Chapter 50

Leah's P.o.V.

"Jayah, I gotta' present for you!" I took my daughter's hand and led her upstairs to the bathroom. She happily babbled, taking her time climbing the stairs. That was her favorite thing to do.

Finally, we were in the bathroom and I playfully gasped.

"What's that, Jay? Oh, my goodness, it's your very own potty," I said, pointing to the little training toilet. Mom had told me that as soon as she started walking, I'd have to toilet train her. Syanne and I were working on Kyle, and he was actually getting good at it.

Jayah looked at it curiously, probably wondering what a 'potty' was.

"We're gonna' teach you how to go potty all by yourself, Jay. Isn't that exciting?" I cooed. Jayah looked at me and grinned, walking out of the room. Actually, it was her way of running. But it wasn't very fast or efficient. I rolled my eyes and followed her out. She was staring at the stairs, wondering how to get down. I picked her up and brought her down myself, then rested my hand on my back.

I sighed tiredly. I really don't remember my pregnancy with Jayah being this...Well, hard. I'm a whole lot bigger than I was with her, and my ankles were as swollen as a blueberry. My back was killing me, and I was really tired, even though I'd only woken up about three hours ago. And, I didn't tell Jacob this, I was still getting sick sometimes. It was scaring me.

I rubbed my stomach and walked to the kitchen to start making lunch for me and the kids. I decided to make ramen noodles. It wasn't messy, and I was really craving some right now.

As I boiled water, Jayah started climbing up onto the piano. I rolled my eyes and smiled. She couldn't get up, so she reached and started banging on the keys. I hurried towards her and pulled her away, closing the cover.

"No, Jewel. We don't want to ruin Uncle Edward's piano." I set her next to Kyle, who was playing with the little airplane he'd gotten for Christmas.

I returned to cooking, wiping sweat from my forehead. I felt really hot. Feverish. And come to think of it, I've been feeling like that for a while now. I shook it off and poured the packs of noodles into the water, mixing them. I turned the stove to low and let it sit, going into the dining room and setting the kids into their high chairs.

I gave them each some noodles, making sure they were cooled off enough to eat. For some reason, Kyle didn't like using forks or spoons. He'd just pick up his food with his hands and shovel it in his mouth. Jayah really didn't know how to hold a utensil, but tried hard at it. Every time I'd try to help her, she'd start to whine. I rolled my eyes.

She's becoming too independent. Like her daddy.

After lunch, I changed Jayah and tried to get Kyle to use his little toilet. He sat there and stared at me.

"C'mon, K. Do it for your mommy. I bet she'll be happy when she finds out that you used the bathroom on your own." I sat down on the regular toilet and the two of us stared each other down. Finally I gave up and changed him. Then it was time for their nap.

I sang to the two and they eventually fell asleep; Jayah was holding Rocky close to her and her fist was in her mouth. Kyle, of course, slept like a rock.

I stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked around.

"Clean up time."

I washed dishes, picked up toys, mopped, and dusted. Then I mopped and dusted again. I don't know why, though. It made me feel better.

Finally I sat down on the couch and breathed. I felt sick. My head hurt and I was hot. But it's nothing, most likely. It'll pass.

After my moment of rest, I woke the two up and changed them again. After I let them free, I checked the time.

3:46

The Pack should be in soon. I'd need to start with food.

I clenched my teeth as my head throbbed and rubbed my forehead. It was so hot. All of me felt hot.

I walked into the bathroom to check myself. I lifted my shirt up and looked at my stomach in the mirror. My skin looked like it was having a hard time stretching to cover the bump. I was boney. My face looked almost skeletal like.

My stomach stuck out grotesquely from the rest of my body. I examined it more. It was blue and purple around the bump and that was the hottest to touch. What's going on?

"Leah!" Seth yelled. I jumped and pulled down my shirt, walking out of the bathroom.

"Yeah?"

"Oh, nothing. Just seeing if you were in. Mind if I take them out to build snowmen?"

"No. It'll give me time to cook. Go ahead. Make sure they're bundled up." Seth nodded and frowned at me. "What?"

