Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

AN: Don't let the chapter title fool you. It pertains to the last quarter of the chapter only, it has nothing to do with Paul and Bella.

Bella was now in her final trimester and her days of being selfish with her time with Paul were quickly slipping through her fingers. Her due date was only a month and four days away. The idea of having a baby so close to Easter was unfathomable The past few years she had associated the holiday with the death of her grandmother. She hadn't felt the need to celebrate it since. The only good to come out of the situation was that Renee was taking the week after Easter off so that she could have two weeks with Bella instead of one. Phil was more than accepting that Renee was giving up her Spring Break to be with Bella.

Bella still needed to decide if she wanted to induced or to let nature take it's course. If she was induced than the baby would be born while Renee was there, even if it would be almost two weeks early. The doctor assured her that if she chose to deliver early that everything would be fine. With her mind finally made up she made up she made an appointment with her doctor for the Monday before Easter.

She and Paul had decided that he would work up until the baby was born and only take off for three days because they couldn't afford for him to take off anymore time from work. It wouldn't be easy after her mom left but they would have to make it work.

Paul became more ready to be a father with every passing day. They had both decided against reading most of the books on parenting that Sue and Renee had sent them. They were going to take things as they came and what they didn't know they would catch onto pretty fast. Bella had only read What to Expect When You're Expecting and it had answered every question she and Paul had. The rest would be given to Emily and Sam whenever they decided to have kids because Emily was the type to want to know everything that could be learned during pregnancy and after.

With her due date fast approaching that meant that her time as an employee at Newton's Outfitter's was coming to a close. She had put in her two week notice and that afternoon would be her last shift. She didn't know how she would survive the next seven months. The baby would take up all of her time and she thought that waiting until the baby was six months was enough time to adjust to things before she started looking for another job.

She made it to work ten minutes early to see Mike behind the counter. She remembered Mrs. Newton mentioning that he would be working through his Spring Break to give his parents more time to find someone to replace Bella. She nodded in acknowledgment as she passed him on her way to the office. When she came back to the front he was gathering his things and his mom was coming to help Bella on her shift.

"Mike, there's a box in the trunk of my car, could you bring it in before you leave?" she asked just before he walked out the door.

Mike hadn't been home since finding out that Bella was pregnant over Christmas break. He had hardly said five sentences to her the previous morning unless it pertained to work. He came back in carrying a large box and sat it on the counter before telling his mom goodbye. He was halfway up the stairs when Bella said goodbye. He paused, then looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting hers for only a second before giving her a curt nod then turning to walk out of the store.

"I wish that he would give up on his hopes of being with you," Mrs. Newton said sadly.

Bella turned to face her in confusion. She hadn't realized that his parents knew how he felt about her. She had always been careful to keep things professional between them when his parents were around.

"Sweetheart, you may not have given into his advances but that never stopped him from talking about how he felt about you to his friends. He hounded his father for nearly a week to hire you; even before you had turned in your application."

Bella's eyes turned from Mrs. Newton to the box wrapped in pale yellow paper with blue rattles and pink bows embossed on it. She hadn't expected a gift.

"Go on, open it," Mrs. Newton prodded with a small smile.

Whatever was inside was very large. With the box on the counter it almost reached Bella's chin. She plucked the bow off the top before hooking a finger underneath the flap of paper and puling it down slowly, the last thing she needed was a paper cut. The picture on the side of the box showed a baby in a stroller.

"I wasn't sure if you had one yet; if you do, I kept the recept so I can go back and get you something else," she said gently.

"No, it's one of the things we were going to wait until the last minute to buy."

"Well, now you have one. I checked to make sure that it was an easy to open model. There are two red buttons on the handle that you push unfold and collapse it."

"Thank you Mrs. Newton," Bella said, turning to face her with tears in her eyes.

She didn't know why she was crying. She had been crying at the drop of a hat the past couple of months and she was beyond over it. Rashida Newton pulled Bella to her, holding her close with a gentle grip on her shoulders. Bella wasn't used to letting her emotions get the best of her so she just let her head fall to the older woman's shoulder as she brought her emotions back into check.

