D: Disclaimed
Chapter Twenty-Four
-SEBASTIAN-
I can't explain it really. Jake usually laughs at me when I tell him that Baby-girl and me are close. When I first mentioned it to Jake, he smirked and for the first time, he didn't believe me. But, there were times I believed I was crazy. I just couldn't understand why this wolf decided to attach herself to me, or attach herself to Jake and me for that matter. Dom just seems to be here to protect her from anyone who he feels might harm her. I knew then that they were mates, and I wondered… why pick us? Why did they need us? That was until just moments ago.
Ever since we came home, it felt as if the bond that I formed with the wolves grew stronger and into something entirely different. They felt like family. But Baby-girl was something different. This is where Jacob questions my abilities and me. Since I had lost my gift when I became human, he still wonders how I am able to see what she sees. I don't see it as a big deal seeing her visions are nothing but wandering and a little bit of hunting. But there was always that feeling of wanting to leave, wanting to go home, but she couldn't, she wouldn't. I would often talk to the pair and ask why they refuse to leave and what exactly was it that they were waiting for.
It was then, or a few minutes ago that I realized a plausible reason she needed all of us. The two don't have a pack, and in order for theirs to grow, they needed the protection, and who better to protect them other than Jake and his pack. Baby-girl was having pups, and she wasn't afraid to seek us out. At least I think.
Would they be leaving when the pups were big enough? Why did this bother me so much? To others, they were just wolves that hung around, but me, it really felt as if I was losing an important part of my life. Almost like a mother to a child? None of it was making sense.
Rather than make a big deal about it all, I decided I would let my grandfather do what he needed to do. Ten minutes later proved that he wasn't even needed; it's just that she had only a single pup, and this pup was bigger than the normal. Of course Carlisle was concerned of some sorts, I was just happy that Baby-girl was okay and that she birthed a beautiful pup. It was amusing to watch the proud parents hover around the small creature as Baby-girl bathed it.
What was big news for me most didn't seem to care. I was ready to tell the world about the newcomer, but everyone acted as if really didn't matter. The most important thing right now was that Kim was being rushed to the hospital to be given birth to hers and Jared's first. As much as I wanted to stick around and watch over Baby-girl and her little family, as duty of the alpha's mate, I was required to be there just as Jake was.
So reluctantly I left with Jacob and the rest of the pack and headed for Forks Hospital in a hurry. With so much on my mind, it finally sunk in that we would be welcoming another child in the pack, and was a great deal now that it meant I was a part of the pack. Not only did the child need Jared and Kim to be a part of it's life, but we as a pack were needed just as much; especially Jake and me. No matter the circumstances, according to everyone, we'd be acting as the other parents when needed.
When we arrived at the hospital, it was more chaotic then expected. With everyone crowding the waiting room, there would only be a few allowed in the labor room once Kim was ready to deliver. She chose Rachel and Paul along with me and Jacob, and as uncomfortable I was with it, I knew it's something I just couldn't deny them. It was expected of Leah and Emily to step in if we weren't able to be here, but since we were, I really had no choice but to nervously stand by there side while the child would be welcomed to the world.
With almost an hour past and Kim nearly fully dilated, we had come to another surprise. Since Rachel was only a couple weeks away from her due date, her and Paul's baby decided to that tonight was the night too. It wasn't long before Rachel was being pushed on the hospital gurney to the next available room they could find. Right away Jacob and I went into panic-mode. I was asked to stay with Kim and Jared while Jacob went with Rachel, but Rachel insisted we both be there for the couple. I couldn't deny her since she would soon be my sister-in-law. So Emily and Leah had to step in and be there for their best friend while Jake and I would be down the hall tending to Rachel and Paul as much as possible.
By then, everyone was at the hospital including my family. Grandpa Carlisle had offered his assistance in any way, but the pack being skeptical on the whole situation, I thanked him on their behalf and asked him to wait with the others. It was hard enough knowing that there was the discomfort of them being there to show support for me.
