when you need it."

"Yeah… I suppose you're right. Thanks."

"Now, to repay me for my kindness you could…."

Leah frowned,

"Yes?"

Kim bit her lip,

"Well, it's just that he's been bugging me about it so much…"

"Kim spit it out!"

"Ok, ok… name the baby Jared?"

Leah couldn't help it, she laughed so hard she snorted.

"yeah… I didn't think so."

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One month later, Jake stood in the Cullen's living room. A place he'd found himself in more times than he'd like to admit, which was, ever. He tried to breath shallowly, to dilute the smell, but naturally, with five of them in the room, it was hard to avoid. He wasn't here for them though. He looked down at Bella's frail body on the couch, and couldn't help but compare it to Leah's healthy, lush body, despite the baby. It was strange, almost too coincidental, that they'd gotten pregnant so close to each other, and that both their babies were growing at a far more rapid pace than was normal, but then again, he'd come to realize that coincidences were less and less likely.

He talked to Bella for a little while, trying to keep her spirits up. The prospect of her being killed by this thing was horrifying, so he tried not to think about it, to convince himself that she was stronger than that.

After about an hour, he excused himself. When he looked at Edward's face it was tormented. He knew that Edward was jealous that Leah was in fine condition, and it filled him with some guilt, but not enough. Edward suddenly shook his head gently,

"I wish you all the best." he said quietly. Jake's eyes widened in shock, but he simply nodded and left.

There was one good side to all of this; Sam had decided, that if Bella and her child did survive, the pack would let it live, because both Emily and Leah were pregnant, and he didn't want to put them in danger. It was strange enough not having Leah in the pack for patrolling. Jake was so used to hearing her thoughts in his head all the time, especially her thinking about him. But naturally they would feel a loss if any pack member was missing, but he would never risk the baby being harmed. The baby. He'd never imagined himself being a father at such a young age, him and Leah weren't even married yet, or in college. Deep down, he didn't think he was ready for it, which is why, in a way, the fact that Leah couldn't phase was a blessing.

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Leah ran her hands over her swelling tummy for what seemed like the thousandth time that afternoon. The baby was anxious, she could tell, and it was her fault. Whenever Jacob went over to their house she felt apprehensive, ill at ease. Although this fear might have been unfair considering all the help Carlisle provided, she couldn't displace the feeling. She knew what Bella's child was doing to her, and once again she smoothed her fingers across the expanse of her stomach, silently thanking her baby for being so good. It was wild to think she'd grown so much in such a short period of time. Carlisle said according to her rapid growth, it would be due in about two weeks. At this, her heart started pounding fast again, and once more the baby grew restless.

"Sorry, sorry," she soothed. "I just can't wait to see you for myself."

In truth she was also scared. Unbidden, wild thoughts flew though her mind, like, how can I afford to have a baby? How will I take care of him or her when Jake and I are at school? And, am I willing to bring a child into the world, already knowing they'll have to go through the pains of being a werewolf? Especially if it's a girl?

She sighed, trying to repress the feelings of anxiety. Emily was the happiest soon-to-be mother in the world. Although anyone with eyes could see her natural maternal qualities, she mothered the pack all the time. But was Leah meant to be a mother? How could you tell?

Just then she saw Jake break out of the trees, approaching he house. She exhaled in relief, and sat on the bed. Her mom opened the door. A few moments later he was in her doorway, a glass of orange-juice in his hand.

"Hey" he said warmly.

"Hi"

"Your mom told me to give this to you." He said, coming to sit next to her on the bed. Leah groaned,

"She's treating me like a sponge; I've never ingested so many liquids before!"

Jake laughed,

"It's supposed to be-"

"Be good for the baby. I know, I know," she replied, downing the glass in one big gulp. "So, how did it go?"

"Mmm.. ok. She's, not doing much better. That house is like freaking mortuary, no pun intended."

Leah laughed lightly,

"it's… too bad that she's so sick, they must be really worried."

Jake's eye went wide in fake shock,

"Wow, I can't believe your nose isn't half way across the room after that one."

"Hey!" she said indignantly, "I really am sorry for them…"

Jake chuckled,

"If you say so. Anyways, hows my baby doing?"

"I'm perfectly fine love."

Jake rolled his eyes causing her to laugh.

"The baby's perfect too. Honestly."

He smiled, resting a hand on her tummy.

"Good," he replied, leaning over to kiss where his palm had been.

"Jake?"

"Hm?"

"These past few days I've been feeling really…"

"Hungry?" he supplied. She laughed with him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"No, no," she said, after catching her breath, "I've been feeling really anxious. I don't know what to expect, I just wish he or she was here now!"

"Seriously? I've heard it's really painful."

"Can you be serious for two seconds?" she said through a smile.

"Sorry, sorry. It's just that, I'm really anxious too Leah… really. I don't know what our lives are going to look like in a few weeks. But I think we'll make it through."

"Me too."

"Well… aren't we a perfect, cute couple." He grumbled. She nodded,

"Yeah, it's nauseating. Knock it off."

They laughed again.

"Promising me one thing." She said after a few moments.

Holding back another sarcastic comment, Jake replied,

"Anything."

"Don't let us turn into some boring couple who gets frumpy after having kids."

Jake laughed,

"Trust me babe, that's not going to happen." He affirmed this, turning to capture her mouth in a deep kiss. She sighed into it, wrapping her arms around his neck. He rubbed her back through her thin shirt, kissing her feverishly. Suddenly a voice called,

"Knock it off!"

The pair broke apart laughing.

"Sorry Seth." Leah called.

He was still adjusting to the new situation, but Leah knew deep down he was excited about the baby too.

"Yeah, yeah." He grumbled back.

"On another note," Leah stated, "I actually am hungry."

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A/N: AAAHHH. So many reviewers! Thanks guys, you're all amazing, and I hope this chapter sated you for now. VERY important, I know some people are wondering, is breaking dawn going to affect my story? Jake and Leah just got together! The answer is yes and no. Fear not, Jake will not be imprinting! But, as you saw, there will be some factors from BD in this story, not too much, though. Alright, the next chapter is going to have some action! So please keep the reviews coming. Till next time!