"You feeling okay? You look a little...Ill."

I decided to lie, "Yeah. I'm totally fine. Go. Play with the kids." He narrowed his eyes at me, looking a bit skeptical. Then he finally followed my order.

Okay, everyone's outside. I got a house to myself and a whole crap load of food to cook. The last part didn't bother me. I loved cooking.

I started with snacks. I baked three containers full of cookies and raisin bread. Then I got out milk. I set that on the table, and the door burst open.

"FOOD!" Malachi yelled. He slid into a chair and started munching on the baked goods. The others filed in after that and started eating, too.

"Between you, Emily, Esme, and your mom, I really can't decide who cooks better," Athena said. I smiled and returned to the kitchen, washing the dishes and putting them away. Then I got out a whole bunch of new dishes and different ingredients.

"Who's staying for dinner?" I asked, trying to decide how much to make.

"Not me. I got homework," Jazmyn rolled her eyes.

"I got a test. And a quiz," Malachi added. "I know you're devastated, Leah, but I'll be back. Don't worry." I giggled with a playful eye roll.

"We need to practice for our next recital," Amanda said. Ashley nodded.

"I'm staying. Mom's hunting," Seth said.

"Do you want to stay over?" I asked.

"No, I'm good. She left me the key."

"Of course I'm staying," Syanne said into her cup of milk. Then she handed Kyle a cookie.

"So it's just us then?" I asked.

"Yeah. Sorry, Leah. We know how much you love us," Aecia said with an eye roll and a smile. "So...I gotta' get going." I noticed that she looked at Malachi.

"Yeah. Me, too." Malachi grabbed some cookies and bread and nodded at me. "See ya', Lee," he said, his mouth full. The two left.

"Aecia's being really nice lately. Does that not creep anyone else out?" Collin asked. "The other day, she offered to take my place in patrol. What's up with that?" I shrugged and smiled, rubbing at my cheeks.

Still hot.

When everyone else but Syanne and Seth left, I started making dinner. Then Jacob came in. I looked up at him and smiled. He smiled, too, but then it was replaced by a worried look. I smiled wider, trying not to seem forced. When he walked towards me, I sighed knowing that he was going to try and bring it up somehow.

00000000000000000000000

Jacob's P.o.V.

She looks worse than before. I thought I was just overreacting. But I'm not. She looked almost like a zombie.

I walked towards her and kissed her cheek and then pulled away with a small gasp.

"Leah, you're burning up," I hissed. She turned back to cooking.

"It's okay. No big deal."

"But you look...Really sick."

"It's nothing, Jake. Just a long day." She huffed a breath and took out some plates.

"You're seeing Carlisle."

"Can't we just wait two weeks? That's when I'm supposed to see him again, anyway."

"No. We're not going to wait. We're going to see him." She sighed again and put the plates onto the table. I followed her with the food.

"Oh, I forgot..." Leah rolled her eyes and hurried back into the kitchen, coming back with forks and spoons. "There."

Dinner was loud and talkative, as usual.

"So Wagner got on Jazz today 'cause she was falling asleep in class," Seth said. "Then she got all mad and started shaking because he wouldn't let her sleep."

"What did you do?" Syanne asked.

"I was trying my hardest not to laugh. Jazmyn getting mad is a very rare occasion, and it's pretty funny. I yanked her back down into her seat and she was quiet. She was staring Wagner down so hard, I thought he was going to...implode, or something."

"Implode?" I stopped, mid-chew, to look at him. "Don't you mean 'explode'?

"No. I'm trying to use Mr. Holladay's vocab words. Every time I use one, I get a free quarter from Brady. So, if you'll kindly tell him that I used it right, I'll get it." Leah and I looked at each other, then broke out laughing.

"I don't think you used it right," Leah giggled.

"Yeah. I did."

"No."

"Do you even know what it means?" Leah raised an eyebrow.

