Wolves of the Pacific

by greenpeach20

In 1902, Renesmee Cullen grew tired of the tedious life of moving around with her family and decided to make the journey west as a mail order bride. Yet a chance encounter with a reddish brown wolf would change her life forever.

132. Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, like Abraham Lincoln before him, his body was brought to the capital where his casket was draped with a U.S. flag and eventually brought to the rotunda of the capital where he was viewed by 250,000 grieving Americans. On the 25th of November, the whole country watched live on television as the casket was led through a procession with horses pulling the casket through the streets in a show of patriotism where he was brought to St. Matthew's Cathedral for the funeral procession. All the children watched history unfold before their eyes while they were at school. Kevin watched the procession in the break room of his office with his other employees, Embry and all his brothers and sisters, including his sisters' husbands and their children, as well as the whole tribe it seemed, watched the procession at the Cullen house on the largest TV they could obtain so they could all see. Most heartbreaking of all, John Jr., Kennedy's son who'd only just turned three, saluted his father's casket as if to say goodbye to his father one last time.

In the wake of her husband's death, Jackie Kennedy sought the assistance of Theodore White, author and journalist, to immortalize her husband's presidency. White helped coined it to be known as the 'brief shining moment that was known as Camelot'. Naturally an investigation into the assassination was launched by Lyndon B. Johnson, but afterwards, the country needed to move on from the tragedy.

With the beginning of 1964 came Heather preparing more than ever. Her Bat Mitzvah would be that April the weekend of her 13th birthday. She put on a brave face saying she wasn't worried at all and practicing her reading diligently, but she was extremely nervous. Soon she'd be standing before the entire congregation, just like so many before her, reading from the Torah in Hebrew that she'd practiced until her accent was perfect and giving a speech about her goals for her future. The only thing that seemed to steal her nerves when she began to get really nervous was the reminder that after all this would be her promised trip to Paris. When Kevin mentioned that, she regained her confidence and practiced with renewed enthusiasm.

"I can't believe she's turning thirteen this year," Embry said to Kevin one evening while the two of them were on the back porch drinking beer.

"Neither can I," Kevin said and then sighed. "It feels like just yesterday that she was born."

"Oh, come on, Kevin, try not to be so somber," Embry smiled. "She may be a woman according to Jewish faith, but she's still a little girl. She has a lot of growing up left to do and we'll all be there with her to help her do it."

"Still," Kevin said, "I still remember when she used to play on that playground even refusing to come in from the rain. Remember when she'd tried to make a snowman for the first time and she couldn't even walk through the snow?"

Embry chuckled, "And she wouldn't let us help her. Not until she got frustrated and started crying."

"She's grown up so much," Kevin said. "As much as I'm griping about it, I'm so proud of her."

"There's a lot to be proud of," Embry agreed.

For a moment, the two were quiet as they stared out onto the neighbor's backyard. While they sat quietly, Kevin glanced inside to see Amber in their living room helping Heather practice, Anna and Levi ever present to offer encouragement. Levi Jr. was sitting beside Levi Sr. who was helping Levi with his math homework and the picture made Kevin smile. But as he was staring, he noticed Amber's face. She was invested with Heather, but something was off. Something had been off for a long time. Kevin returned his gaze towards the backyard and then Embry noticed Kevin's distant gaze.

"Everything alright?" Embry asked.

After a brief silence Kevin said, "Can I confide in you?"

"Of course you can. What's on your mind?"

"It's about Amber," Kevin started. "Something been bothering her. I've tried asking her what's wrong but she just tells me she's alright."

"I know this is technically rude, but have you been able to get any information out of Kyle?"

"I tried," Kevin said and huffed a little. "You know what he fucking tells me?" Embry gently shook his head. "He tells me she doesn't know what's wrong."

"She doesn't or he doesn't?"

"He said she doesn't," Kevin said. "The most he could tell me is she keeps having night terrors but all she ever remembers is her former cell."

"So she's having nightmares about the camps?" Embry asked.

"That's what I'd thought, but Kyle said it was more complicated than that," Kevin said.

"The hell does that mean?" Embry asked.

"He said it's not the camps that's bothering her," Kevin said. "He's saying that she seems like she's trying to remember something. When Kyle told me that, I tried asking Amber about it and she'd said she didn't want to talk about it." Kevin rubbed his face a little and groaned. "Sometimes she'll wake up in the middle of the night. She only gasps like if you were having one of those dreams where you're falling. Once I woke up when she did and she was crying. I tried to ask her what was wrong and she kept saying she couldn't remember."

"Has she talked to anyone else about this?"

"No, I don't think so," Kevin said. "I want to help her, but I don't know what's wrong. I even asked Kyle to tell me if I'd done something. He said I didn't, but that doesn't really help me much."

"It's not that she doesn't want to tell you anything is it?"

"I don't know," Kevin groaned. "I talked to Kyle a while ago about this and he didn't mention anything about not wanting to tell me. It wouldn't surprise me given I've been asking about it so much lately."

"How long has she been feeling this way? Do you know?"

"I wish I knew," Kevin said and then rubbed his face again. "She had a few night terrors after that assembly we'd done at Heather's and Levi's school a while back, but that had passed eventually. At least I thought it had. Lately, she's been having nightmares again and I don't know what could have triggered it."

"Do you think it'll pass? She just needs time?"

"I hope so," Kevin said. "I was worried that maybe the trip to Paris was what was bothering her but when I'd suggested that she didn't have to go if she didn't want to, she told me this was Heather's time and she wouldn't ruin it. As if Heather wouldn't understand."

"She might not, Kevin," Embry said. "I mean, she knows what happened. She knows the history as well as anyone else her age, but I don't think she can comprehend the gravity of it. Who the hell can? How to you explain to a young woman that her mother was kept in solitary confinement in a Death Camp and why?"

"The 'why' is rather simple: Germany needed a scapegoat for their problems. Hitler provided a convenient excuse; may the bastard rot."

"It's over now," Embry reassured. "You took her away from those camps and she was able to recover from the atrocities and share a life with you that she always wanted. The past haunting her is understandable, but she's got you. If I could offer any advice, I'd say to hold her and tell her you love her. Remind her you're still here, she's here in Washington and the past can't hurt her now."

After another deep breath, Kevin smiled weakly at Embry, "Thanks. I needed that."

"Any time," Embry smiled back and lifted his beer to him.

