The Next Day
Layla had been woken up very early the next morning and locked in the bathroom with instructions screamed at her to wash her entire body three times, as well as her hair. Makeup was lying on the vanity, along with a hairbrush and hair dryer. Layla whimpered while her mother forced her in, but was eager to do so once she was locked in. She took care in washing her tummy, feeling the flutter get a little stronger.
'Baby must know we get to see Daddy soon…' Layla thought.
Layla washed her hair twice and her body once more, taking full advantage of the small luxury. She got out and wrapped towel around herself as she dried off. She did very simple makeup, trying to cover the lingering green of the bruises. She dried her hair and went to put on her bra and panties, having to roll the panties down and loosen the bra. She slid on the thankfully loose dress before slipping the matching jacket on. She knocked on the door to let her mother know she was ready. Her mother jerked her out.
"Do not do anything to embarrass me or to wreck this deal or I will kill you where you stand, brat. You will show the Major nothing but respect and obedience." Charlotte ordered.
"Yes ma'am." Layla whimpered, looking down.
"Harold will be signing off on this marriage and I'll sign the papers since you're underage. I hope he breaks you." Charlotte snapped.
Layla didn't reply. Charlotte sneered and grabbed Layla, and her bag of clothes, and together they headed to the courthouse.
Jasper stood still while Rosalie and Alice put the finishing touches on his outfit. He would be signing the marriage certificate with his original name of Whitlock so the judge would not recognize the name and also not pull up any marriage records between himself and Alice.
"You're going to do amazing, Jazz. Just hold your breath. Focus on the baby's heartbeat and how your saving two lives, yeah?" Alice said. "Go get Emmett's girl before he has a hissy fit and murders half a dozen people."
"Once we leave the Seattle limits, you all pull over and Layla rides with me." Paul said.
"There's no room in your truck for Carlisle to do a checkup on Layla." Rosalie said.
"That's why we rented the van. We can fold the seats in and Carlisle can do a check on Layla and the baby on the way back to Forks. He's got a portable ultrasound machine and everything, including an I.V." Alice explained.
"Then I'm riding with her. Since Jasper is iffy with blood, he can take my truck. But once we hit Forks, she is getting in the truck with me and I'm taking her straight to the rez. She and the baby need Sam." Paul growled.
"Fine. But only if the checkup is good. If she needs to go to the hospital, she goes. Sam can meet her there." Alice said.
Paul nodded and rubbed his face. He was exhausted. Rosalie watched him with curiosity.
"Why are you doing all this for her if she isn't even your Imprint person? Why isn't Sam here?" Rosalie asked.
"Because I love her. I don't know how to explain it. She...I can't describe the feeling. It's almost as strong as an Imprint feeling. I couldn't leave her in Seattle all alone with that bitch. It took me 3 months to find her because I went building by building, floor to floor, door to door to scent her out because I knew she needed someone and that I was the only one with the balls to do something. I didn't care if it landed me in prison. I just needed her to…" Paul said, sighing. "Even if she isn't my Imprint doesn't mean I don't love her."
Rosalie listened and nodded.
"Sam better be kissing your ass after this. And mine. And Jasper's." Rosalie said.
…
"By the power vested in me by the State of Washington, and in the written permission of the minor's legal guardian, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride." the judge announced.
Layla did her part in looking terrified, but went through the motions. Jasper cupped her face in his hands, obscuring their mouths as he kissed the very corner of her mouth. Layla wanted to giggle at how Jasper was trying to maintain the image of the Major and still be his regular self. He pulled back and pulled Layla to the table so he, Layla, Rosalie, and Charlie could sign the marriage certificate before giving it to the judge to make legal and binding.
"Use your full name, maiden and married name." the assistant instructed Layla.
Each person signed, as well as the judge and it was filed and official, and a copy given to Jasper.
"Kitten, take her to the car and make sure she is buckled in. Give her a run down of what to expect on our...honeymoon." Jasper said, smirking.