At first, I thought the sight of blood and whatever else came to view would unsettle me, but it was the screaming. As much as Rachel tried to hold her composure, I couldn't blame her for shrieking in pain. Luckily both Paul and Jake had their werewolf strengths to burden her tight grips; otherwise I was sure that they'd be screaming just as much as she was. In some way, it was up to me to help Rachel even out her breathing as she began to push. I would often wipe her forehead from the sweat and continue to encourage her to push and remind her that she was doing a great job.
"You're doing great Rach!" I tried comforting her over her painful screams. "You're almost there."
I could only hope then that I was right. I knew nothing about childbirth, and here I was, acting if I was an expert for Rachel's sake. By the time she gave her last push and the baby had finally arrived, we were all exhausted. I couldn't help but smile just as the doctor announced to the parents that they had a healthy baby boy.
Paul quickly kissed his wife on the forehead and grinned from ear to ear as the doctor asked the proud father to cut the umbilical cord. I couldn't help but let out a giggle as Rachel did. Jacob kissed her cheek and congratulated her for being a mother. I did the same just as the doctors cleaned the infant and swaddled him in a blanket before handing the child to the proud parents. Paul hadn't stopped smiling as he brought his son to his wife, both cooing and smiling at the child with amusement. I couldn't blame them as soon as the baby came into view.
He was definitely one of the most precious things I had ever seen. His skin color matched his parents, his dark curls pressed against his smooth forehead. I watched in awe as he attempted to open his eyes to peek at his surroundings, his cheeks were plump and rosy. Everything about him made me want to cry in joy just Rachel was. The first time she held her son, I had never seen her happy just as this moment.
It was time for the little guy to have his first meal, which meant that it would be up to Jake and I to deliver the news to the group in the waiting room. I almost felt that it should be Paul breaking the news to them, but he refused to leave their side and insisted that we let the world know that they had a son.
After removing our hospital gowns and tossing them into the bins by the door, I couldn't help but hold onto Jake's hand as we both walked down the hall in excitement.
"So," I leaned into his side, "how does it feel being an uncle?"
"I don't know," he chuckled, "you tell me."
"Honored and privileged." I replied honestly. "I never thought I would ever get this opportunity, but now that it's here, I almost feel just as proud as Rachel and Paul do."
"You took the words right out of my mouth." He grinned again.
As soon as we made our appearance, we were crowded by everyone shouting questions, most of them asking if it was a boy or a girl. Before Jake could announce the news of the baby boy, Leah told us that Jared and Kim had a health baby girl more than an hour ago. Which meant, as of now, the two newborns had different birthdays.
With all of the excitement in play, everyone began to make their way home after being able to see the two babies. I had to admit that it was quite the sight to see as Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Sue were introduced to William Paul Lahote. Seeing how Rachel looked up to my grandpa as her father just as much, she was proud to introduce her child to him as his grandpa. It was the first time I had actually seen grandpa cry, and with William in his arms, both him and grandma insisted I take a picture for them to remember this moment.
With all the chaos over and done with, the sun began to peak across the parking lot. I was just as tired as Jake was, and I was looking forward to finally getting home for a good rest. I would have never expected to not only be welcoming a pup to our little family, but to welcome two babies close together was a bit surreal. I knew that I would always remember this moment.
Home. I've never been so relieved to be here and finally in our bed. Of course I checked on Baby-girl and the pup to see if they were okay before finally cuddling up to my boyfriend. As cold as I was, I reveled in Jacob's warmth as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in closer to him, a habit I had grown used to. It gave me comfort knowing that Jacob would need me just as much I needed him.
I laid in the same spot, my head rest on Jacob's arm as I looked at the curtain covered window. I could see the sunlight trying to break through the fabric, still leaving the room a peaceful darkness. In a distance, I could even hear the birds chirping on this happy day. I almost didn't want to go to sleep knowing that tomorrow would be a little different. But as my eyes fell heavy, the last thing I remember is hearing Jake's soft snores and the feel of his body pressed against mine.
Waking up to kisses all over the face wasn't what I was expecting, but as I slowly opened my eyes to find Jacob grinning down at me.
"Breakfast in bed?" He chuckled before trying to feed me.