When it was getting late, Embry, Levi Sr. and Anna said goodnight to Heather and Levi Jr. before leaving to return home promising to likely see one another again tomorrow. Kevin retreated to his office to work on a few things while Amber had Heather and Levi get ready for bed. While the two were sharing the space in the bathroom to brush their teeth, they kept bumping elbows and inevitably started bickering a little, but Amber ordered them to stop and keep brushing their teeth. Afterwards, the two did whatever else they needed to do, giving each other privacy as needed until it was time for bed. Once the children were tucked in, Amber went to hers and Kevin's room to get herself ready for bed. By the time she was done, Kevin had still not come upstairs, so Amber changed into her nightgown and went downstairs to Kevin's office. He was focused on something and was about to leave him to work, but he stopped her.

"No, stay down here with me," Kevin said and then glanced up at her. "I'm just working on something for the trip. I'd love the company." Amber smiled and walked into Kevin's office. She was prepared to sit on his desk, but he took her hand and guided her to sit in his lap. Amber released the briefest giggle as Kevin made her sit on his lap wrapped her arms around his neck as she came down.

"What are you working on?"

"I'm just finalizing our arrangements with the hotel," Kevin said. "Given the size of our party, they want an advance but they're willing to give us a deal since it's for Heather's Bat Mitzvah. Still outrageous though."

"Well naturally," Amber said. "You picked a hotel in the heart of the city."

"Yes, I know," Kevin said. "Heather had better enjoy herself on this trip."

Amber giggled and kissed Kevin's cheek, "I promise you she'll barely be able to contain herself. She's been looking forward to this trip for years."

"Let's just hope Levi will only want to go to Disney World or something," Kevin joked. "Maybe he'll settle for French Canada."

"It's hardly the same, Kevin," Amber smiled and kissed his cheek again. "He'll already be visiting Paris for his sister's Bat Mitzvah. I'm sure for his Bar Mitzvah he'll want to do something different."

"I know he wants something different, but he seems to really want to go to Germany," Kevin said and he noticed Amber become instantly uncomfortable. "Don't worry. We'll think of something else to do for him." When Amber didn't answer, Kevin looked up at her and she seemed to have a solemn look on her face. "Amber?"

"I feel awful denying him but…"

"Levi understands," Kevin was quick to say and rubbed Amber's back. "We still have time. We'll think of something special for him." Amber nodded absently and rested her head against Kevin's shoulder. He kissed her head and continued what he'd been working on, the two of them only returning upstairs together once he was done.

For the next several days things were normal. Heather would go to the Synagogue for an hour after school to practice with the Rabi and then she's come home to do her schoolwork and practice more with Levi Sr., Anna and Amber (once she'd returned home) helping Heather study. She finally got a bit of a break but it was, sadly, only for a funeral. Quil had passed away midway through that week and, just two days after, Claire had passed away. Jacob and Embry were, of course, not surprised but it didn't hurt any less. In the brief time she'd been without him, Claire was truly miserable, missing Quil desperately. Their son Henry comforted his mother as best he could, but she passed away not long after Quil. When receiving condolences, Henry insisted it was for the best; that his mother was heartbroken and wanted nothing except to be with her husband. The two would be cremated together on a large funeral pyre.

Despite his insistence that it was for the best, Henry felt so much pain watching his mother and father pass on to the afterlife together. Uileila, Seth and Charlotte's daughter, held Henry's hand the whole time but said nothing. She knew her husband and she knew he didn't want words. She knew she'd be the same way. After the funeral pyre, Jacob and Embry Sr. spoke about Quil, sharing memories from their childhood, all the good times and not so good times, and all the good times up to Quil's passing. Caevia and Renesmee gave them space focusing more so on ensuring there was food for everyone and talking to everyone to reminisce and offer mutual comfort.

"Do you remember," Caevia said to Renesmee as they were retrieving used plates to be washed, "when Jacob and Quil barged into the house to kidnap us?"

"I remember Jacob picking me up and you screaming at them but after I fell and hit my head, I only remember waking up in Jacob's tent," Renesmee said. "I admit that's not my fondest memory of our time together, but I don't regret it."

"I remember how Quil made a point to steal some of the apple butter we'd made," Caevia said and Renesmee smiled.

"Jacob had told me that when he and Quil were waiting for the right time to take us, Quil had smelled the apple butter and told Jacob, 'Whatever that is; we're taking it'." Caevia and Renesmee laughed a little.

"According to Embry, the whole village finished the apple butter he was able to snatch in one afternoon."

"Yes, I used to be reminded every year," Renesmee giggled. "I sometimes wish he'd not stolen it. Then it wouldn't be expected that I make apple butter every year."

"It makes good money at the General Store," Caevia said.

"You know just as well as I do how much work that butter is. JJ prices that stuff a little too leniently if you ask me. You would think the boy would have more respect for his dearest grandma's hard work."

"Excuse me, but I help with that too," Caevia smiled.

"Exactly. His grandmothers slave away on that apple butter all day and how much does he sell it for a jar? $3."

"That's a lot of money, Renesmee. I think the only reason people don't complain is because it's a once a year special and we make it taste so good. You know people have begged JJ to sell the recipe?"

"And I told him 'no'," Renesmee said. "If someone wants that recipe so damned bad, they can pay a fortune for it."

"You didn't say I could tell them that," JJ, who'd walked up to them with his kids' plates, said. "You just told me know when I mentioned it to you."

"Yes, because Lord knows there will be someone that will ask for a specific price and then that someone will find a way to raise it."

"I have a hard time believing someone could raise a million dollars just to toss around, grandma," JJ chuckled and helped with some remaining dishes. "Although, if they could, it would be a huge help. I really need to expand the store to make room for all these perishable items and those cooking classes Eun Mi's been hosting."

"Oh, yes, I've been meaning to ask: how are those going?" Caevia asked.

"Very well actually," JJ said. "I didn't think one person asking Eun Mi for a kimchi recipe would turn into her teaching a Korean cooking class, but hey. It worked out."

"I'm glad she's found something that she enjoys," Caevia said. "Have you sat in on these cooking classes, dear?" she teased.

"I'd prefer not to drive Eun Mi mad with teaching the man that can burn water how to cook," JJ joked. "The boys are learning how to cook, though. Hae Li already knows how to make Suran."

"Remind me what that is," Renesmee said.

"It's a poached egg. Poor kid will have a little stepping stool that he stands on to hold the ladle with the egg in it over whatever broth Eun Mi is making and the oldest student gets to have that with their dinner once the cooking class is over. You should see him reaching as high as his arm can go so he can reach the pot. It's kind of adorable." JJ helped carry all the dishes inside and they talked more about what was going on and, of course, talked more about Quil and Claire.