Rosalie ushered Layla roughly out of the room while Jasper handed a small beaded purse to Charlotte containing a stolen rival cartel's product. He winked before leaving, knowing that if she tried to sell it, she'd be caught and killed, along with the judge. Jasper joined Layla and Rosalie at the elevator and they rode down in silence. Jasper helped Layla into the back of the van where Carlisle and Paul were sat, waiting. Alice and Jasper went to Paul's truck while Rosalie drove the van. Paul shut the van door and caught Layla as she launched herself at him.
"Pauly…" Layla whimpered.
"You're safe, princess. You're ours again and you're not going back. Ever." Paul said. "Carlisle needs to check you and the baby out, okay?"
Layla nodded and Carlisle moved her to the position so he could check everything. Paul stayed by her upper body and kept his hands on her, not wanting to let her go. Carlisle made quick work of checking Layla.
"Hold your breath, Rose. I'm giing to give her an I.V. with nutrients as a precaution as she's slightly dehydrated. I can't guarantee there won't be a drop spilled." Carlisle instructed.
Rosalie covered her face with a thick scarf and held her breath. Carlisle managed to insert the needle on the first try. Layla winced and Paul growled at Carlisle out of instinct.
"Its okay now." Carlisle said. "I'll wait until we are at the entrance to the rez before doing a glucose test. How about we get a peek at the little wolf cub you're making?"
Layla grabbed Paul's hand and looked excitedly up at him before nodding to Carlisle.
"Can you record it so we can show Sam ands the pack?" Paul asked.
"I think I can manage that and some pictures. Do you want to know the gender?" Carlisle asked.
"Yes!" Layla said happily. "Although, I've dreamt that the baby is a girl."
"That's what I think, too." Paul said, grinning.
Carlisle switched the machine on and covered Layla's belly with lubricant before pressing the wand against the skin. He roamed around before centering, snapping pictures. He amplified the heartbeat so everyone could hear.
"Heart and lungs developing nicely. Strong heartbeat. The thing I'm concerned with is… the sac and surrounding womb look weak. I want you to get rehydrated and come back and see me in a week for another check. If it's not improving, and if bed rest doesn't help, you might end up delivering prematurely." Carlisle said. "With an active shifter being the father and us being around, I'm worried that things could go sour unless your womb is strengthened."
Layla whimpered, looking up at Paul.
"I'll make sure Sam knows. I'll ask Sue and Old Quil if they know of any Quileute remedies for this." Paul said.
Carlisle nodded. He moved the wand around and smiled.
"Mother's intuition is right once again. You'll got a girl in here, Layla." Carlisle said, smiling. "Also, you're about five and a half months along, going by the size and development. That would put you due around maybe end of November to first half of December. Maybe a birthday baby."
Layla wiped her eyes, overcome with exactly how real everything was becoming. Five of the hardest months she had ever had to endure and she did it. And she was never in it alone. She had her baby. And Paul…she owed her life and the life of her daughter to Paul. Before Carlisle could wipe the lubrication from her stomach, Layla was up and her arms wrapped tightly around Paul.
"You saved us." Layla said between snuffles.
Paul held on tightly, burying his face against Layla's hair.
"You're both my world. How could I not save my princesses? I told you that I would always protect you. And now there's gonna be another little Layla I can spoil from the beginning." Paul said.
"Rosalie, will you stop at a restaurant? I want Layla to eat and put on more weight and I'm sure Paul is hungry too." Carlisle said.
Rosalie stopped at the first Italian food restaurant she saw and went overboard in ordering. Layla leaned against Paul's chest as they ate. Layla nodded off and Paul held her until they got to Forks. He woke her up and they headed to his truck with the leftover food. Layla hugged everyone tightly until she got to Jasper.
"Hi, husband!" she giggled.
"You know Emmett is full on diva pouting that it wasn't him you got to marry, right?" Jasper said, smiling. "Come over in a few days and demand to see your husband and see his reaction."
"Consider it your birthday gift." Layla said.
Layla hugged Jasper tightly, telling him how thankful she was for all of them. Jasper rubbed her tiny bump and smiled before leaving.
"Can we tell Emmett the baby is to be named Jasper Jr?" Alice asked, giggling.