I was quite content to be spending the morning with Jake; it was rare other than the past week of us spending it on our bed, or anywhere else we couldn't keep our hands off of each other. But this was nice, even if I had to wrestle with him whenever he'd tease me. What was supposed to be a romantic breakfast turned into a small food fight, which led to both of us getting into the shower to welcome the day. Who would've thought washing syrup off each other's body would turn into something erotic, it took more than an a hour before we were able to let go of each other.
I wish I could say that the day was eventful, but unfortunately Jake needed to return to pack duties and the others were preparing for the others to return in some way. I spent most of my time with Baby-girl, Dom and the new addition. I pondered on most of the day of what to call the pup, but nothing came to mind, it felt wrong giving the poor thing an animal name. It just didn't feel right.
Rather than drive myself crazy over it, I decided I would spend more time with the small family and watch the pup as it grows. But as I had, it seemed a bit detached to its parents. I mean, Baby-girl and the pup bonded, but not the way I had expected. With Dom, neither him nor the pup wanted anything to do with each other. It was saddening know that the two parents weren't as proud as I thought. It was like they regretted their own child, and I wasn't sure if that has ever happened to any living being.
I began to do a little research on wolves and their packs, but nothing came up of a mother didn't mean that they would ignore the pups, even they cared for their young. It was rare for a mother wolf to adopt another puppy, usually a stray, but that was on unfortunate events, such as the mother losing her own young. Then she would take a stray as her own, but the others would never accept. And in this situation, it didn't make sense.
As the days passed, I could only reason that Dom was never the father to begin with, and was forcing Baby-girl to reject the pup. It was saddening at the moment I should be with Kim and Rachel and the babies; making sure that the pup was fed since its own mother wouldn't feed him was holding me back.
Thankfully, they both had understood and expected me by soon. But, now I believed the poor little guys needed me more than anything. Even Jacob was beginning to see where I stood with all of it. He called and apologized to his sister when we insisted on staying with the poor little pup after finding that the parents had abandoned it. I cried after we returned from the grocery store to find that both wolves were nowhere in sight as the pup struggled to walk to me.
I couldn't be more upset with the wolves, thinking just how selfish they were by leaving the little guy, helpless and almost starving. At least this time, I was able to feed the pup without Dom growling at me from the sidelines. By this time, we've been growing attached to little guy more than we expected. That night, instead of the pup sleeping on the porch by himself, it was Jake who suggested that he sleep with us at the foot of the bed. I agreed. But the morning wasn't too pleasing as we woke up with the little guy wedged between us.
As the days passing by, we were finally able to see the ladies and the babies. Rachel had been busy nesting still, or so they called it. It was her that explained that Sue mentioned that when a woman prepares for her child, she begins nesting, which means she will set up the nursery to her comfort and making the home the right atmosphere for her child to come home too. But when the child comes unexpectantly, she still adjusts a lot of things around the house. Which meant she moved the nursery on Paul when he wasn't home with Audrey's assistance and mine. We apologized to the new father, but he was appreciative to know that we were there for his wife whenever needed. It was then that we knew that Paul would do anything for his family, and he would do anything to make his wife smile.
Often they would ask me about my little sidekick too. When Kim came over too, they would all see that the pup followed me everywhere I went. I refused to leave the little guy home alone, and Jake wouldn't let me either. We've actually had come protective over the pup that at times we have forgotten that he was just a puppy. But that didn't mean that he didn't feel like family.
After explaining to Rachel, Audrey and Kim about how the wolf-parents left without him, they understood just how I felt about being there for the small guy. When they asked for names, I could never come up with anything, and I told them that. It was Rachel that teased me that she was going to start calling the pup Little JJ.
"Jake would be so mad." I giggled at the thought.
"Think about it." Kim chimed in, "the little guy looks like Jake's wolf's mini-me."
We shared a laugh before Audrey spoke, "maybe this will be the closest you guys will have to having a family."