In an act of support, Kevin made sure that he, Amber, Anna, Levi Sr. and their children went to Forks every Friday evening to spend the weekend with the tribe. Jacob and Embry were feeling better after Quil's passing but they still missed him and would talk of him often. Henry looked to them a lot in the coming days talk about his dad, remember stories from when Quil and Claire had been young and just enjoying talking to Jacob and Embry.

"Dad used to say how you would get him and Embry into all sorts of trouble," Henry said after Jacob recounted a story involving him, Embry, Quil and Mitch when he'd still been referred to as 'The Meat Monger'.

"Hey, if I didn't push Embry and your father to do fun things like that, their lives would have been horribly boring. I made things fun," Jacob said.

"You got us in trouble all the time's what you did," Embry said with a laugh.

"And in the end, isn't that what matters?" Jacob joked while Embry laughed and rolled his eyes a little. As the group talked, Caleb, Levi Jr. and all JJ's boys started tumbling into the room play wrestling. They were in a room that didn't have anything sensitive so Jacob and Embry let the boys be. However, while they played, Caleb got the advantage on Levi and accidently tossed Levi against the wall causing one of the pictures to fall on his head. Thankfully the glass didn't break, but it hit Levi's head and caused him to yell 'Ow!' on impact. "Levi, are you alright?" Levi didn't answer, rubbing his head. "Levi," Jacob said and approached Levi, "are you okay?" Jacob asked again.

"Grandpa asked if you're okay," Caleb poked Levi's arm.

"I'm fine," Levi said as he rubbed his head and looked at the picture, relieved instantly when he saw it wasn't broken.

"Don't worry about the picture. We can always fix that," Jacob continued in Quileute.

"Huh?" Levi asked.

"I said don't worry about the picture," Jacob repeated again, still speaking Quileute after having been doing it all morning.

"Grandpa said not to worry about it," Caleb said.

"Levi," Jacob said irritably, "You do speak Quileute right?" When Levi gave him a momentary blank stare and then looked right at Caleb, he knew his answer. Jacob stood up and looked towards the stairs. "Kevin!" Jacob yelled and made all the boys jump. A moment later, Kevin came downstairs.

"Everything alright, dad?"

"Would you mind explaining to me why my grandson doesn't speak Quileute?" Jacob asked Kevin pointedly and Kevin went a little pale.

"Uh," Kevin started, a little flabbergasted.

"'Uh' is not an answer, boy," Jacob said. "Why doesn't my grandson speak Quileute. Your heir no less."

"I…well, Dad, it's not as though I never tried, but he's exposed to the language so little that it never stuck. He's more used to German."

"And who's fault is that exactly?" Jacob asked and Kevin didn't have an answer. Then Jacob looked at Levi sternly. "If lack of exposure is the issue, then the only course of action is to change that. Levi, I'll expect you to start speaking Quileute to me going forward. If you speak English or anything else for that matter, I won't answer."

"Except in emergencies, right?" Caleb asked with a small laugh, but the stare Jacob gave him shut Caleb up really quick.

"You had best do your part and teach your cousin to speak Quileute. That goes for all of you. Kevin, I expect you to teach my grandson to speak his Native language. I'll be lenient and give you until he's 13 to speak to me fluently."

"Yes, sir," Kevin answered.

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, yes sir," Kevin corrected himself.

"For that matter, does Heather speak Quileute?" Kevin was silent and nervous. "God damn it," Jacob muttered. "The same goes for her. She speaks fluent Quileute by the time Levi is 13 or else."

"Yes, sir," Kevin answered. He took a hold of Levi and led him upstairs out of the basement so they could begin his speaking lessons.

"Dad," Levi said, "What happens if I don't speak Quileute by the time I'm 13?"

"You don't want to know," Kevin said.

Kevin relayed to Embry what happened and that, going forward, the two of them would need to make an effort to ensure that Heather and Levi were fluent in three years. Despite all of Embry's brothers having a good laugh at their expense, they promised they'd help out too. This, of course, meant not speaking to Levi or Heather in anything but Quileute, but it would do them good in the long run. Heather was extremely confused when she'd approached Peta one day with a question she had about something Embry was working on for their latest project and he would only answer her in Quileute. When she found out about what happened, she just looked at Levi and said, "Idiot."

"Heather, watch your mouth," Kevin said to her.

"Daddy, I'm already trying to learn enough Hebrew to get through my Bat Mitzvah. Aren't I working hard enough?" Heather complained.

"Heather, I'll go easy on you right now since you're preparing for the Bat Mitzvah, but one that's over, it's Quileute," Kevin said.

"It's alright, Heather. We'll make it as easy as we can," Embry reassured. "Quileute really isn't so hard."

"That's what Rabi said about Hebrew," Heather grumbled.

Kevin was true to his word remaining lenient with Heather, but the same could not be said for Levi. The afternoons were consumed with Kevin making a point to at least teach Levi a new word every day and drilling him on it before bed every night. Levi took it without complaint, at least without complaint to Kevin. He complained to his Grandpa Levi all the time, but Levi Sr. always reminded his grandson that it never hurts to learn a new language. As Kevin and Amber were getting ready for bed one even in February, Amber teased Kevin about the situation.

"I see Jacob scared you pretty bad didn't he?" Amber smiled.

"He'd scare you too if you knew the horrors that befall anyone unlucky to be disciplined by Jacob," Kevin said.

"Excuse me, Kevin, but I'll have you know I've suffered my Oma Lilliana's wrath a good couple of times. And she always used a rolling pin as her tool for discipline."

"My father had no need for such inferior tools," Kevin said. "All that man ever needed was his hands and a booming voice and that whipped us into shape."

"Yes, I can see that," Amber giggled.

"What was your grandpa's name? Did he pass away before the Dymeks adopted you?"

"I knew him, but he passed away not long after I joined the family," Amber said. "His name was Isaiah actually."

"Really?"

"Yes," Amber smiled. "Grandpa Isaiah and Grandma Lilliana Dymek. I think my grandma's maiden name was Hoffman but I don't remember. Her father wasn't Jewish if I remember my family history correctly."

"What about your mom's parents?"

"Grandpa Han and Grandma Helga Tomasek. Grandpa Tomasek was born in a town that's on the border between Austria and Czechoslovakia. As I remember it, they lived in Austria until he met my grandma and they moved to Munich after they got married."

"So you're a little melting pot of Europe aren't you?" Kevin teased.

"As far as I know, I'm only French and German. More French than German I imagine, but in such a region as where I was born, it becomes a moot point."