"Don't make him depressed." Layla teased.
They said their goodbyes as they got into Paul's truck. Layla laid against Paul's chest as he leisurely drove the few minutes to Sam's house.
"She's fluttering around. I think she feels my nerves." Layla said softly.
"Why are you nervous?" Paul frowned.
"I'm five or so months along with his baby. Surprise Sammy, I'm back and more than halfway through a pregnancy with a daughter you knew nothing about and, hey, I'm also legally married to Jasper!" Layla whined, rubbing her tummy.
"If he gets upset for whatever reason, you're coming to my house or I'll take us to the Cullens. Although, I think he'll be more surprised and happy that you're back and you're both healthy. If he gets mad at anyone, it'll be me. I did kind of abandon the pack and my duties without telling them where I went out what my plans were." Paul said.
"No one is ever allowed to get mad at you. Ever. You're my Pauly." Layla said.
Paul pulled into the yard at Sam's house and parked. Within seconds, they were surrounded. The pack followed him from the entrance and were surrounding his truck, barking and growling.
"I think they know you're back." Layla muttered.
Paul got out of the truck and was pushed against it by Jake's wolf, growling dangerously. Layla felt a wave of hormonal emotion overtake her as she got out of the passenger side. She stomped over and pushed as hard as she could against Jake's wolf, surprising him and sending him sideways. Leah growled, it being dark and her scenting vampire heavily.
"Don't you growl at me, Leah Clearwater, or I'll have your hide on the wall." Layla snapped. "And Jake? Touch Paul again and I swear I'll rip your dick off and shove it down your throat."
Seth excitedly shifted as he ran for Sam's door, bursting in.
"SAM!" Seth shouted, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around his waist.
Sam, followed by Sue, Old Quil, and Billy, ran outside to the front of the house. Sam growled when he saw Paul, not noticing it was Layla with him. Layla turned and saw Sam and her heart beat double time. She felt their daughter fluttering excitedly. Leah nosed her stomach and whined, hearing the heartbeat.
"Sam!" Layla cried out, making her way through the sea of shifters.
Sam felt his heart stutter hard in his chest. He jumped off the porch and met Layla halfway, picking her up and holding her as tightly to his chest as he could. Layla was crying again, her legs wrapped around his waist, her hands cradling his face. He wasted no time in kissing her desperately.
"H-How…?" Sam growled in between kisses.
"Paul came to Seattle to rescue us." Layla said. "He and Jasper and Rosalie."
Jake and Leah both jumped up on Sam and Layla, nodding at her tummy and whining.
"Us?" Sam whispered, noticing how Leah and Jake were behaving.
"Your daughter and I…" Layla said nervously. "Carlisle estimates I'm about 5 to 5 ½ months along…" Layla said.
Sam looked at Layla and over to Paul and back to Layla. He smiled so wide it hurt his face.
"WOOO-HOOO!" Sam shouted, spinning around with Layla.
The wolves howled along, barking and yipping excitedly. Sam froze and carefully set Layla down, falling to his knees. He pulled the bottom of the dress up and pressed his ear to her tummy and listened, tears falling when he heard the heartbeat. He pressed a flurry of kisses to the skin there.
"She's fluttering like crazy in there. I think she knows her Daddy is here." Layla said.
Sam looked up and smiled again, standing and kissing Layla deeply. He pulled back and pulled Paul into the circle.
"I owe you my life, brother. I apologise for naming you a traitor and a coward for leaving. You've sacrificed so much to protect and rescue my Imprint and my… my daughter…" Sam said, his voice breaking.
"Anything to protect my princesses, brother." Paul said. "But we do need to talk about her pregnancy. But inside, though. Layla needs to get in the bed."
Sam picked Layla up and headed inside. Paul grabbed the leftovers and followed him. Sue grabbed spare clothes for the pack and laid them out before escorting old Quil and Billy inside. She called Charlie and had him on speakerphone. Sam grabbed a long shirt and helped Layla change in the bathroom. His heart swelled when he saw Layla nude, noticing the gentle swell of her stomach. He kissed her bump before kissing her deeply. He pulled his shirt over her head and picked her up, taking her back into the bedroom and settling down in bed beside her. One by one, the pack came and got into the bed with Layla. Paul took his rightful spot beside of Layla and kissed her forehead, handing her a bottle of Gatorade and a plate of reheated leftovers.