She had learned to reign in her emotions when it came to Paul after what had happened in the beginning. She didn't want to bring a baby into that kind of environment. She used her yoga breathing techniques when Paul grated at her nerves; which was a lot lately. He was trying to be less annoying and trying to get under her skin less but he had his moments. Even though they would be parents soon they were still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage.

XXXX

Bella didn't know why her dad had called her and asked that she and Paul come over for dinner but she wasn't going to question him. She tried to go and see him at least twice a week since she had stopped working. She broached the subject with Paul when he got home from work and he agreed to go with her.

When they got to Charlie's it looked like the whole pack had been invited. There wasn't a single parking spot so Paul dropped Bella off then went in search of a place to park. Emily opened the door, enveloping Bella in a hug and the baby moved, causing Bella's stomach to jump.

"Somebodies on the move," Emily said with a laugh when she pulled away.

"They've been doing that a lot lately," Bella said with a small smile.

If there was one thing that Bella and Paul both agreed on whole heartedly on it was that they wanted the babies sex to remain a secret between them until he or she was born. They had a few name combinations that they were still tossing around but they couldn't decide which one they liked best.

She found her dad in his bedroom fresh from the shower and holding two shirts up, deciding which to wear over top the white t-shirt he already wore with his blue jeans.

"I'd go with the plaid," Bella offered.

Charlie looked up in surprise, he hadn't realized that she was there. He pulled the red and white shirt off the hanger and placed the blue shirt in his other hand back in the closet.

"Is there any reason why the entire pack is here?"

"Sue and I wanted to have everybody over because we have some news to share," he said with a shrug.

"Is she pregnant? Because I'm pretty sure that she's young enough for that to still happen."

"Yes, she is young enough; but no, she isn't," he said with an even look.

"Then what is it? I'm your daughter, I have a right to know before anyone else," she reasoned.

He sat on the bed to put on his shoes and mull over what she had said. His eyes met hers as he stood then crossed the room to stand in front of her. He put his hands on her biceps before kneeling down to her level.

"I have asked Sue to marry me, and she said yes," he said with a kind smile.

"Congratulations," she said, leaning in to hug him.

"I never thought that you would get married before I decide to take the plunge again, but when does life ever work out the way want it?"

"It's sure thrown me a few curve balls in the past year," she admitted with a dry laugh.

Looking back she couldn't believe that she had only known Paul for thirteen months. She hadn't thought much of him when she first met him other than he was way too cocky for his own good. He had implanted himself in her life without any warning and had wedged his way into her heart before she even knew what had hit her. He had been persistent even after she had brushed him off. She was glad that he hadn't given up on her and that she had been patient while he had worked through his issues.

"So, Sue huh?" she asked with a mock sigh.

"Yup," he said with a nod.

"You could do worse, Old Man," she teased.

"Hey now," he warned sternly.

"I could have called you Grandpa," she countered.

"Oh God, please don't. Let me enjoy these last few weeks of being just 'Dad'," he said with a scoff of disgust.

She nodded in agreement with a light laugh before draping an arm over his shoulders and leaded him out of the room. They went their separate way at the end of the hall, he went into the living room and she veered off into the kitchen. Sue immediately motioned for Brady to give up his seat but Bella shook her head when he started to get up.

"I'm fine. I've been sitting all day."

"What did you do all day?" Leah asked.

"I put the babies clothes in the dresser and closet and I got the changing table set up."

"That means that no one can go in there except you and Paul until the baby is born," Sue said in realization.

"Yes, it does, so don't send Seth in to scope it out," Bella warned.

"I did that one time!" Sue argued with a laugh.

"Luckily, he didn't find anything."

"Are you sure you don't want to sit down? It's better for you to stay off your feet as much as possible in the final month of pregnancy," Sue broached.

"I'm fine, really."

"Sue, stop badgering her," Paul called from the living room.

"You heard the man, ease up Ma," Leah added.

"Imagine how much worse it will be for you," Sue warned.

"Just for that I may stay part of the pack forever," she warned.

"I know you want a baby of your own. You don't fool me Leah Alexandra."

