HI! Sorry, I'm late to the party...again. Whew. Sorry. I think I already said this but I've been re-reading my favorite series before the new book comes out in March and I got a little distracted. But anywho, here I am with an update. I'll try to regulate my updates like I did for TFT. And I gave you guys a treat in this chapter. It's at the end so don't skip down. *Hint* New POV.

*Disclaimer about not owning the Twilight world here*

Please Enjoy!

RPOV

After Jacob had gone into the bathroom, I'd quickly put on my bra and threw the robe on as I raced up the stairs. Leila wasn't a happy camper. I'd changed her and put her in her day clothes, then grabbed a food towel and a bib. The pacifier had calmed her down enough for me to get a bottle warmed up for her.

Before I'd sat down to feed her, I'd managed to get all the ingredients out for waffles. And I'd plugged in the waffle maker. So I sat down and laid Leila across my arm, holding her bottle up. One of her hands reached up to tangle in my hair, rubbing it between her tiny fingers while she watched me.

As she ate, I thought about Jacob and the dream. Where the hell had it come from? It just came out of nowhere to kick me in the ass. And the intensity of it. But I suppose that made sense. My relationship with Jacob had intensified significantly since that dilapidated cabin went up in flames. So seeing Jacob in the woods with his throat ripped out would affect me even worse than it had before.

I sighed. Jacob was right. I couldn't sleep without him. Even though sleeping with just his shirt had worked last year, I really didn't think it would again, not now with how far we'd gotten into our relationship. Not to mention that we really hadn't gotten to spend much time together recently. I'd dived into helping plan the wedding and helping Emily with Leila. Jacob had thrown himself into building up the pack and the rez, and also running patrols. When he would come home, I was either out or deep into planning, so he would sleep the rest of the day. He'd also been spending a lot of time talking to Caden about the other wolves and Tristan. I didn't like to be a part of those conversations so I opted out to go read a book or watch a movie.

Caught up in my thoughts, I didn't see Jacob's shadow fall over the table before his hands came down on my shoulders, massaging them. Craning my head back, I smiled at him.

"Feel better?" I asked.

He nodded and smiled back. "Yeah. You want me to take her? I think she's done with that bottle."

Looking down, I saw that he was right. The bottle was empty even though she was still sucking on it. I took the bottle out to replace it with the pacifier. Those pretty brown eyes darted up over my head and she grinned through the obstacle in her mouth. She reached up just as Jacob reached down for her.

"Oh, now you like me. Wait five minutes, that'll change," he said, nibbling on her chubby neck.

After I washed her bottle, I started on our breakfast. Jacob took Leila into the living room and set up the play pen, but she was too energetic now, so he sat down on the floor with her so she could scoot around on the hardwood. It was cute to watch how he followed her around, making sure that she didn't get too close to the fireplace. But her favorite place seemed to be beside him. She played and gummed on his hands, slobbering all over him.

Laughing, I went back to making breakfast.

"That's disgusting, honey. You have no idea where I've been," he said teasingly in a baby voice.

She gurgled in response.

Thirty minutes later, our breakfast was ready. Jacob had burped Leila, and then put her in the play pen. She was currently performing with the rattle that he'd given her. I narrowed my eyes at him as he shrugged with a grin.

"So," he said after he swallowed a giant bite of waffle. "What do you want to do today?"

"Absolutely nothing," I replied dipping my bacon into some syrup. Sounded gross but it was so delicious.

He grinned. "Sounds amazing to me."

And so, that's what we did all day Saturday: nothing. I took a shower after breakfast and washing the dishes, and then put on some cozy clothes. But after that, I put my hair up in a messy knot, sat down on the couch, and watched Jacob play with Leila. Every now and then he'd give me a look that said he couldn't wait to be doing that with our own kids. I knew my answering look was just as intense.

When naptime came, Jacob and I cuddled up on the couch in front of the fire. Neither one of us had opened the drapes to let the grey day inside. It was nice to be cut off from the outside world even if we were out in the middle of the woods.