"Implode, implodes, imploded, imploding: to burst inwards. It implodes under the rate of its own mediocrity. Implode is the complete opposite of explode which means to expand with force and noise because of rapid chemical change or decomposition, as gunpowder or nitroglycerine. On the seventeenth of May, a faulty grenade prematurely exploded, killing Tom." Seth grinned and took in another fork full of corn. Syanne laughed and the two high-fived.

"I think that one deserved at least a dollar fifty," she said. Seth nodded and looked at me. I chuckled myself and threw my roll at him.

"Your teacher must be proud." Seth took a bite of the roll.

"Mhm. I'm expecting at least B-plus material when I take the vocab test."

"B plus? Really? That's good, even for you," Leah said, making her brother roll his eyes. She set her head in her hands and smiled tiredly at him. "So what else is happening in the world of Seth Tyler Clearwater?"

"Don't use my middle name, Leah."

"What? I was the one that picked it out. I should be able to use it."

"Wait, wait, wait. You picked out his middle name?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"She probably used her evil mind powers to get our parents to agree."

"Did not," Leah smiled. "They let me."

"Mhm..." Seth narrowed his eyes with a small smirk.

"Anyway, answer her," Syanne said. "Wait, don't! I want to talk, too."

"Okay, shoot," I wiped my mouth.

"It's the end of the semester, so the whole school got their schedules changed. So now I get to be in Mr. Bennett's class."

"And that's a good thing?" Leah knitted her eyebrows together.

"No! Bennett's lah-like the rudest teacher at school! He's probably waiting for me to walk in there so he can make some rude comment about my constant s-stuttering."

"But you're getting better," I said. "I barely even notice it." Syanne smiled.

"Thanks."

"Welcome. And you don't stutter at all when you're confident about things. Just pretend you're talking to one of us."

"But I can't! Especially with him and his happy nipples flying all over the place," she shuddered and I choked on my water.

"What?"

"Bennett's got a real bad problem with his chest. It's real disturbing," Seth shuddered, too.

"I know, right? It's all like, put those things away, man!" Syanne scoffed. Leah and I looked at each other again and snorted laughs.

"Anything else about your school filled with disturbing teachers?" Leah smirked.

"Yeah. My schedule put me in third period chorus," Seth rolled his eyes.

"That's great!" Leah shot up.

"No. We have a singing test next class. I'm planning on doing terribly."

"Huh?" I frowned. "Why would you do that? Your voice is great."

"But I don't want to come across as a showoff, or something. Or a teacher's pet. Once Mrs. Guame finds out you can sing, she won't leave you alone." Seth rolled his eyes.

"Well you should still do awesome, anyway. It's better than embarrassing yourself in front of the whole class."

Seth sighed, "True. Thanks for making me feel guilty, Lee."

"Anytime, Baby Bro."

"There's a plus side, though. Practically the whole Pack's in the class with me. So we basically just goof around in the back."

"Lucky. I have fifth period chorus, and only Mal's in there with me. We're just passing notes the whole time. Mrs. Guame's pretty cranky by the time she gets to us. I don't think she likes Freshmen very much." Syanne sighed.

"At least we all have lunch together," Seth punched her arm playfully.

"Yeah. That's definitely a pro." Leah smiled at the two and closed her eyes for a second. I shook her and she shot up.

"What?"

"You're falling asleep."

"Oh. Sorry. Just tired, I guess." I gave her a skeptical look but let it go.

"You want me to wash anything?" Seth asked, getting up.

"No. Just throw it in the dishwasher. It should be empty," Leah replied. Seth did as she told him and rubbed his hands together.

"Thanks for dinner, Sis."

"You're welcome." He kissed Leah's cheek, but pulled away quickly. He glanced at me, and I mouthed Carlisle's name to him. He nodded and ruffled Kyle's hair. Then he took Jayah out of her seat.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take her home with me?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm positive. Leaving you alone with my daughter is like leaving your pack brothers alone with a bowl of chips." Seth laughed and blew a raspberry on Jayah's cheek, making her laugh.

"See ya', Baby Jay." He put her back in her high chair and waved one last time before leaving.

"I'll get dishes!" Syanne replied, using her one hand to stack plates. I tried to grab some but she shook her head. "I got it, Jacob. Sheesh, you get too worried sometimes." I chuckled and took the kids out of their chairs.