"Carlisle said eat." Paul said. "And get hydrated."
Layla giggled and ate. Seth ran in and crawled on the bed, grabbing Layla's shirt. Paul and Sam both grabbed his hand with a growl.
"But that's our baby too…" Seth whined. "I wanna hear her and feel her be a wriggle worm, too."
"Let him go. You know Seth would never hurt me." Layla said.
Sam adjusted the blanket so it wasn't obvious she wasn't wearing panties. Layla tucked her shirt under her boobs. Seth eagerly pressed his ear against her tummy and Layla smiled as she ate.
"I'm your uncle Seth and I already know I'm gonna be your favorite. You're already so loved here." Seth said to her tummy.
Leah and Jake walked in next, each moving Seth to the side so they could listen. Layla smiled as Embry, Quil, and Jared each came in and clamored for a spot. Sue pushed Billy's chair into the room and grabbed a chair for Old Quil before taking her spot on the bed.
"Layla, baby, are you okay? What happened?" Charlie asked.
"The judge had a thing going on with my mother. I was a drug runner again. She found my phone and broke it after a week. She uh…yeah, that one hurt. Paul found me after 3 months. He was the one who told me he heard a heartbeat. Paul made sure I had food and prenatal vitamins. And Paul got together with Jasper and Rosalie Hale to get me legally away from her. I, uh… I'm legally married. To Jasper. The judge would have recognized Paul and Emmett. Jasper gave her money and drugs and basically bought me from her. It's legal." Layla said, skipping over the worst of things.
Sam tightened his hold on Layla, noticing the small silver ring on her finger. He pulled her hand up and looked closely, chuckling.
"Her ring says 'Property of the Quileute Alpha Wolf'." Sam said.
Layla giggled.
"Carlisle did a check up on Layla on the way back home. Everything looks good for the most part… but her womb and the sac the baby is in is weak… that he'll give her a week before rechecking and if it doesn't improve… the baby could come very prematurely. Sue, do you all know of anything that could help?" Paul asked.
Old Quil laughed, making everyone look at him.
"Grandpa?" Quil said, raising an eyebrow.
"This happened to my mother when she got pregnant with my sister. My father was a shifter and happened to be away on patrol a lot as there wasn't a lot of shifters around yet. The medicine man told her the only way to fix it…and it worked, apparently. My older sisters and I spent a lot of time at the beach for a few months." Old Quil chuckled.
Sue and Billy were laughing with Old Quil. Everyone else looked bewildered. Sue put the phone on mute as she tried to think of a delicate way to phrase it. She sighed and whispered it to Leah who would put it bluntly. Leah snorted with laughter.
"Basically, what these oldsters are hinting at is that you and Layla need to have a lot of sex. A lot. Like, your jizz is what'll make her womb stronger and it'll make the baby house stronger and probably make the baby grow, where Sam's an active shifter. Layla needs to get laid." Leah said, laughing.
"You all have 3 minutes to get out before you see what's meant for Sam's eyes only." Layla said nonchalantly.
Sam growled deep in his chest.
"Actually, they only have 30 seconds." Sam said, his voice gravelly.
The room was cleared in record time.
…
Layla had gone to visit her uncle Charlie several days later, with both Sam and Paul fussing over her, barely letting her lift a finger to do anything. Charlie laughed at how overprotective and fussy they were being.
"I can go to the bathroom on my own, you know? Have been since I was 2." Layla sighed.
"Just in case. Humor me?" Sam asked, pouting.
Layla whined before acquiescing. Sam smiled before picking her up and carrying her to the bathroom. Layla used the bathroom and washed her hands before making a mad dash for the living room. Sam growled and Paul appeared in front of her and gently grabbed her and picked her up. Layla let out a sound of exasperation.
"How did you…?" Layla asked.