He had his arm wrapped around me and I was sitting in the curve of his body, my head on his chest. It was quiet with the only sound being the fire crackling. Jacob's fingers played in the small curls at the base of my neck while I stroked his chest and stomach.

And it was as we were sitting there that I realized we were comfortable. With each other and ourselves. Every time we sat like this or got close at the big house, there was always a tension there between us, in my body and his. But here? We were ok. We were a normal couple. It was nice to be able to touch him and love on him without praying that my dad wouldn't walk in.

As I stared into the fire with my thoughts, I saw his hand move in front of my face and slide over my jaw so that I could meet his eyes. I smiled questioningly. He just stared at me with love and lust. He was probably thinking the same thing I was. That it was just relaxing to be free of all the tension.

"I love you," he whispered.

I grinned. "I love you, too."

When he brought his lips to mine, there was no rush. It was a soft and gentle kiss, slow and unhurried. There was also no raging lust that told us we had to be attached at the lips right this second. Neither one of us tried to move to make the moment steamier. It was just a really great make-out session that didn't turn in to more. He kept his lips on mine, and I kept mine on his, just enjoying the taste of each other.

And of course, to ruin everything, there was a knock at the front door. Sighing, Jacob leaned back.

"Of course. The patrols."

I touched his face. "Jacob, you promised no work."

"I know. But I told Seth to tell everybody to check in with me." He stroked his thumb over my lip. "Nessie, I gotta be sure. It'll only take a second."

He was up and off the couch before I could say another word. But he was right. He had to be kept in the loop. He opened the door to reveal Morgan. She was, hands down, the most gorgeous woman I'd ever seen. And I wasn't the only one. A lot of men chased her. Sometimes she gave in to them, but I knew she didn't really love men a whole lot. The only man that I'd ever seen her not disrespect was Jacob. And over the past couple months she'd softened around the baby. She pretended that Leila didn't affect her, but we all saw it.

Her mane of curls was thick and glossy as they flowed down her back. Those pale eyes took in every detail around her. Her slender body was lean and curvy but very strong. She had the same type of figure that I did, but she probably had tons more muscle under her bronze skin.

Her eyes found me on the couch. I waved.

"Hey, Nessie," she said. Her voice wasn't as deep as people would think it was by looking at her, and it was soft. But sometimes that softness was terrifying when a guy was bothering her.

I smiled. "Hey, Morgan. How goes everything?"

She looked between me and Jake. "We're good. No weird scents or anything. But Seth said you'd still want us to stop by." She shrugged. "So here I am."

Jacob nodded.

"And he also said that you weren't patrolling anymore. May I ask why?" Her voice was formal. It always was when she spoke to Jacob.

As Jacob ran a hand through his hair, I raised my hand. "That's my fault." When she turned to me with an eyebrow raised, I smiled sheepishly. "My nightmares came back this morning and he freaked out."

Those impossibly light eyes became alert, and she looked at Jacob. "Take care of our alpha female. The last time those nightmares happened we lost one of our own. I'll tell the others to sharpen up just in case."

I slid off the couch and wrapped my arms around myself. The air that came through the door was cool. "You don't have to do that. You guys are already sharp enough. Don't overdo it."

Morgan walked into the cabin, shut the door, and came to me. Going down onto her knees, she took my hands in hers, surprising the hell out of me.

"Your safety means Jacob's sanity. If we lose you, we lose him. Our pack can't survive without the two of you. And I know that I will protect you with my life should it come to that."

My eyes filled with tears and I had to swallow hard a couple times. "Why? I managed to whisper.

Smiling, she rubbed her cheek over my hand. "Because you take such good care of us. Adam and Derek were so scared for so long, hiding their feelings to the point of denial. And Christa? She wouldn't be half as tough if she didn't know that we all had her back, if she hadn't known how Jacob would react to her abuse. People knew before she first phased, but never did anything about it. But once Jacob knew, he took action immediately. And you were so gentle with her. Thank you."