"I'd say so," Kevin said. "Let's see," Kevin started thinking, "Obviously, I'm half Quileute by my dad. By mom, I'm Scottish and English. Not nearly so colorful a background I'm afraid."

"I'd say more so," Amber smiled. "I recall you telling me that when you were younger, when people met you and found out your father is Native American and your mother is White they always asked 'How the hell did that happen?'"

Kevin chuckled, "Yes, I've gotten that more than I care to recount. I take it no one would ever ask your grandparents how an Austrian wound up with a Czechoslovakian."

"I doubt it," Amber giggled. "As it is, he was probably half and half himself."

"Did he go well with coffee?" Kevin asked and Amber burst into laughter. After she finished laughing, she looked at him.

"That was a really stupid joke," Amber said.

"It made you laugh, didn't it?"

"I suppose it did," Amber answered and put down her magazine on the nightstand before cuddling up to Kevin. He put down on his nightstand what he'd been working on and held her close.

The two of them eventually fell asleep holding each other close. Amber fell asleep peacefully and easily, but then she had a nightmare she'd started having far too many times. It was blurry. The only thing she could see clearly was her cell and bright red eyes staring directly into hers. She remembered pain. A very specific pain that she knew from only one other source. She'd still remember screaming but then she'd hear a gunshot and she'd black out. That was always when she woke. She gasped as she woke up. She stared at the ceiling after her eyes shot open with her heart pounding. She glanced at Kevin and saw he was still asleep with his arm around her. It took a moment for Amber to calm down, but eventually she did. But then she couldn't fall back asleep. She got out of bed as gently as possible so to not wake Kevin and went downstairs to read since she couldn't fall asleep. Once she was in their living room with the light on, she stared at all their family pictures. She'd do this often even when she'd not had a nightmare, but tonight something about the pictures was wrong. She went up to the pictures to stare at them. They were as they always were: her, Kevin, and their two children along with several other family members whether they be her parents or Kevin parents, cousins, nephews, nieces and anything else. But then Amber looked at their family picture they'd taken when Levi was a few months old.

She took the picture in her hand, staring at it for an immeasurable amount of them. Levi wasn't smiling in the picture. He had that look on his face that always struck her as frustration at the inconvenience of being made to be awake for a picture when he could just as easily be taking a nap. The look had made her laugh, so she wanted to keep the picture. She, Heather and Kevin were all smiling in the picture and they were dressed nice. This was one of the many pictures Kevin had on his office desk both at their home and at work along with wedding photos and other family photos. Her favorite picture of Kevin, though, was the one they had from when he'd returned from Germany for the first time. It was how she'd remembered him when they first met and every time she saw the picture, it made her swoon even now after being married to him for nearly 15 years. But now, when she looked at their family picture, something just felt wrong. She stared and stared until the strangest thought, at least it struck her as strange, popped into her head.

"There should be three," Amber mumbled to herself. When she'd blurted out the thought, she started rubbing her forehead. She kept thinking it over and over again. There should be three. There should be three. There should be three.

"Amber?" Kevin voice came down the stairs and Amber glanced over her shoulder at him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Amber said and put down the family picture.

"Are you sure? Did you have a nightmare again?"

"I'm alright," Amber said. "I calmed down once I realized it was just a dream, but then I couldn't fall asleep. I didn't want to wake you. I'm sorry I did."

"Amber, don't worry about me. It's fine," Kevin said and took a spot beside her. "If you can't sleep, I'll stay down here with you."

"Thank you," Amber smiled and leaned against Kevin's chest feeling better instantly. She kept staring at their family picture a moment until she looked up at Kevin. "Let's have another baby."

"Really?" Kevin asked, a little stunned. "The kids too easy for you already?"

"It's not that," Amber said and looked at their picture. "I just want another baby. Lilliana if we have a girl."

"I'm not naming our son Han; I'm warning you right now," Kevin joked.

"What about Isaiah? Or Isaac?"

"Um…it's a little too-"

"Too Jewish?"

"I was going to say too religious," Kevin said. "At least for my liking. If we have another son, I don't want to name him after anyone. I want him to have his own name."

"I like that idea," Amber said. "How about a French name?"

Kevin hesitated a moment, "Define 'French' name."

"Calvin?"

"No," Kevin said.

"Lyle?"

"No," Kevin answered.

"I still really like Isaiah," Amber said.

"List a few other names and I'll think about it," Kevin smiled.

"How about we make it his middle name?" Amber asked.

"I'll agree to that," Kevin said. "No other religious names, though."

"What about Troy?" Amber asked.

"I don't like it," Kevin answered and Amber sighed a little. "Relax, Amber. I haven't gotten you pregnant yet. We still have time."

"I suppose," Amber said. Kevin smiled and leaned down to give her a kiss.

"Of course, I can always get started on getting you pregnant."

Kevin took Amber into his arms, carrying her upstairs bridal style, and got her back into bed to make love to her. Amber finally went back to sleep afterwards and, despite having less sleep than usual, felt refreshed the next morning. For a time, Amber started feeling normal again especially on nights when she and Kevin made love. By the time it was March, Amber started feeling ill, but she knew exactly what it was, especially once she started liking food again. When she realized it after she'd finished making dinner one evening, she served everyone dinner and then made herself a plate before joining them. She and Kevin shared a knowing look and a smile. She still had Kyle perform a blood test to be sure, but it just confirmed what she already knew.

"Will she be alright on a plane?" Kevin asked Kyle.

"She'll be fine," Kyle said. "She's not far enough along that it's a concern. I'd guess you're about 10 weeks in. Just make sure you eat healthy, get gentle exercise, water and lots of sleep and you'll be fine."

"Kyle," Naevia, who'd finally started working at the hospital earlier that year, poked her head into the exam room. "Carlisle's about to go into surgery with Mr. Lock. We're getting him prepped now, but Carlisle said he wants to get him into surgery within 20 minutes."

"Ahead of schedule as always," Kyle sighed. "You get prepped for surgery and I'll be there in ten minutes." Naevia nodded and left to get herself ready. "You've done this before, so unless you had any concerns, we should be good for today."

"When do you think we should expect the baby?" Amber asked.

"If my estimation is right, I'd say October," Kyle said. "At latest, early November. Maybe before then we'll have some ultrasound machines. Apparently a Physician in Glasgow was able to do a scan of a woman's baby using the machine and it made it possible to see the baby in the womb. We're trying to get four and if they work the way they're supposed to, it could help detect illness or prevent issues the baby might face."

"The machine doesn't hurt the baby?" Kevin asked.