"Because, princess, I know you." Paul said, grinning.
Sam smirked at Layla's eventual slouch, letting herself be carted off. Once they left Charlie's, Layla wanted to go see her Emmett and her Jasper.
"I mean, my beloved husband." Layla giggled.
"Should be my ring on your finger." Sam muttered, clearly jealous. "Or Paul's at the very least!"
Layla smiled when she saw Paul's reaction to Sam's words.
"I dunno. Layla Whitlock sounds waaaay more fancy and classy than Layla Uley." Layla teased. "Although...Layla Lahote isn't bad. But man...Layla Cullen…or Emmett's real last name...Layla McCarty!"
Sam and Paul both growled and it sent a shiver of excitement through Layla, making the baby flutter. Layla put her hand on her tummy and rubbed.
"You heard Daddy and Pauly growl, huh?" Layla cooed. "You've both got her all excited and flipping around like mad."
Sam's and Paul's hands came from both sides of the truck, each resting on her tummy.
"I can feel it!" Sam said excitedly.
Layla grabbed Paul's hand and pressed it against her tummy and Paul's face lit up in a bright smile. Paul pulled up in the Cullens driveway and Emmett was the first one bounding down the steps. Paul and Sam both instinctively caged themselves around Layla, ready to protect.
"It's okay. It's just Emmett. Move, I wanna hug him." Layla said.
Paul and Sam slowly moved and got out of the truck. Emmett picked Layla up in a hug, his hand going for her tummy. Sam's instinct won out as he grabbed Emmett's hand and pulled back. Layla slid out of Emmett's grasp and walked over to Sam who was shaking and breathing hard. She took his face in her hands and kissed him, feeling his tremors calming.
"He just wants to feel her move around, yeah? Emmett's safe. They're all safe. They saved me and your daughter, yeah? Besides… Emmett deserves to officially meet his goddaughter…" Layla said.
Sam whined softly and Layla kissed him again. She went over to Paul and pulled his shaking form into a hug, pressing a chaste kids against his lips and pulling back. Paul's hands gently encased her baby bump before dropping. Layla walked over to Emmett and pulled her shirt up enough to show off her growing bump. Emmet knelt and slowly brought his hands up and touched her skin.
"Her heart is so strong." Emmett said, smiling. "And godfather?"
"I wanted to officially ask you and Rosalie but I guess it's not a secret anymore. Sam picked Leah and Jake for his choice. I picked you and Rosalie…if you want to. If not, it's okay." Layla said.
"Hell yes!" Emmett said excitedly.
Layla visited with the vampires, even asking for her dearest husband which made Emmett hiss and Sam and Paul growl in annoyance. Carlisle snagged Layla for a quick follow up with the ultrasound.
"I don't know what you did this past week, but your womb is much, much stronger. Its thickening up like it should and the amniotic fluid is going to a normal level. The fluid is what gives her room to grow. You'll feel her more intensely the higher volume you gain. So whatever you're doing, keep doing it. She's progressing very nicely." Carlisle said.
By the time the trio made it back to the rez, Layla had fallen asleep. Sam carried her inside to the bedroom. Paul carried the gifts that the Cullens had given Layla and the baby inside, watching how delicately Sam cuddled up against Layla. He was heading for the door when Sam called for him.
"Where are you going?" Sam asked.
"Back home, I guess." Paul said on a sigh.
"I know Layla loves it when you spend time with her. I mean… hell, just get in the damn bed with us." Sam said.
Paul kicked off his shoes and pulled his shirt off before crawling in behind Layla. Layla nuzzled against Sam's chest, whining in her sleep until Paul became the big spoon. She settled down almost instantly.
"Thank you." Paul whispered.
"Go to sleep." Sam whispered back, smiling softly.
..
y'all are lucky 3 days in a row! Just one more chapter before this story comes to an end. So i have a very important Weston i need all my readers to answer (in a comment)
***DO YOU WANT PAUL TO IMPRINT ON THE BABY GIRL OR HAVE A DELAYED IMPRINT SHARED WITH SAM?***
I need to know before i type the next chapter.
Comment and answer please!