"She means a lot to you, doesn't she?" Jacob asked as he walked over to us, placing his hand on her shoulder. She purred a little at the touch.

"She was my best friend before her dad told her that she couldn't be around me. Apparently, I was a bad influence because I encouraged her to stand up for herself. He didn't like that she was becoming stronger-willed."

The lightbulb in my head flickered to life. "That's why you don't really like men. Her father pissed you off."

She sat her butt on her heels but kept my hands in hers. "I don't really like men anyway. They think that they own us." Her eyes flicked to Jacob. "Except Jake and Seth. They're good to you and Shelby. And Caden with Leah. But that's because of the imprint. Other couples with normal relationships don't have that happy ever after the way you guys do."

I took one of my hands back and stroked her hair. "It's ok, now, Morgan. Christa is safe now. You don't always have to be so tough. There's someone for everyone."

She chuckled, wiped her eyes, and got to her feet. "Not for me. I'm too messed up, but I think I'll be ok as long as the people I love are ok."

"You're not messed up, Morgan," Jacob said. "You just have extremely high standards. But there will be someone who will meet them."

"You think so?"

He nodded. "I know so."

She smiled at us for a moment before she got serious. "Seth's right. You should take off patrols. Take care of her."

"If she'll let me," he mumbled.

I glared at him.

Morgan turned to me. "Let him take care of you. You really don't know how good you have it that someone wants to be there for you."

Before I could say anything, she kissed my hand gently, hugged Jacob, and left. I just stared at the door. That was probably the one and only time that we'd ever see that softer side of her.

JPOV

Man, that had been one hell of an eye-opener. I hadn't known that Morgan and Christa had been best friends. It didn't seem like they were the kind to be friends. And neither one of them thought about it when we were phased. It was almost as if their friendship had never happened. But I guess the strain between them explained why one would leave the room if the other walked in.

Scrubbing my hand over my face, I didn't see Nessie as she came up to wrap her arms around my waist. But I slid my hands down her back and held on to her hips as she snuggled up to me.

"Did you know about any of that?" she asked as I rocked her.

I shook my head even though she couldn't see it. "I never knew they were friends."

"I wonder why they haven't started hanging out again now that the threat to their friendship is gone."

Stroking her back, I thought about it and came up with nothing. "I don't know. That's a mystery."

For a while, we stood there, holding on to each other, enjoying the peace of not being rushed or hurried. Reaching over to the bookshelf beside the door, I grabbed the remote to the stereo and turned it on. The volume was already low. I threw the remote onto the couch and gripped Nessie tighter to me. She laughed a throaty laugh as I started swaying us back and forth.

Her arms came up to wrap around my shoulders and neck, and I pressed my face into her neck and shoulder. We swayed back and forth in front of the fire, her socks sliding on the hardwood floor as we held on to each other.

Seriously, though, I kept asking myself how the hell I got so lucky with her. How did my previously miserable life end up being this great, this amazing? I mean, I knew that I imprinted on her and that was a big part of our connection, but why was she in love with me? What was so great about me? I'd tried to ruin what was between her parents. I'd been so selfish that I'd taken my anger out on everyone else, caused them pain, and didn't care. Hell, I'd still never really apologized for any of that.

"Jacob?" Nessie said. She stroked my neck and hair. "Jacob, what's wrong?"

I smiled into her hair. She couldn't read my thoughts and I knew she hadn't seen my expression. She knew my body and had felt the tension. Kissing the side of her neck, I took a deep breath to ease my muscles and the tension there. My hands stroked up her back, fingers playing in her hair.

"Nothing, sweetheart. I'm fine."

"And you're lying to me."

I pulled back so that I could look into her chocolate brown eyes. My hands traveled up her back, over her shoulders, and up her neck, my thumbs playing over her jaw line and cheeks.

"I'm just still so amazed," I whispered.

"At what?" Her arms moved down to wrap around my waist and held on tight.

Leaning in, I gently brushed my lips over hers. "That fate thought I deserved something as wonderful as you. I just don't think I agree even though I won't argue with that decision."