"Not from what we've read, but Carlisle and I will play around with it before we use it on a patient," Kyle said. "I'll want to give you a check up before you leave for Paris, so I'll come to yours and Kevin's house the weekend before."

"Alright. Caleb and Evalynn are still coming with us right?"

"Try and stop them," Kyle laughed a little under his breath. "Evalina and I are looking forward to the time alone."

After their checkup, Amber and Kevin returned to the city and relayed the good news to Levi Sr. and Anna who were overjoyed about the pregnancy. Heather was quick to ask for a little sister while Levi was quick to ask for a little brother. Amber only told them that they need to love their sibling whether it's a boy or a girl, and then Kevin dragged Levi assigned to practice his Quileute for the afternoon. Heather, on the other hand, focused entirely on preparing for her Mitzvah, practicing with Amber, her grandparents and the Rabi until it was finally April. Her birthday fell on a weekday, so they all did something small for her that day giving her a big dinner, a birthday cake and letting her not practice a language that afternoon. Jacob and Renesmee as well as Kyle and Evalina with Caleb and Evalynn in tow came up to the city to celebrate with her. As her special present, Kevin gave Heather the Star of David that Amber had put around his neck so many years ago, making sure she knew that it had originally belonged to Amber's birth mother. Heather adored it and only took it off when it was time to shower, but the necklace was put right back on as soon as she was dry.

The days leading up to her Bat Mitzvah, Heather was extremely nervous. It wasn't reading in Hebrew that made her nervous. It was the fact that she'd be talking in front of lots of people. Kevin always reassured her and reminded her that everything would be alright. He, Amber and Anna would be in the front row for her and her Grandpa Levi would be the one on stage with her putting the shawl on her shoulders and handing her the large Torah. The morning of, Heather was woken up bright and early eager to get the curlers out of her hair. Renesmee and Jacob arrived extremely early as well and Renesmee, along with Anna, happily helped Heather get ready. While they were taking out the curlers and styling Heather's hair, Anna started crying.

"I remember when we celebrated your mother's Bat Mitzvah," Anna said and rubbed her eyes.

"You let me sleep in fifteen minutes as I remember," Amber giggled.

"You kept asking for five more minutes," Anna said. "You'd done so well. The Rabi had told your father and I you were one of the finest students he'd ever had the pleasure of preparing for her Mitzvah."

"I'm sure he said that to all the parents," Amber said.

"Oh, no, no, no, he meant it," Anna said. "I bragged about it all the time."

"That part I believe," Amber giggled again.

"Are you excited, Heather?" Renesmee asked after taking out the last curler and pressing her cheek against hers looking at her granddaughter in the mirror.

"I'm nervous," Heather said.

"Don't be nervous, Heather. You'll do wonderfully," Renesmee said, kissed Heather's cheek, and then started making small changes to ensure the curls were all perfect.

"You look so much like your father," Amber smiled, admiring Heather's light brown hair and face. Amber kissed Heather's cheek and hugged her. "My little girl's becoming a woman."

Heather blushed a little from all the doting she was from her mom and grandmothers but it was helping her relax a little. Once her hair was done, it was time to get Heather in her dress. Alice had insisted that she wanted to make Heather's dress for the occasion and they were very happy that she did. She'd made Heather a dress that was reminiscent of what Amber had worn. It was the same shade of blue, but this dress was fitted at Heather's chest with a fabric belt at her waist and the skirt flared out. It had short sleeves and had tiny white flower detail in the fabric. When she was dressed, they went downstairs where the rest of the family had already started gathering and they gushed over how beautiful Heather looked.

"Am I allowed to sit up front with you guys?" Embry asked Kevin.

"I assumed you would," Kevin said. "It'll help her relax I think."

"She has nothing to worry about. She'll do great," Embry said.

"I know she will," Kevin said proudly.

They finally left the house for the Synagogue, but it was another two hours before the actual ceremony started. Rabi Kowalski went over everything with Heather and the family while his wife made sure the four pews in the front two rows were kept on reserve exclusively for Heather's family. Yarmulkes were made available to all the guests that didn't have their own to wear. Once everyone was seated or where they needed to be for their involvement in the ceremony, that's when the Bat Mitzvah finally started. Rabi Kowalski gave a brief talk about Heather and how hard she'd worked and prepared for today before guiding her up to say a few prayers and read from the large Torah scroll. Despite her nervousness, she spoke eloquently in both languages and she was proud of herself for not making any mistakes in her pronunciation of Hebrew. Once the ceremony was over, the family – close, extended and otherwise – all took a giant family photo together with Heather at the center holding the large Torah and wearing her appointed shawl.

"You never did tell me where we were going afterwards," Amber said to Kevin while they were getting ready to leave, all the other guests having already retreated to where the party would be.

"It's a surprise," Kevin said. "You'll like it, Heather; don't worry," Kevin said when he saw the nervous look on Heather's face. "We'll just need to leave early. We have a plane to catch tomorrow."

With the reminder, Heather's smile brightened and she squealed a little with giddiness. "We're going to Paris!" Heather cheered.

"Hopefully they've fixed it since last we were there," Embry joked.

"Stop it, Embry," Caevia said to her son. "Don't ruin it for her."

"Nothing I could say would ruin Paris for her mom; I promise you," Embry answered.

When they arrived in front of a banquet hall, Heather seemed to eagerly look around for what the surprise was. By the time they went inside, Frank Sinatra music seemed to be playing and it sounded live. Eventually they found their party and, lo and behold, there was Frank Sinatra on stage singing Fly me to the Moon. Heather screeched a little and started running to the stage. He continued singing but, having been told before hand who the woman of the hour was, looked right at Heather and even brought her on stage so he could dance with her a little while he continued to sing.

"Is that really.."

"Yup," Kevin answered Amber while everyone else was just approaching the stage.

"How did you.."

"Let's just say a lot of people owe me a lot of favors," Kevin answered and kissed her cheek.

"Does Frank Sinatra owe you a favor?"

"He's one of few who doesn't," Kevin chuckled, "but a few of his friends do. Come dance with me?" He offered a hand to Amber which she accepted and they went out onto the dance floor to dance together. They were interrupted, suddenly, when Heather ran up to them dragging Levi behind her and told Kevin that Frankie would sing I've Got you Under My Skin so they could dance like they had when they'd seen him live in New York.

"Frankie?" Kevin asked with a chuckle and raised his brow.

"He said I could call him Frankie," Heather bragged. "He said I was a very good dancer."

