Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. And the song credit goes to Panic at the Disco.

Thanks for all the reviews! There is still time to vote on the gender of Hallie and Paul's baby! So please leave your pick on a review; it's as simple as that.

"The ink is running towards the page
Chasing off the days
Look back at both feet and that winding knee
I missed your skin when you were east
You clicked your heels and wished for me
Those playful lips made of yarn
That fragile Capricorn unraveled words like moths upon old scarves
I know the worlds a broken bone
But melt your headaches, call it home"

Northern Downpour

I could tell the suspense was getting to Paul, especially after I had returned home from my baby shower with a bunch of yellow and green stuff. He'd just have to wait; I wanted to be surprised. I had always promised myself that I wouldn't find out the gender of my first baby, and I meant to stick with it; even if it did bother the hell out of my husband.

That wasn't my only worry; Derek and Lynn had insisted on being married in late August. Of course Lynn had asked me to be one of her bride's maids which meant that I had to wear a dress when I was seven months pregnant.

"I can't believe you're doing this to me." I sighed from inside the dressing room.

Lynn, her sister Nina and Kate all stood on the other side waiting for me to come out in the plum colored dress. The dress was pretty and normally would have flattered my curves nicely, but I didn't really have curves at the moment. In fact I wasn't even sure why I was trying on a dress now, when I would only be bigger in August.

"Just let us see." Lynn pleaded.

"I'm just going to be bigger when August rolls around." I sighed.

"We know, but we just want to see the color on you, Hallie." Kate added.

I threw open the door with a sigh and watched as the three of them looked me over. They were smiling, so I took that to mean that I didn't look like a blimp.

"That color looks fantastic on you!" Nina exclaimed.

"But will it in two months?" I countered.

Kate rolled her eyes at me, "Shut up Hallie. You look beautiful; you're glowing for Pete's sake!"

"Yeah, and Paul thinks you're the most beautiful thing in the world no matter what." Lynn added.

"Enough about me." I insisted. "Let's see you in that dress you picked out."

***

"Your Mom thinks it's a girl, Billy thinks it's a boy and I think that I want to know!" Paul sighed as he rubbed my stomach.

We were lounging against the head board of our bed looking through a book of baby names. I was currently searching through the 'M' section mentally checking off ridiculous names all the while Paul's hand rubbed my belly.

"So what names to you like if it's a girl?" I asked, completely ignoring his statement. "I was thinking something classy; like Grandmother's names. So that's a Marilyn and a Betty for me how about you?"

"Cassandra and Gabrielle." He replied.

My eyes lit up, "What about Gabrielle?"

He smiled, "I like that and I think my Grandma would appreciate that as well; may she rest in peace."

"So what about a boy name? I honestly don't know; I always figured I'd name him after my husband, but I don't think we could take another Paul." I chuckled.

"How about if it's a boy I surprise you with a brilliant name?"

"It better not be ridiculous." I warned.

"I would not do that to a child, Hallie. What kind of monster do you think I am?"

I rolled my eyes at him before I set the baby book aside and pulled the covers up over my belly. Paul kept rubbing and I was about to push his hand away so I could turn on my side when a sudden kick halted all movements from both of us.

I turned my gaze to his and saw that his was grinning like an idiot, but I knew that I had to be too. Our baby had just kicked! And we had both experienced it at the same time!

"I see baby knows who its Daddy is." Paul stated proudly, that ridiculous grin still in place.

I smiled and placed my hand on top of his hoping for another kick. Sure enough a few minutes later baby kicked again; yet again earning delighted smiles and chuckles from its parents.

***

With all the wedding and baby preparations August rolled around faster than I would have liked. That's how I found myself facing down the mirror in my plum bride's maid dress. I was definitely bigger than the last time I wore the dress, but luckily they had sized me right.

"You look gorgeous Hallie!" Lynn exclaimed.

"Don't lie to me. Besides, you're the one that should look gorgeous and you do."

She sure did. Her long auburn hair was in loose curls all around her head and her shimmering white dress hugged her in all the right places. I couldn't wait to see Derek's face when he finally saw her; that boy was in love, no doubt about it.

"You do, you're glowing." Lynn insisted.

"I'm seven months pregnant, the glow is gone." I rolled my eyes as I accepted my bouquet from Nina.

Lynn rolled her eyes at me and hit me with her glove. "Shut up; we all know that you are the best looking pregnant woman we have ever seen."

"Alright, as much as I love this banter it's time for us." Kate added as she opened the door.

Nina and I followed her out of the small room and down the hallway to the sanctuary. Then we lined up and waited for the music to play.

As I made my way up the aisle I let my gaze roam first to Derek, who I flashed a smile, and then my gaze came to rest on Paul. His eyes looked me up and down, as if he wanted nothing more than to carry me off to bed. How he could feel that way I did not know; I thought I was pretty disgusting myself.

I just sent him a smile and continued my way to my designated spot. Hopefully the ceremony wouldn't take forever; I was in heels and my lower back already was aching.

When the music swelled and Lynn appeared in the doorway with her Father I immediately turned my attention to Derek. He was grinning like a cat that just caught the canary. He looked so damn cute being insanely happy like this.