Just as Rachel and Kim scorned our friend, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of pain. Right away I kept thinking that maybe Audrey was right. Of course I was still to young to thinking about a family, but that didn't mean that it wasn't always on my mind. There haven't really been times I hadn't thought of solutions other than adoption.
"I'm sorry Seb." Audrey apologize, "I didn't mean to open my big mouth."
"It's fine Aud," I slightly shrugged, "I've come to terms of the possibilities of having a family with Jacob, right now, having all of you being a part of it is enough for the both of us."
Rachel smiled just as Kim had, "see, this is why you're my brother's imprint and the alpha's mate. You've got your head screwed on right." She then turned to the pup that sat quietly by my feet, "isn't that right Little JJ?"
"Kim?" I begged, "don't."
"What?" She shrugged, "Jake can argue all he wants with me, but he really looks like if he could be Jake as a pup."
The teasing continued, and I couldn't help but join in. In some way, I hadn't noticed until now that the little guy really did look like a smaller version of Jake's wolf. Though I'm not sure that Jake would be too pleased to hear that we were teasing him without knowing. Even though Jake fell in love with pup just as much as I have, we couldn't build something that was never there. As much as I one day wanted a family, there was a lot of things that hadn't experienced yet.
After the long visit with the rest of the imprints, I made my way home to prepare dinner for Jake and me. As I continued to drive home with 'Little JJ' sitting in the passenger seat next to me, my cell began to ring. I hardly used the thing other than phoning my parents or my aunts and uncle, but it was surprise to me to see the caller ID blinking 'Aunt Alice.' I parked the truck in the driveway to answer, noticing that Paul, Embry, Quil, Ty and Seth leaving.
"Hello?" I answered paying a little attention to the person on the other line.
"Sebastian?" Of course it was my aunt, sounding like her happy self. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," I replied opening the door for 'Little JJ' to climb out, "can you hold on a sec?"
Before she could reply, I got out covering the phone's mouthpiece. "Is everything okay?" I asked the guys.
"Peachy kid." Paul smiled, "just helping Jake with a few things."
"Like what?" I asked curiously.
"Why don't you go in and find out." He replied as they all grinned ear to ear, leaving as if they were all holding some big secret from me.
I closed the door to the truck and suspiciously began to walk up the walkway, now holding the phone up to my ear as I begged the pup to calm down. "Sorry about that Aunt, what was it you're asking?"
"How are you? We haven't heard from you in almost a week since the babies were born." She giggled on the other end of the line.
"I'm fine really." I replied honestly. "The babies are okay. Rachel and Kim seem to be taking motherhood as a skill. They both haven't stopped smiling."
"That's good to hear." She seemed to be nervous at some point, but I was a bit anxious to ask her. "How's Jake?"
"He's fine." I replied in suspicion, "He…"
"Is that you Seb?" I could hear Jacob shout out.
"Yeah." I called out. "Listen auntie, can I call you back in about ten minutes, I need to change and begin preparing dinner."
"Promise?" She asked.
"Promise." I assured her, "I'll talk to you soon, love you."
With that, I hung up the phone to find Jake standing in front of me. "No need, but go upstairs and change, I already prepared dinner."
"Really?" I asked a bit shocked. "What's the occasion?"
"You really don't know?" He asked. I shook my head feeling a bit guilty. "Just go and change and I'll tell you when you get back down here".
I nodded and made my to the room to change into something more appropriate. Even though I wasn't sure of what the occasion was, I was still nervous to find that might have forgotten and important date. As I fixed my shirt to match Jake's, I kept thinking that I'm missing something. Our anniversary had passed a month ago, and I was sure that maybe he mixed his days up somehow. By the time I was done, I made my way back downstairs to find him and the bottom waiting for me with a rose in his hand.
"Here you go love." He handed me the rose before grabbing my hand and leading me to the dining room. "Today's special for one reason."
"And that reason is…" I replied skeptic.
"This is the anniversary that we shared our first kiss," he smiled, "and also the day that the pack had accepted you fully into the pack."
"Really?" I questioned, "I thought the pack didn't accept me until we… mated."
"No," he chuckled, "that was the day they were thankful that there alpha stopped suffering."
