Leah sighed and looked at Seth. Without a word, she went and picked up the sleeping baby from the floor. "Would you like to help me get Tommy dressed, Emmy?" she asked her little sister. Emeline nodded enthusiastically and took the hand Leah offered, following her into the bedroom.
Seth took a deep breath. "Okay, Christy, here's the thing. So far you're the only person outside the family who knows about this, and I know I can count on you to keep it to yourself. You've been keeping our secrets pretty much since I met you, haven't you?"
Christy finally managed to close her mouth. "But how…?" she managed to mutter.
"We have no idea," Seth admitted. "As far as we know, there's never been a baby born to two Quileute shape shifters before. In fact, we were pretty sure Leah could never get pregnant, until…well, it happened." Seth chuckled without mirth. "You've seen us shift, so you were as well prepared as anyone could be for Tommy," he explained. "He's absolutely helpless as a newborn baby, but as a wolf pup he can run around and play. Naturally, he prefers to be in that state as much as possible, but when he falls asleep he phases back to his human shape. Leah tries to feed him when he wakes up, and he seems pretty content. The only thing that never fails to make him phase to wolf is Emmy. They have an unusually strong bond for some reason."
Normal color was slowly returning to Christy's face. "Seth, I've gotta tell you. I never would have believed you if you'd told me this story." She smiled. "He's a little cutie – either way."
Leah appeared in the doorway, Emmy in her arms. "He didn't even wake up when I dressed him," she said softly. "And Emmy helped me get his diaper." She smiled at her little sister, who beamed back at her.
Emmy immediately reached for her brother, and Leah sighed and handed her over. Seth caught her expertly with his arm, and Emmy wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "Sef," she murmured happily, settling onto his lap.
Christy grinned at Leah. "We might just as well be part of the furniture."
Leah chuckled. "Well, she likes me well enough when Seth's not around, but as long as he's here she doesn't even see me. Or anyone else, including her parents."
"Hey, guys – what can I get you?" It was mid-October, and Jacob and Seth were having lunch at the diner. They placed their order with Christy, and Jake leaned back against the padded seat of the booth and closed his eyes.
"I have a big favor to ask, Seth," Jake said without opening his eyes. Then he leaned forward on his elbows, looking directly at Seth. "Leah's absolutely exhausted, and I'd like to take her away for the weekend. Your mom has her own baby, so I don't want to ask her. Is there any chance you'd agree to babysit Tommy from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon? I know it's a lot to ask…"
Seth didn't wait for him to finish the sentence. "Of course, Jake. I'd be happy to. Let's see if I can get some reinforcements." He gestured to Christy, and she finished taking an order and hurried over to their booth with a smile. Seth smiled back and asked, without preamble, "Do you have any plans for the weekend?"
Christy shook her head. "Nothing more exciting than washing my hair and cleaning the bathroom," she grinned. "What did you have in mind?"
"A little babysitting gig I just got roped into. I think it's a two-man job," he joked.
Christy chuckled and looked down at her pink uniform. "I guess I should work on my wardrobe," she joked. "But sure – it sounds like fun if it involves a certain little Tommy Black."
Jacob groaned. "Fun? Don't believe that for a minute! That kid runs both of us ragged. But I owe you guys, big time. Are you sure you can handle it?"
"Piece of cake," Seth assured him. He winked at Christy. "What time do you want us? I'll pick Christy up on my way."
They arrived a few minutes before ten. Leah was bathing Tommy, and he was splashing happily in his tub – soaking her and everything in the immediate vicinity. She picked him up and wrapped him a towel, cuddling him to her and kissing him as she opened the door. She looked from Seth to Christy, obviously surprised.
Jacob walked out of the bedroom with a bulging backpack slung over his shoulder. As Christy reached for the baby and took him gently from Leah's arms, Jake slung Leah over the other shoulder and walked out the door.