But as I watched the exchange between Lynn and her Father I couldn't help but get teary eyed, but for more reasons than usual. I'd never get to talk to my Father again, I'd never get to see him again, and he would never get to see my child. My eyes filled with tears and I tried my best to keep them in. At least I had been able to share this memory with my Father, and I would always remember it over the bad memories from my teenage years.

I felt a pair of eyes on me and found Paul staring at me worriedly. I flashed him a watery smile and turned my gaze back to where Derek and Lynn were joining hands.

How many weddings did this make now since I had been in La Push? This place was like a smorgasbord for love; first Mom, then Kevin, then me, and Jacob. Who knew that way out here on the West Coast next to one of the rainiest places in the country such happiness existed?

***

"Boy." Billy declared as his hand rubbed over my satin covered belly.

I laughed at his antics and watched as his hand was replaced by Sue's. She held her hand there for a little while before she pulled back with a smile on her face.

"Girl." She countered with a quirked brow for Billy.

"I agree with Sue." Mom laughed.

"Are we rubbing the belly for good luck?" Derek asked as he wandered over and automatically started to rub my belly. The baby kicked and Derek broke out into a huge grin.

"Ha! Baby knows who its uncle Derek is!" He exclaimed excitedly. "Now come on, dance with me Hallie."

I took his offered hand and let him help me up and lead me to the dance floor. There was a nice slow song playing, but not overly sappy. Lynn was in the arms of her Father as were many of the other girls on the dance floor.

"How are you?" Derek asked knowingly.

"It's a bit sad, but…" I shrugged.

Derek smiled down at me comfortingly, "Good thing you've got an amazing husband right?"

"Yeah; I think Lynn has one of those too."

"Oh Hallie, you flatter me." He chuckled.

"Don't get used to it."

"You better watch it if you want a babysitter for your little one."

I smiled up at him knowingly. I knew that he would do anything I asked for this kid. I had discovered he was a sucker for babies and since I was his best friend he was automatically connected to mine. I had a feeling he and Lynn were going to become what Paul and I had to Joanna and Joel; willing babysitters.

"Yeah right." I finally said.

"Yeah…you're right." He sighed with a smile on his face.

The song ended then and Paul approached from behind Derek. Derek happily handed me over to him and Paul swept me into his arms just as the opening strains of the next slow song began.

"Did you have some of that cake?" Paul whispered. "It is delicious."

"I did, but really is that all you have to say while your wife is in your arms?"

Paul rolled his eyes at me and bent down to place a peck on my lips. When the song ended I went to rest my feet, leaving Paul to dance with my smiling Mother. I was joined at the table a minute later by Kate and Jake. Kate handed me another piece of cake and grinned knowingly at me.

"I saw you eyeing the cake again." She said.

"Thanks for aiding me in becoming a giant." I sighed as I dug in.

Jake laughed and I was happy to see that Kate smacked him on the back of his head for me; not like it did anything to him, but he got the point.

"Sorry Hallie." He mumbled.

"Boy you are whipped." I chuckled.

"You have Paul whipped!" He protested.

"I'm a man; there is no chance that I'm whipped." Paul stated as he walked up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders.

I shared an amused smile with Kate before I turned my face up to Paul and gave him my best pleading smiles.

"Honey, will you get me some punch?"

"Sure."

As he walked away the three of us laughed at his retreating form. He was whipped, but it was purely a conscious decision on his part; I never abused it. I had seen how Mandy had treated Kevin and I had vowed never to be like that.

"Wanna dance sis?" Kate asked me after Paul returned my punch and started talking to Jake about something sports related.

"Sure." I smiled as the opening strains of the Macarena filled the room.

I knew I had to look ridiculous dancing the Macarena with a huge belly, but no one seemed to care. In fact many people joined us, except for the guys too afraid to 'damage' their image by dancing to a 90's dance song. Derek joined us though, but that didn't surprise me; I knew he secretly loved dance music.

By the time the song was over I was burning up. The air in the building had turned pretty stuffy and I knew that if I didn't get some fresh air soon I would start hyperventilating. Pregnancy did some crazy things to a woman's body.

I told Kate where I was going and headed for the doors. I didn't bother to tell Paul; he would have freaked out and insisted that he come out with me. I would only be out for a second and I'd be in a well lit place right in front of the doors.

Once I was outside I leaned up against one of the columns that held up the overhang and took a deep breath; much better.

"Lovely night isn't it?"

I froze. Though I had never heard him talk before, every fiber of my being knew who the voice belonged to. It was chilly and charming at the same time, and so un-human.

I turned my head slightly to the right and there he was smirking at me triumphantly.

"Oh, how I have waited for this, Hallie. I bided my time and now you've practically offered yourself to me."

Before I could even think of darting back into the building or screaming, his hand clamped down on my mouth and he pulled me up against his rock hard chest.

"Too late." He sung in my ear.

I wasn't even concerned about my own well being at the moment; I was worried about my baby. If I died that was fine, as long as my baby lived. But I knew that the vampire probably cared even less about a wolf's baby than a wolf's wife.