"You guys are geeks." I laughed just as he had, "but I do apologize for not remembering the anniversary of our first kiss, I just didn't think it mattered to you just as it had to me."
"Of course it does," he sat me next to him, "as corny as it may sound, I will always remember each and every one of our firsts."
"I never pictured you to be such a romanticist Jake." I admitted foolishly, "I guess there's always something new to learn about each other every day."
"For you, I'll be anything you need me to be." He chuckled uncovering the plate of food in front of us. "And we have the rest of our lives for new discoveries."
"You're absolutely right." I agreed just as the pup interrupted us with a bark. He stood at the doorway of the kitchen, covering his eyes with a paw before begging for his meal.
"I haven't forgotten you either." Jake laughed before standing up and bringing him his own dish to eat in the other room. He returned shaking his head, "the bugger is such an attention hog."
"Just like someone I know." I teased him. He smiled and gave me a kiss, "it all looks delicious Jake."
"Well dig in before it gets too cold."
I was a bit surprised to find what he had prepared, and admitting that it was mostly Seth that kept the guys busy with preparation duties. I knew I had to thank the others for helping Jake with the tasteful meal. Our dinner conversation consisted of the babies and how Paul and Jared were handling a lot of it. I was about to ask where Jared was, that was until Jake explained that him and Brady were doing a few laps on the perimeters.
I excused myself for a moment to return the phone call to my aunt before I forgot entirely. Jake offered to tidy up while he waited and I would come back to help him once I was done. I quickly grabbed the home phone and dialed my aunt's number to only wait for a ring before she answered.
"I knew you'd almost forget." She teased. "Of course I would always know that."
"I'm sorry auntie, but Jake surprised me with a dinner and I almost forgot to return your call." I sighed, "so what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Jake made you dinner?" She asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Never mind, that's not what I called you for."
"Then what is it?" I chuckled, "c'mon auntie, spit it out."
"I'm not sure of it's anything really." She paused.
"Well it must be something if you called."
"Right," she cleared her throat; "I'll get right to it. Who is JJ?"
"JJ?" I paused, "are you talking about the wolf pup?"
"I don't think so…" she almost sounded unsure. "I keep seeing a child in my vision by that name, but I'm not sure who it is."
"I doubt it." I replied. "I told you about the wolves that appeared here, it turns out that they had a pup and abandoned him here, leaving Jake and me to take care of him. It's Rachel that gave him the nickname 'Little JJ,' to tease Jake."
"Oh," she answered confused, "I must have had a misguided vision."
"Misguided vision?"
"Yeah," she said embarrassed, "sometimes I have them when I haven't had any in awhile. Seeing how nothing has come across my radar, they sometimes come to entertain me more so. I really do despise them actually."
"Oh," I said, "well that's weird."
"Don't worry about it Sebby," she brushed it off. "Enjoy the rest of your night with Jake, I love you. And don't forget to call more often."
"I won't, I promise."
I hung up the phone a bit concerned. A child by the name of JJ? Why would we name a child after a dog, or if we had really named the wolf JJ, it still didn't make sense. Something about misguided visions didn't sound right with my aunt too, she has never told me that she has, only that they change with the decisions of the person she watches. Was she watching me?
I made my way back into the house to find that it was quite and darker than before. There were candles lit now on every available spot where they could be set. As I was about to sit on the couch, Jake walked in with bowl of strawberries and champagne bottles.
"I figured, why not continue to celebrate." He smiled before reaching out his elbow for me to hook my arm through. "And since neither of us drink, why not enjoy something just as good, fruit punch."
"You really outdid yourself." I admitted. "It's beautiful Jake."
"You haven't seen anything yet." Just then he let out a whistle, soon the wolf-pup making an entrance as he ran to the both of us, licking Jake's face as he tried to jump on him. "Calm down boy." He chuckled. "I thought now would be the perfect moment with this little guy's help, to ask you something very important."
"You're expecting the little guy to speak." I teased with a laugh.
"No," He laughed too, "But he has something for you."