"Bath time, guys," Leah said, hoisting herself up. "Upstairs." She pointed to the stairwell and the babies tottled towards it, taking their sweet time navigating the tall steps.

"Leah doesn't look too good," Syanne said once my imprint was out of earshot.

"I know. I'm calling Carlisle," I said, walking to the phone.

"I hope nothing's wrong with her. Or the baby," she said quietly, closing the dishwasher. I froze, my finger still hovered above the number two. The baby has to be all right. Leah would die if our baby wasn't well. I'd probably die, too.

I punched in the rest of the number and pressed the phone to my ear. Syanne gave me a grim smile and bounced up the stairs, saying something about taking over the kids from Leah.

"Hey, Jake," Emmett said through the phone.

"You already knew it was me?"

"Well, duh! I can smell your wolf stank through the phone!" he laughed.

"Emmett..."

"Okay. You got me. Caller ID."

"Whatever. Is Carlisle in?"

"Yeah. Just got back, why?"

"It's Leah."

"Is she not doing good, or something? Did someone hurt her? Who do I gotta' punch?" he started getting angry, even I could tell that through the phone. I rolled my eyes.

"No one hurt her. I just really need him."

"He already left."

"Thanks. See you later."

"Yeah, you, too."

We hung up just as Carlisle came through the door. Damn, that was fast.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked.

"I don't know. She looks real bad," I explained, leading him up the stairs. "She's real hot, and...Well, you'll see." We walked into our room where Leah was already laying on the bed. Her back was turned towards us.

I tiptoed towards her and tapped her shoulder lightly.

"Leah. Lee."

"Mhm?" she slurred.

"Sorry to wake you up." I couldn't believe that she was already asleep! I mean, she'd only just come up here not even six minutes ago.

"Mhm. Hi, Carlisle," she slurred tiredly.

"Hi, Leah. I'm just going to check you over, okay?"

"Okay."

I sat next to her on the bed as Carlisle examined her closely. I noticed a change in his facial expression when he saw her for the first time.

"Do you have any pain?" he asked.

"Well, my ankles...And my back. But that's normal, right?" She chuckled a little. "Umm...I have a huge migraine."

"How long have you had it?"

"Since this morning."

"Did you have one yesterday? Or any other days before?" he asked. Leah was quiet, and I frowned.

"...Yeah. It's been going on for the past few weeks, actually." Carlisle looked taken aback.

"Jacob, you're right. She's really hot. Lift your shirt up for me?" Leah nodded and laid back, lifting up her shirt. Carlisle and I looked at each other.

She looked so small and frail. Her stomach was huge, and it looked abnormally formed. But what got me was all the blue and purple marks around it, like it was hurting her.

A cry caught in my throat.

"I'm taking her back to my house. I can do better examinations there." Carlisle looked a little...Scared?

It couldn't be anything compared to what I felt.

"W-what? What's wrong with her? What happened?" I asked. Carlisle picked her up bridal style and went down the stairs. Syanne came out of her room, looking confused.

"What's going on?" she asked slowly. I didn't answer, because I didn't know how.

"Jacob, I need you to stay here. You have Jayah to watch. I know you're worried, but please don't. It's best for Leah, it's best for you, and it's best for everyone. You need to do that for me." He explained, stopping at the door. Leah was gazing at me with a terrified look on her face. I grasped her hand and kissed it.

"You're going to be okay. Carlisle's going to take good care of you, okay?" I told her. But it was more to myself. I was giving myself peace of mind. Trying to coax my mind that she would pull through and be okay.

"Okay, Jake."

"I'll be by to see you, I promise." She nodded and I kissed her cheek. Carlisle nodded at me and ran off with my imprint in his arms.

Even though I tried hard not to, I couldn't help but be worried. Something was going on, and I didn't know what.

I glanced back at Syanne, who looked really scared. I turned and pulled her into a tight hug.

"She'll be okay," I whispered to her. She nodded into my chest. "She'll be okay."

But to be honest, I wasn't so sure myself.