Her eyes turned angry. "Jacob Black, what the hell brought this on?"

My thumbs kept up their steady pace on her jaw. "I was just thinking about you, about us and Morgan and Christa, Derek and Adam."

She shook her head. "Jacob, I don't understand."

"I got so lucky with you. And I don't know how. You could have hated my guts. That's what should have happened. You should have hated me, and I should have spent my life trying to be better, be everything that I used to be before." I shook my head again. "I don't know how you ever forgave me for not telling you about imprinting, or how you could not blame me for not protecting you back in that cabin."

It was her turn to put her hands on my face. I felt her jaw clench under my thumbs. "Listen. To. Me." Her voice was stern and yet oddly gentle. "The reason you didn't tell me about imprinting was because you were confused. I understand that now. I'm so much different than a human imprint would be. And for so long, you were human, always changing, until you froze. And that whole cabin deal was not your fault. I know we've had that conversation before, Jacob. And I need you to remember what I told you then, because it's the same as I would tell you now."

We stared at each other for a moment, before she shook my neck again. "And I never ever want to hear you say that you are undeserving. If anything, I am undeserving. I've really never suffered a hardship, not until a few months ago. You suffered so much, had so much heartbreak in your life. You lost your mother when you were young. You lost my mother to my father, not knowing that your love for her was because of me. I don't blame you for that." Her eyes roamed my face and her teeth took in her bottom lip. "I hurt you so bad by turning you out. And I was so stupid going into the woods alone, knowing that I was supposed to be going to you. If you love me as much as you say you do, then I could have broken your heart that night had some serious damage been done." Her eyes met mine again. "So, it's not you who got lucky. It was me. You are the very best thing that has happened to me. You were my best friend and now you're going to be my husband. After that, hopefully, you'll be my lover."

I grinned at her, pulling her close. Our lips had barely touched when a small cry came to us from upstairs. Nessie pressed her lips to mine and stared into my eyes for a long moment before she took off for the baby. Still thinking about what she'd just said, I went into the kitchen to fix up some left-over lasagna. Nessie would be bringing Leila back down here to feed her, and I knew that she'd be hungry, too. After we'd put Leila down, we'd both just cuddled up on the couch to sink into the quiet.

In a way, I guess Nessie had been right. But I still didn't feel as if I deserved her. I could see her point about the cabin, I guess. And maybe the imprinting. And it had all worked out in the end, though I knew things weren't over with that other pack.

But now, I had more hope that maybe we would get through it all.

ShelbyPOV

I was on my tenth circuit around the living room before Seth jumped off the couch and demanded that I quit driving him nuts. Tomorrow afternoon just couldn't come fast enough. I needed to know, but I wanted Nessie with me. And I knew Seth wanted Jacob to be there when we found out.

"Shelby, calm down. I want to know so badly, too. I mean, why work yourself up? What's going to happen if we are pregnant other than that we know for sure?"

He was right, but I couldn't help but worry. "Will you help me, Seth?"

"With what?"

I turned in his arms and hugged him around the waist. "Will you help me be a good mom? Help me not be so scared?"

He put his fingers under my chin and made me look at him. "I promised you that I won't leave you. I will never leave you no matter what happens. You're mine. And I'm yours. That's all there is to it. I don't have to help you be a good mom. If we are pregnant, I already know that you will be because you know what it's like to have someone walk out on you. You'd never do that to anyone, especially your own child."

I fiddled with the collar of his shirt. "You know we're going to have to see my dad, right?"

His face tightened. "And why would we have to do that?"

"Seth, I can't have a baby and him not know. I just can't do that."

He sighed. "Fine, but I go with you." He turned to the other couch in the living room. "Would you come with us, Caden? I'd like some back-up."

I looked around Seth's body to see Leah and Caden cuddled up. He was playing with her fingers.

He looked up at us, shrugging. "Sure. I wouldn't mind."

"Why him?" Leah asked. "Why not Jake?"