I looked at Jacob confused as he picked the little guy up and handed him to me. It was then I noticed the shiny gold chain around his neck. "Does this mean we get to keep him for good?" I asked him far too excited.
"Well that too," Jake laughed, "but look what's on the chain."
I felt around the collared chain until I came to a small object that reflected from the candlelight. I was in awe to see that it wasn't what I expected it to be. What I was sure was to be a dog tag was a ring. I sat in shock realizing just what was happening. Before I could react, Jake was already removing the chain from the pup's neck and sliding the ring off the chain.
"I've been thinking for the longest time about this moment right here." He began to speak as he now held onto my hand, "I asked your father several times for his approval, and finally he has given me his permission. But his wasn't the one that really mattered, it was your grandpa Charlie's blessing that meant everything to me, and thankfully him and Sue were able to help me pick this out." He showed me the ring in his palm before moving in front of me on one knee with the wolf-pup still on my lap. "I've waited what seems to be a thousand years for this moment, and I'm hoping it goes the way I planned," he chuckled nervously, "I really thought that I would never get know what being happy is really about until the moment I laid eyes on you. I'm thankful that it has taking me this long to realize what I have because I would never know the value of what it would be to be called your husband, for me to call you mine. So, I ask you this with this assurance that I will always love you until my last breath, until our last breath. Sebastian Mason Cullen, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" I nodded like a fool, letting the tears fall down my face as I put the pup aside and embraced Jacob with the biggest hug I could give him, causing us to fall to the floor in a bundle of laughter. I found myself kissing him deeply while still chanting 'yes'.
As in routine, we spent the night in each others arms, making love to each other until exhaustion had come over us. The night had finally settled in the moment I had fell asleep in my fiancé's embrace. Content with life and anything coming our way.
In the living area, the wolf-pup relaxed in his usual place on the couch. His snout rested on his front paws as he stared at the window with the sun beginning to slowly rise. The pup lifted his head in curiosity before hopping off the couch and slowly climbing the stairs where his little legs could carry him.
As the couple snored in the other room, the pup had already been dragging one of the clean towels from the pantry room in his jaw. It was struggle for the little guy as he tried his hardest to carry the heavy object behind him.
By the time he had returned to the couch, the pup hopped onto the sofa and began pulling the towel up with him in frustration, growling and snarling as he shook his head to yank the material up with him. Finally he had the towel in a bundle next to him, now tugging on it to lay it out below him. The pup playfully began to pull the towel and rolled to his side until the towel covered most of his body.
He lay in his spot, now exhausted from his efforts, panting with his tongue hanging out to the side. Just as the wolf-pup was about to bark at his achievements, a cry came out instead. His spirit was now shifting just as he was meant to do.
In place of the small canine was now an infant of a couple weeks old. A helpless Quiluete child staring at the dark ceiling above him, his arms waving helplessly as the towel cover part of his naked form. His hair curled and dark, his locks pressed against his scalp. His beautiful black eyes shined like orbs that matched his russet colored skin. The exact replica of the parents that lay asleep in the other room.
What was once the wolf abandoned, is now a blessing from the spirits who had brought them together, giving them the child as a gift of gratitude and appreciation. It was time for the parents to meet their son. Jacob perked up as he heard the whine of the child, soon wakening his fiancé to ask him if he was hearing it as well.
Sebastian began to remember the moment the ancestors came to him. His reason for becoming a human was because of the infant now wrapped in his arms.
Their son.
A/N: I'm sure that there are a few more chapters left in this one, that is, if you guys want it. The review count still applies, but 12+ are the required for the next update. I'm sorry, I don't normally do it for the reviews, but when the counts keep dropping, where does that leave me? It only seems to work every time I give limits.
So please review.
As always, I give my shoutouts to BurnedSpy, wolfhappiness, Courtland, The Thunder Kitsune, lytebrytehybrid88, hopelessromantic5, FreeSpirit15 and Guest. I appreciate you all taking the time to let me know how I'm doing.
Much Love,
TurnItUp03
P.S. Lookout for a one-shot I'll be posting, and another story I will be putting up for adoption right away.