"Well, I could have told you that," Kevin smiled and lifted Heather by her waist up so he was holding her. "You're bigger than you were when we saw him in New York, but we'll manage." Amber smiled and lifted Levi into her arms despite his protests saying he was too big for this and the four of them danced together while Frank Sinatra sang. When the song ended, Embry came over.

"I'm not nearly so good a dancer as your dad, but spare a dance for me?" Embry said.

"Absolutely," Heather said and went with Embry so they could dance another song. Amber finally let down Levi who eagerly ran off to play with Caleb and JJ's boys leaving Amber and Kevin alone again to dance together.

"How are you feeling?" Kevin asked. "You were feeling sick or anything this morning?"

"I breathed those herbs Kyle gave me to alleviate the nausea and it's kept me feeling alright. Although I don't mind telling you the moment we get back home I'm going straight to bed." Kevin smiled at her and brought her a little closer. He heard Heather laughing and looked over to see her dancing enthusiastically with Evalynn and Embry close by. "She's having a wonderful time."

"I just wanted her day to be special," Kevin said. "Now I need to start saving and planning for Levi's Bar Mitzvah. On the bright side, by the time Levi's 13, I'll have ten years to save up for this new baby."

"This'll be hard to top," Amber teased.

"So long as Levi has a great time, that's all that matters," Kevin said. "At least When Levi has his Bar Mitzvah, it'll be during summer vacation so we won't have to make arrangements with the school."

"That is true," Amber said.

They had the banquet hall well into the evening, but Kevin and Amber made a point to ensure that anyone that was going to Paris the following day left early so they could get some sleep. Their flight left early the following day. Kevin left Kyle, Nathan and some of Embry's little brothers in charge of the party until the hall finally kicked everyone out and the huge collection of people in the family going to France came back to Kevin's and Amber's house to spend the night. Heather and Levi shared their rooms with all their cousins that were going on the trip, Kevin and Amber gave their room to Jacob, Renesmee, Embry Sr., Caevia, Levi Sr. and Anna and all the other adults – Kevin, Amber, Embry Jr., Scarlet, Kai, Ariel, Gabriel and Jaedynn – slept downstairs. Amber got the couch but everyone else took to the floor and all their suitcases were tucked away in Kevin's office to be out of the way. The Cullens, all of whom wanting to go to Paris, had taken the first flight in the middle of the night after the party to Paris paying for their own tickets and would meet everyone in Paris ensuring that everything was situated with the hotel by the time they arrives.

While Amber was trying to fall asleep that night, she started rubbing her belly. There was no bump yet. There wouldn't be for a while. But she kept feeling like there was something there. She would open her eyes to look down only to see her belly still flat and unaltered. Kevin had made a point to ensure that no one slept around the couch so Amber wouldn't be obstructed through the night. She'd insisted at the time he was being silly, but when she started feeling sick in the middle of the night, she was suddenly extremely grateful for Kevin's over protectiveness. She wound up dry heaving before finally expelling her dinner. She felt a little better afterwards but dizzy. She sat on the bathroom floor for a few minutes rubbing her face trying to breath and relax so she could return to the couch and go back to sleep. When she finally felt alright to do so, Amber stood from the floor and went to the sink to wash her hands.

After she'd finished washing her hands and turned off the skin, she gently shook her hands and then grabbed the towel to dry her hands. She looked at herself in the mirror but, suddenly, she realized her eyes were scarlet red. The sight made her jump and back away hitting against the wall. She was breathing and closed her eyes when she heard Kevin knock on the door.

"Amber?" came Kevin's voice. "Are you alright?" Amber opened her eyes to look at the door and then looked at the mirror. Her eyes were blue as they always were, just with some redness around her eyes from vomiting.

"I'm fine," Amber finally answered. She had a headache. "I just lost my footing. I'm alright."

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Amber insisted, turned off the light and stepped out to bump into Kevin.

"Sorry," Kevin said but gently took a hold of her. "I'll help you back to the couch."

Rather than argue with Kevin, she nodded absently and let him lead her back to the couch. When she was back on the couch, Amber tried to relax and fall back asleep but she just couldn't seem to. By the time it was morning, she was running of virtually no sleep and she showed it. Regardless, she insisted that she was fine when Kevin asked and they made the trip to the airport with Amber trying to sleep on the drive, while they waited and then, finally, when they were on the plane. Levi Sr. and Anna tried to convince Amber that she might be better off staying home since she was clearly not feeling well, but Amber insisted she was fine and refused to ruin Heather's trip.

She finally managed to fall asleep when they'd taken off and were in the air. It would be a several hour flight and Jacob, eager to monitor Levi's and Heather's progress with speaking Quileute, spent most of the flight talking to them in the language while Kevin was close by helping them if they didn't understand something. While they weren't fluent, it was certainly an improvement and Jacob was content to leave them alone about four hours into the flight. Five hours into the flight, the passengers were given dinner but most were sleeping through the majority of the flight. They'd left Seattle at noon Western Time on Sunday and by the time they reached Paris, it was six in the morning on Monday. Thankfully, they were met at the terminal by Carlisle and Esme who helped get everyone's luggage and transport for everyone to the hotel. With their arrangements already made, they were able to get their room keys from the front desk of the hotel, go right upstairs and just sleep away the jetlag while the Cullens enjoyed the sites of Paris though keeping out of the sun. Since it was out of the sunlight and it could be visited, they went to the catacombs.

"When was the last time we were in Paris?" Edward asked Carlisle.

"The United States was still 13 colonies," Carlisle answered. "Perhaps on our own we'll return to London for a bit. I'm curious if the smell has improved."

"I would sure as shit hope so," Edward joked.

"It's much nicer here than it had been during the war," Rosalie mentioned, "though I'm sure the catacombs haven't improved."

"It's a bone yard, Rosalie. What do you expect?" Alice teased. "Now that we can just fly, I think we should travel more often. Outside of the continental US I mean."

"I have always wanted to go on a trip to Africa," Emmett said. "That might be fun to hunt a lion."

"Maybe," Rosalie said, "but I'm not keen on what I hear about their bugs. They grow bigger than the people living there as I hear it."

"Do they also cannibalize and have heads that grow beneath their shoulders the way you hear it?" Alice teased again.

"I prefer Romeo and Juliet. That is my answer to your sarcastic question," Rosalie said. "Although I won't complain about Tempest or Midsummer Night's Dream."