Seth smiled, and it made me shiver at how not pleasant it was. "Because he's more dangerous. There's just something about him that screams danger. Jacob isn't like that unless you get him riled up. I need menace as soon as we walk in the door so her dad backs off. I have to play the I'll-attempt-to-get-along-with-you son-in-law."

"Son-in-law?" I asked, smirking up at him.

He turned to me with a grin. "Hey, technically, we're mated. Weddings are more for humans and whatnot. I haven't been totally human in a while, Shelbs. And with a lot of the guys mating, we've turned more into our alter ego's instinctual natures. And of course, the female wolves like to give us their pieces of mind."

I patted his chest. "We just like to keep our men in line."

"Damn straight," Leah said, grinning up at Caden.

He grinned back at her, but then looked back up at Seth. "Yeah, I'll go. No man will raise his hand to a female around me unless he's not all that attached to that hand."

I chill shot down my spine at the look that flared in his eyes. Man, he could be super scary sometimes.

"Alright, enough with all this emotional, heavy crap," Alice said, clapping her hands as she came into the living room. She was positively glowing.

"What's up, Alice?" Seth asked.

She rolled her eyes. "I need to borrow your girlfriend."

His eyes narrowed and those hands tightened on my waist. "Why?"

Those dainty lips pursed and her eyes narrowed. "Planning, Seth. We have planning to do, because as soon as Jake and Nessie get back from the cabin, we need to get up there to fix it up. It might take few days, maybe a couple weeks to get it the way we want it."

"Wait," I said, holding my hand out in a slow-your-roll type of gesture. "Are you wanting to make over the place?"

"Maybe. Edward was describing some of her dreams to me, though the descriptions were through clenched teeth." She shrugged. "Anyway, I know that the master bedroom needs an update. And we should put in a security system."

"Well, we can't change the whole place, Alice. Otherwise it won't be their cabin, if you catch my meaning."

I kissed Seth and then stepped out of his arms to walk into the dining room. I heard his sigh as Alice followed me. She already had her planning stuff out and Rosalie was going through some home decorating books.

Glancing over my shoulder, I blew Seth a kiss. "Go do your planning for pack stuff while I do mine. We can meet up later, ok?"

He nodded.

"Love you," I said.

He grinned. "Love you, too."

When he headed for the front door, I turned back to the girls and clapped my hands. "Let's get this present wrapped, shall we?"

SethPOV

As I closed the door quietly behind me, I sighed. Something was still bothering Shelby. How could she possibly think that she was anything like her mother? I mean, sure, I'd never met the woman, but I knew that Shelby could never leave a child that had her blood running through its veins.

And I hadn't lied to her when I'd told her that I'd been thinking about the possibility. Was I scared of being a father? Hell, yeah. But I was more excited. And more because it would be Shelby's child more than I would be the father, but that was close second. Me, a father. Man, that cranked me up. It seemed like it was all happening so fast, and it actually was, but it also seemed so right. If Shelby was pregnant-man, that word-then we'd have to move out of the Cullen house. Sure, I knew they didn't sleep, but I knew that our baby wouldn't be like Nessie had been. Our baby would be like Leila: normal. We'd need a place of our own.

Years and years of working in the shop with Jake and Paul, and my inheritance from Dad, I could afford a home. But living on the rez wasn't good enough for Shelby. I wanted her home to be brand new, built solely for her.

I sighed again. I could afford that, too. But it would take too long to get something built.

"We'd help you if you'd let us," came a voice behind me.

I whirled around to find Edward leaning against the side of the house, his arms crossed over his chest. That smirk of his was firmly in place.

"Geez, Edward. You scared the crap out of me."

"I know."

"But you know that I can't let you do anything else for us. You already let us live with you."

He shook his head and chuckled. "You don't get it, Seth. You and Shelby are family. We Cullens take care of our own." His expression turned serious. "And you and I both know that the possibility of pregnancy is higher than fifty-fifty."

I cringed. "You're not about to get all fatherly on me, are you?"