Seth looked at Christy, his eyes sparkling with merriment. "I guess it was a surprise," he grinned, closing the door behind them. He looked at the baby more closely. "That kid's growing like a weed! He looks almost as old as Christy! Let's go see if Jake left us instructions somewhere. I'm guessing in the kitchen."
Sure enough, there was a schedule on the counter listing feeding times, bath time, and where everything could be found, as well as instructions on how to warm the formula in the microwave. Seth opened the fridge, and the top shelf was lined with bottles of formula.
It was a short trip. About fifteen miles from home, on the outskirts of Forks, Jacob pulled into a Marriott hotel with a lighted vacancy sign. Apparently, he'd made a reservation, because the clerk greeted him by name and handed him a key.
Jacob led Leah by the hand and opened the door with a flourish. The room was lovely, but all Leah saw was the oversized bed. Jake dropped the backpack on a chair, and the two of them dived onto the bed, moaning in anticipation. Jacob kicked off his shoes and wrapped his arms around Leah. She cuddled up against his warm chest, sighing deeply, and they were both asleep within three minutes.
Leah woke first, and the room was beginning to darken as the sun sank low in the sky. She smiled at her sleeping husband and kissed him softly, brushing her lips against his. His lips formed a slow, satisfied smile as his arms reached out for her. "You hungry?" he mumbled.
"Not exactly." Her reply was muffled as she pulled her shirt off over her head. She flipped him onto his back and knelt over him, straddling his hips, as she leaned forward and kissed him deeply, hungrily. They made love slowly, lazily, taking their time and savoring every touch, every move.
"Now I'm hungry," she smiled, looking into his dark eyes as she lay in his arms. "But I don't feel like getting dressed and going out."
Jake chuckled. "The good news is that the hotel has a restaurant. The even better news is that they have room service." He smirked.
Leah kissed him gently. "And it's not even my birthday," she breathed. "I love you so much, Jake."
Jacob grabbed his watch from the night stand. "I'll order us some steaks while you take a nice hot bath. I packed for you, and you should have about a half hour." He nodded toward the backpack, still on the chair where he'd dropped it when they arrived. She picked it up and sashayed into the sumptuous bathroom, her hips swaying as he admired the view. He chuckled as he picked up the phone and called the restaurant.
Leah lowered herself slowly into the steaming tub. It was heavenly. She soaked until the water started to cool, then dried with the huge fluffy towel and opened the backpack to find something to wear. Jake heard her chuckle as she pawed through the pack. "Jacob Black, what the heck is this?" She emerged wearing a filmy negligee, and he whistled as she pirouetted for him.
"It looks much better on you than on the hanger," he grinned. She scurried back into the bathroom when they heard a knock at the door.
Jake came looking for her when the waiter had left. She was pulling at the bottom of the gown. "I'm not sure I'm back in the right shape for this, Jake, but it was sweet of you to think so." Suddenly she stopped and sniffed the air. "Oh my god, that smells good!" She took her place at the oak table, picking up her napkin and tucking it into the plunging neckline.
Jake sat across from her and laughed. "This is my fantasy come true. A huge steak on my plate, and a beautiful woman in skimpy lingerie across the table." He sighed in contentment before attacking his steak.
Meanwhile, at the Black house, Seth and Christy were having a great time. Christy had dressed Tommy and fed him, then put him down for a nap. They remembered to close the bedroom door per Jake's instructions, and they popped a movie into the DVD player. Seth was appalled that she'd never seen The Princess Bride. Just as Wesley and Buttercup entered the fire swamp, they heard a thumping from the bedroom.
Seth paused the movie and opened the door carefully. A little ball of grey fur came hurtling through the opening. He made a beeline for Christy and started chewing on the leg of her jeans. She chuckled as she struggled to pick him up. "Now Tommy, we've talked about chewing. Nice little boys don't go around chewing on people's pant legs."