They continued through the catacombs for a little while and eventually snuck their way to Notre Dame so Edward and Bella could pray together. The rest of the family either sat in the pews enjoying the look while others walked around the church. Emmett and Rosalie snuck away from the group so they could go to the roof to see the city. It was still sunny, so they had to keep out of the sunlight, but they could still enjoy the view but Rosalie was feeling somber. Last they'd visited Notre Dame, it had been because Rosalie needed to just cry, dry tears as they may have been

"You know, when I was human, Royce used to promise for our honeymoon we'd go on a long trip to Paris not to be seen or heard from for 2 months," Rosalie said.

"Rosalie," Emmett began but she shook her head.

"I'm not upset over him," Rosalie said. "I just dreamed one day I'd come to Paris. When Kevin had told us about Amber, I'd started planning a whole trip where the three of us could get to know each other. Become a family."

"We did the right thing, Rosalie," Emmett reassured. "It doesn't always feel like it, but we did."

"I know," Rosalie said. "But it hurt so much. We were so close."

"I know," Emmett said and held her against his chest, the two of them looking out on the city. There was a silence between them for a moment in which Rosalie kept thinking of what could have been.

"I remember when we were on the boat back to America," Rosalie said. "There was this lady. She was blonde too. She had a little girl with her that couldn't have been more than three. I was so jealous of her. She sat back and kept a watchful eye while her daughter played. Then that little girl fell on the deck and when she started crying, that woman went right to her and seemed to make it all better in an instant." Rosalie rubbed her eyes feeling the burn of tears that wouldn't physically manifest. "Even now, I'm so angry. I don't hate Bella, but I envy her. She and Edward had their daughter and now they have more grandchildren and great grandchildren than they know what to do with. She didn't even want to be a mother! She was content to marry Edward, become a vampire and that was it and they have a baby! She doesn't deserve it!" Emmett turned Rosalie around in his arms so he could rest her head against his chest.

"We helped raise Renesmee," Embry said. "I know it's not the same, but at least we got to be a part of her life."

"It's not enough," Rosalie whimpered. "She was never mine."

Emmett held Rosalie close while she cried with no physical manifestation of it. He didn't know what to do. He'd suggested, years ago, that perhaps they could find a host but Rosalie had refused the possibility immediately. She would not murder another just so she could have a baby and Emmett was inclined to agree. Their only solution was to wait. But then, who was to say how long that would be? It did nothing to lift either of their spirits. When he'd been human, he thought so little of children. He'd been a bachelor working at a factory just enjoying his life without a wife or a family to concern himself with. When he'd met Rosalie, that had all changed in an instant. Now, he wanted a child so badly because this was something he wanted to share with the love of his life and yet, he couldn't give it to her. They could just have a loving night of passion and then a baby nine months later. It was so emasculating regardless of the reason for the infertility.

"It'll happen one day, Rosalie," Emmett finally said to her. "You mark my words, it'll happen one day."

Rosalie didn't answer and only hugged Emmett tight. He was trying to make her feel better and she loved him for it, but not knowing how they would make it happen left her feeling so empty. She always told herself 'I love Emmet. He and I will just have to be enough', but the thought left her heartbroken. She'd even tried to tell herself 'we can help raise Renesmee. She is a wonderful girl' but still it left her heartbroken. Emmett and Rosalie ended up staying atop the roof of the Cathedral for several hours and didn't return to the hotel until long after nightfall.

It was the following day after everyone had gotten some much needed sleep that their tour of Paris finally began and since Heather was the birthday/Mitzvah girl, where when went was entirely up to her and her first pick for touring destination? Versailles. As they were getting ready to leave the hotel, Scarlet, Kai and Lulu made it downstairs, but Scarlet couldn't resist a little fun at Kevin's expense. She came downstairs wearing the helmet she still had that she'd been given as a little girl when her family had first visited Versailles. When Kevin noticed, he was a little stunned.

"Is that what I think it is?" Kevin asked, finally laughing a little.

"Yes, Uncle Kevin, it is and this time, I will wear my helmet if I want to and you can't say no," Scarlet teased.

"That's true; I can't," Kevin said.

"Trust me, Scarlet. You won't want to keep that on for very long. They're well and good for defense but when there's nothing to worry about, those things get uncomfortable real quick," Embry Jr. said.

"When it does, I will take it off, but until then I will wear it because I want to," Scarlet smiled.

"You didn't try to convince her not to wear that?" Kevin asked Kai.

"When she told me the story, I was all for it," Kai chuckled.

Of course, as predicted, after having the helmet on for several minutes it started to become a little uncomfortable. When Caleb and Levi Jr. asked to try it on, by then, she was happy to let them and allow her head to breath. It wound up getting passed around to a bunch of them until finally returning to Scarlet once they'd reached Versailles. Embry made sure he stayed close to Heather even when she and Evalynn ran ahead of the group when something especially ornate or interesting caught their eye. It was full of tourists just as enraptured by the palace as them and it took nearly the whole day to see every part of the palace that was permitted to be viewed by the public.

"I've actually never been to Versailles," Kevin said.

"I thought we went together," Amber said.

"No, I don't think so. If we did, this place isn't as memorable as it claims to be." Kevin came to attention when he noticed Heather about to grab something, but one of the guards firmly reminded her not to touch anything and Embry reiterated the command far more gently. "How are you feeling?" Kevin asked Amber once he was sure the girls were out of trouble.

"A little sore," Amber admitted. "My feet are killing me. I don't think I've gained 10 pounds and already my feet are hurting."

"Want me to rub them when we get back?" Kevin asked.

"Yes, very much so," Amber smiled. "We're going back to the hotel first to get dressed before dinner right?"

"Yes, I have us reserved somewhere. That little girl better appreciate all this," Kevin said and Amber giggled.

"I promise you she does. She'll be bragging about this to all the other kids for years to come."

"She'd better," Kevin answered with a smile.

"If you want some early gratification, there were several women from the synagogue that were asking their husbands how they could top Heather's Bat Mitzvah with the party and the trip and one of their husbands told her, 'Unless you can pull The Beatles and a good $20-25 grand out of your ass, it won't top this'." Kevin smirked a little. "I thought you'd appreciate that."

"God Damn it, I'll have to find a way to get The Beatles for Levi's Bar Mitzvah won't I?" Kevin signed. "I don't know anyone that knows them that also owes me a favor."

"Their music debuted in the US this year, Kevin. You've got time for them to meet and befriend someone that could owe you a favor. I'm not even sure Levi likes The Beatles."

"They'll wind up being his favorite band with my luck," Kevin said. Amber reached up and gently rubbed his cheek.

"Let's just enjoy the trip we're on before we start planning another," Amber smiled.