"Seth, let us help you. Let us give you a gift."

My eyes widened as I caught his meaning. Frantically, I shook my head. "No, Edward. You can't do that."

"Yes, we can. We're building that other cabin. It's going to take at least another month to finish it. Not to mention that I've been digging into her head when they plan. I know what she wants."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You've been planning that cabin for us all along, haven't you?"

He shrugged with that indecipherable smirk again. "Perhaps. If Jacob and my daughter are in their nesting phase, then you are, too. Especially with a baby on the way."

"We don't know for sure."

He pegged me with a level stare, telling me that we were just lying to ourselves. We knew, but we needed a test to be sure.

I shifted on my feet, feeling like a five year old who got caught fibbing.

Edward turned for the house. "I'll tell Alice to start planning for Shelby's baby shower present."

"Edward-,"

He turned with a gentle look. "Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"Anything for family." And then he was gone into the house.

Staring at the door for another couple minutes, I raked my hand through my hair and blew out a tense breath. Even if I'd said no, he'd have gone over my head to tell Shelby.

And Shelby may have accepted the gift. But knowing how she felt about the credit card, maybe not.

Shaking my head, the clouds opened up and dumped a shower onto Forks. Sighing again, I took off for Charlie's house. A visit to my mom had been in the works for a while, but I'd kept having to take over shifts for some of the married wolves that had families. Maybe soon, I'd be among those wolves. A mate and a baby waiting for me when I got home, needing me when they were sick, or just plain wanting me to stay home with them.

I smiled as I ran through the rain. Yeah, a family would be nice to come home to at the end of the day.

In no time at all, I was knocking on Charlie's door. Mom answered it and smiled when she saw me.

When she stepped forward to hug me, I kind of stepped back. "Sorry. I don't want to get you wet."

Her hands went to her hips as her lips pursed. She reminded me of Leah. "Seth Clearwater, you are my son. And I want a hug from my son, so hug me."

Sighing, I held out my arms and she flew into them.

"It's been a while since we've seen you," she said against my chest.

I hugged her hard, smelling lavender, her signature scent. "I know, Mom. Sorry. We've been a little preoccupied up at the Cullen house."

"Hey, Seth. What's up, kid?" Charlie said as he came out of the kitchen. We shook hands even with my mom still wrapped around me.

"Nothing much. Shelby's busy planning stuff so I thought I'd come hang out with you guys if you don't mind some company."

"Not at all. Your mom was just fixing up some lunch. Pull up a chair."

"Thanks."

Finally, Mom let me go but held on to my hand as we all trooped into the kitchen. The stuff to make B.L.T.s was laid out across the counter as well as a few bags of chips.

"So how is everyone?"

I sat down at the table after grabbing a coke out of the fridge. "We're all good. Leila's getting bigger. She's up at the cabin with Nessie and Jake. Emily and Sam needed a weekend to themselves. The Cullens decided to give them the cabin for an engagement present."

Charlie nearly choked on the beer he'd opened. "What? Edward's allowing that?"

I chuckled. "Uh, Charlie, I hate to be the messenger, but they already sleep in the same bed. They've always shared a bed."

"What?!"

Choking on my own coke, I snorted it through my nose. After I wiped my face, I swallowed and said, "In Jake's defense, she has nightmares when he's not with her. And they're bad, Charlie. They make her heart stop. She had one just this morning. Scared the hell outta Jake."

Charlie took a deep breath, but I knew I'd made a mistake in telling him that. Edward and Bella would be getting a call after I left.

Mom gave Charlie a look but placed her hand over mine. "How's Shelby?" she asked.

I knew the expression on my face softened. "She's good, Mom. But-uh-," I shifted and cleared my throat. "Edward's also talking about letting us have the other cabin they're building."

"Why?" she asked suspiciously.

Did I really want to tell her that she more than likely will be a grandmother in under nine months? Well, I guess I should warn her.

"Seth Clearwater." Her tone was a demand.

I sighed. "Shelby and I, well, we-uh," I cleared my throat again. "We might, possibly, maybe be pregnant."