Leah clammed up, refusing to admit that her mom was right. She hadn't talked to Jacob about it, but she wanted to stop phasing in the next couple of years so that they could try to have a baby. She wanted to wait until he was at least twenty so that they had more time to develop their relationship and had a couple of years to focus on them.

Emily announced that dinner was ready and the kitchen was soon over crowded because everyone descended at once. Bella was backed up flush against the counter when Paul found her. She had never been the claustrophobic type but she was afraid that someone would accidently elbow her in the stomach. He pushed everyone back, giving them each a cold glare and Bella heaved a sigh of relief.

He took her gently by the arm and led her into the living room and pointed to the couch before walking away. Colin and Brady were going to get it later, no amount of defense on Bella's part would change that. She sat on the couch with her feet resting on the coffee table in front of her. Paul came back a few minutes later with a bowl of chili fixed just the way she liked it and a bottled water. She took them with a grateful smile.

Her dad sat across from her in his recliner and Sue sat next to him in one of the plastic chairs from the patio. The younger boys were scattered across the room content to sit on the floor. Paul sat on the floor next to Bella using the coffee table as a dinner table. She had yet to see Jacob, Billy or Sam which she thought was odd. She turned to Emily who sat next to her.

"Where's Sam?"

"He's working tonight. Somebody needed some crown molding put in and it couldn't wait," she said with an exaggerated eye roll.

"Do you know where Billy and Jacob are?"

"No, it's odd that they aren't here," Emily agreed, her face serious.

Bella let the subject drop, she'd get to the bottom of it later. She didn't want ruin her dad and Sue's night. Something wasn't right, she could feel it.

XXXX

After helping Sue, Emily and Leah clean Bella and Paul had left. Nearly everyone had already left and Paul had to be up early the next morning for work. Sam had shown up halfway through the night but Jacob and Billy had been no shows. Billy's absence was felt by Charlie, Bella could tell. Why wouldn't Billy want to share in his best friends good fortune? Then it dawned on her: Billy had feelings for Sue. He had been so protective of her after Harry had died and had been the driving force behind Sue being able to take Harry's place on the tribal council. He'd helped Seth and made sure that Jacob had taken Seth under his wing when he had joined the pack. Why hadn't she realized it sooner?

XXXX

Leah begged off when Charlie invited her to stay the night along with Sue and Seth. She hadn't needed her mom to tell her that Jacob and Billy weren't coming. She had probably warned Billy in advance so that he could think of an excuse when Charlie called him. Sue had never felt anything other than friendship and gratitude towards Billy and she had made that clear to him when he had asked her out the previous Fall. Sue had always had a soft spot for Charlie, even before marrying Harry. Harry had been the love of her life but Charlie was her best friend and knew the meaning of loss in a way that Billy didn't. Billy still carried his deceased wife in his heart and Sue was not going to come in second to someone who had been gone for five years.

Billy thought that Sue would be the one to change him but Sue had been against it from the beginning.

Leah knocked on Jacob's window at a little after ten. He was reading a magazine on his bed by the dim light bulb overhead. He let her in without thinking twice.

"You knew beforehand, didn't you?" she asked.

"My dad found out the day Charlie bought the ring. I don't blame Charlie, he didn't ask for Sue to choose him any more than she asked my dad to set his sights on her."

"Is your dad okay?"

"No. He'll be alright once he realizes that things happened the way they were supposed to."

"Do you mind if I sleep here tonight? I can't sleep at my house by myself; not tonight."

"Sure," he said pulling her to him.

He reached to flip the switch on the wall and the room was shrouded in darkness. He could see things from where Sue and Charlie were coming from just as clearly as Leah could see where his dad was coming from. Leah had been through a situation identical to his dad's, even if Sue didn't reciprocate his feelings but Jacob could see things from Charlie's perspective because he was the new guy in the picture where as Leah and Sam like Sue and his dad had a history.

"I can practically hear what you're thinking. Relax, and go to sleep," Leah mumbled into his neck.

He held her tighter and soon her breathing evened out. He would talk to his dad and help him see Charlie and Sue's side of things. They hadn't set out to hurt Billy. They had drifted towards each other to soothe the other's pain. If his dad couldn't see that than he wasn't the person that Jacob thought he was.