He whined plaintively, so she set him down on the floor again. He immediately took off toward the kitchen, skidding on the slippery floor and sliding into the cabinet. Seth reached him in three long strides and scooped him up as he began to howl softly. Seth inspected his face and kissed him tenderly, hugging him to his chest. "No wonder they're worn out," he muttered, shaking his head. "This kid is a handful! And he must weigh 20 pounds by now," he estimated.
Seth sat in Jake's recliner with Tommy on his lap, and he stroked his soft fur, scratching gently behind his ears. "You're a little tough guy, aren't you?" He chuckled as Tommy clambered up to his shoulder, then to the back of the chair. Christy dived to catch him just as he leaped off the chair, bruising her shoulder against the wall.
"You okay, Christy?" Seth asked with concern.
She rubbed her shoulder and chuckled. "I'll live, but I wish I had thick skin like you guys." Meanwhile, Tommy had landed gracefully on the floor and shot off toward the kitchen again, looking for some more mischief. Before they could catch up with him, they heard a loud crash. Leah's ceramic canisters had been knocked over on the counter, and Tommy sat happily licking up the sugar that had spilled when the top flew off.
Christy tried not to laugh as she scooped him up in her arms and carried him back to the living room. She sat on the couch, the wolf pup on her lap, and Seth moved to sit beside her. Tommy rolled onto his back, obviously hoping for a tummy rub. Christy obliged him with a chuckle, and soon he was fast asleep. She watched, transfixed, as he phased back to his sleeping baby self.
She sighed and turned to Seth. "He's amazing, isn't he?" she breathed.
Seth smiled. "Hard to imagine my sister giving birth to something so precious," he joked. "But seriously, he is pretty cool." He took her hand in his, sitting back comfortably as he re-started the movie.
Christy reached for the remote and paused the movie again. "I'll be right back after I get a diaper on this guy," she said with a smile. She dressed the baby quickly and laid him in his crib, covering him with a light blanket. When she came back, she sat next to Seth and reached for his hand. "Now where were we?" she asked, smiling at him.
Seth made no move to restart the movie. He looked at her evenly and said, "I'm glad you agreed to come this weekend. You're a big help with Tommy, and I've gotta say I'm enjoying your company."
"Me too, Seth," she whispered, playing with his fingers. "I love children, and both Emmy and Tommy are adorable. I'd be happy to watch them any time, or to help you watch them."
"I'll remember that," he replied, squeezing her hand gently.
The huge meal was nothing but a fond memory. Jacob and Leah, propped up on generous pillows, decided to watch a movie. Within minutes, Jake could tell by Leah's even breathing that she was asleep. He chuckled softly as he kissed her cheek and pulled the sheet over her. He finished watching the movie and powered off the TV, tucking Leah in close to his lanky body before he drifted off.
The sun was pouring in the window when Leah woke with a start. She took Jake's arm and shook him. "What time do we have to check out?" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
He smiled lazily up at her. "Don't worry, Leah, we have till noon. That's two more hours of peace and quiet."
She leaned in and kissed him, smiling. "Well, I'm not tired any more, so what can we do?"
"We'll think of something," he smirked with a twinkle in his eye as he reached for her. Sure enough, they were ten minutes late checking out. They stopped on the way home for lunch and walked in just as Seth was coming out of the bedroom with Tommy in his arm. The baby was wide awake, dressed in a fuzzy blue blanket sleeper, and he reached for Leah.
Leah took the baby from Seth, peppering his little face with kisses as he smiled up at her. Seth laughed. "So you missed the little monster after all," he quipped. "How was the mini-vacation?"
Jacob grinned. "I haven't slept that soundly in…well, six months!" he sighed. "It was wonderful. I don't know how to thank you two."
Leah hefted the baby in her arms and looked at Jacob. "I think he's grown in two days!" she marveled. Tommy smiled up at her face, cooing contentedly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noted with some satisfaction that Seth's arm had crept around Christy's waist, resting there quite naturally.