Both Mom and Charlie just blinked at me. I was seriously waiting for the marriage first lecture, but it didn't come. After a couple heartbeats, Mom's face broke into a wide grin. It was so wide that I thought she might break her face if she didn't quit. It was kind of freaking me out.

"Uh, Mom?"

She launched herself at me to press kisses all over my face.

"Mom….stop….get-off-," I grumbled. She used to do that to me all the time when I was little. She'd tackle me and hold me down. When she sat back, I rubbed my cheek to get her spit off me.

"When is she due? And why didn't you tell me?"

"Mom, we don't know officially, yet. We're going to take the test tomorrow. Shelby and I want Jake and Nessie there."

She was still grinning. "But you do think she's pregnant?"

I blushed, thinking about Caden's comments. "Well, yeah. She's been eating things she didn't previously like and she's gained a little weight…in certain areas. And she's sensitive in others."

Mom's brows furrowed and she nodded as if she knew exactly what I was talking about. But of course she did. She'd gone through those things with both me and Leah. And then she seemed to realize something.

"So how is she doing with that possibility?" she asked softly.

I sighed again as Charlie set a plate on the table and sat down. Shelby and my mom were actually close and I knew that they'd had the whole conversation about Shelby's mom.

"She's nervous. Nessie and I keep telling her the obvious, that she's not her mom. But she's still scared. I think it's because she wants a baby and she's already hoping for one."

"It's a scary feeling, Seth. Even when I was married to your father and I found out I was pregnant with Leah, it terrified me."

That surprised me. Dad had loved Mom. "Why?" I asked.

She inhaled deeply and glanced at Charlie, who smiled encouragingly and took her hand. "Our marriage was so fresh and we'd talked about when we wanted to start our family and it wasn't then. We'd wanted to wait, but accidents happen and I ended up pregnant. I was so scared that your father didn't love me enough to stay with me. That he'd be angry." Her smile softened with her memories. "But Harry was wonderful. He was so into the daddy title. And he couldn't wait to have another." Her eyes came back to mine. "But my point is she's scared. Someone she loved already left her for no reason that she knew of. A mother is not supposed to leave her child, ever. I think she's more scared of you abandoning her whether or not the pregnancy is there."

"I'd never abandon her. I've told her that countless times."

Mom squeezed my hand. "Seth, it was the same with me and your father. I didn't believe him until after Leah was born and he stuck around. Actions made all the difference to me. Shelby's the same way." She stood up and kissed my forehead. "Just be patient with her. Your relationship is still new, baby or no baby. Trust takes time to build."

I nodded, standing up to go to the counter.

"Now, tell me how my daughter is?"

I rolled my eyes. "Probably going to be giving you a grandchild soon, too, if she doesn't stop romping around in the woods with Caden."

Mom sighed dreamily. "I love that boy. He's the best thing that's happened to her."

Charlie nudged her with a grin. "You just like the accent."

She shrugged shamelessly. "Can't help it."

Charlie and I shared a look and an eye roll.

As the hours passed, we sat there just talking about family and the rez and the pack. But I watched my mom with her new husband. And found that I really was rooting for them. It would make sense that my mom fall for my dad's best friend. They'd been so close and so alike. Mom and Charlie reminded each other of their lost loved one. It was a way to remember Dad. And he'd be happy to know that the woman he loved was being taken care of by the man that he'd thought of as a brother.

It was getting dark out when I decided to leave. Shelby had to be worn out from Alice and Rosalie. She'd been getting worn out a lot lately after hours of wedding planning, so I said my good nights and promised that I'd come back and bring Shelby with me. Mom made me promise to call her when we found out for sure.

On my way out the door, my phone rang. It was Shelby telling me to get my butt home. Grinning, I darted into the rain to get back to my mate.

*Sigh* So much love. I love Seth. So please tell me if you think I got him right or not. I'm not as nice as he is so it was hard to write him. Please review. And as always y'all are awesome! xoxoxoxoxo