"I can agree to that," Kevin smiled back, taking her hand in his and planting a kiss to it.

Once they had finally seen all of Versailles, they left to return to the Hotel. Whether she was joking or not aside, Heather asked Kevin if she could get married at Versailles and the kindest 'no' he could give her was, 'It would cost more than your poor old dad is worth, honey'. She laughed and didn't bring it up again, so that seemed to satisfy her. Embry Jr. had much a similar reaction to the prospect so it seemed but just to be sure, Kevin pushed into Embry's head, "If she asks again in the future, the answer is still no".

"Don't have to tell me twice," Embry muttered under his breath.

"What?" Heather asked him.

"Nothing, Heather," Embry said.

Once they returned to the hotel, they all had two hours to spare before they needed to leave for dinner, so they all took that time to relax which Amber was desperate for. As he'd promised, Kevin rubbed Amber's feet in his lap while she laid in bed half asleep. She seemed to Kevin as though she was forcing herself to stay awake.

"Amber?" Kevin asked and Amber hummed letting him know she heard him. "Would you rather I call you some room service? You look like going out's the last thing you want to do right now."

"I don't want to-"

"You won't ruin anything, Amber," Kevin insisted. "If Heather asks, I'll just let her know you aren't up for dinner tonight and needed some rest. It's not a lie."

Amber smiled sleepily, "I suppose that's true."

"What are you in the mood for?"

"What do they have?" Kevin stopped rubbing her feet briefly to grab the menu for room service and handed it to Amber. Once she had it, Kevin went right back to rubbing her feet while she looked. "I can't remember what I like when I'm pregnant," she finally said. "I know I'm craving sweet and savory, though."

"You want me to pick something?" Kevin asked. Amber nodded and handed it over to him so he could look for something he might like. He remembered Amber really liked beef when she'd been pregnant with Levi. She'd not been too keen on chocolate at the time, but she'd loved it when she was pregnant with Heather. "How does sea food sound?"

"Hm," Amber thought a moment. "I don't suppose they have bagels and lox do they? I haven't had that since last I was pregnant and I liked that both times."

"Say the word and I'll run to the nearest Deli and get it for you," Kevin said.

"The word," Amber said and Kevin chuckled.

"Would you like a dessert from there or what's on here?" Kevin asked.

"From here," Amber said. "I think there was something on that menu that was a caramel cake. I don't remember if I've had caramel."

"You have. It was in that Mars bar remember?"

"Oh, yeah," Amber said. "I liked that."

"Then how about this hazelnut cake with caramel drizzle?"

"Yes," Amber nodded.

"Alright," Kevin said. "I'll run to the deli and once I'm back I'll order the cake."

"Thank you," Amber smiled with her eyes closed.

Kevin leaned over and kissed her before leaving to get the food she asked for. Once he returned, Amber was sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he left the food on a little table, called in for the cake and, just as a little surprise, asked them to bring orchids too. Thankfully, the bell boy was always eager for chores if it meant a hardy tip, so when that bell boy came up with the slice of cake, with it was a beautiful bouquet of white and purple orchids. He received his generous tip before leaving and Kevin got the table set up in such a manner that the orchids and food were in full display. Kevin got into bed beside her to read, but the movement disrupted her and she moaned a little.

"Do I smell orchids?" Amber asked groggily.

"A dozen of them to be exact," Kevin answered.

"Can you bring them here?" Amber asked and Kevin went to get the flowers and handed them to her to inhale the smell. "I love orchids."

"I know you do," Kevin smiled and kissed her. "How are you feeling?"

"Still sore, but my feet feel a lot better," Amber said. "I'm starving, though."

"Well, dinner's ready for you," Kevin said. He glanced at the clock and realized he had thirty minutes to get ready and meet everyone downstairs. "I need to get dressed for dinner tonight. Do you want me to bring the food over for you or leave it on the table?"

"Leave it on the table," Amber said. "I'll get to it once I've had a chance to admire my flowers."

Kevin chuckled and gave her another kiss before attending to getting dressed for dinner. Before leaving the room, he went to her and rubbed her still flat stomach. It would be a while before she was showing, but he could feel the area begin to harden from the forming protrusion.

"I have the number to the restaurant on the table, so if you need me, just call," Kevin said.

"Um hm," Amber moaned a little. "Tell Heather I'll be with you all at dinner tomorrow night."

"Okay," Kevin said, kissed her again and then finally left to meet everyone downstairs.

Once he was gone, Amber finally forced herself out of bed so she could go to the table to have the bagels and lox and cake. Kevin had even made sure they put lots of red onions and capers on it ensuring further more than the capers and red onions be between the salmon and cream cheese so they wouldn't get lost. Amber blushed a little that Kevin remembered such a minor detail. She enjoyed her cake last and almost moaned. What's more, she almost called room service to demand another slice once she was done, but she refrained and instead went back to bed to sleep. It was no time before she was out completely but it sadly didn't last.

She opened her eyes or so she thought. Everything was so blurry and all she could seem to see was a lot of grey with rays of light indicating some kind of window or other light source. Yet she could hear everything and she heard the sound of work. She heard the sound of people working, she heard orders being administered in German, she heard cries and screams that all seemed to come from very close to where she was. It was as though she was sitting in a grey room and all she could do was sit and listen to the outside until she started hearing the sound of numerous locks being undone. Everything stayed grey as she was handled and seemingly brought to another room. She realized she was in pain. Consistent, constant pain with brief periods of rest. Contractions? She thought to herself with confusion. Amber tried to look down but everything was so blurry. She felt herself being forced onto something else hard and cold and the pain just continued while she was in yet another grey room with voices that she could now hear very clearly.

"Weißt du wann es angefangen hat?" (Do you know when it started) someone asked.

"Ich nehme an, als sie anfing zu weinen," (I assume when she started crying) the other answered.

"Juden weinen aus vielen Gründen," (Jews cry for many reasons) the previous voice muttered and she felt a pair of hands on her body that were momentarily inside her stretching her in a manner that felt unnatural. "Ausgezeichnet. Sie geht gut voran. Sobald es hier ist, geben wir ihm eine Nummer und sehen, was wir finden können." (Excellent. She's moving along well. Once it's here, we'll give it a number and see what we can find.)

"Müssen wir uns wirklich mit einem Arzt beschäftigen?" (Do we really need to bother with a number Doctor?) one voice seemed to ask with contempt.

"Was geben wir sonst noch? Ein Name?" (What else are we giving it? A name?)

Suddenly, Amber's heart seized and she gasped, waking herself up. When she opened her eyes, it was dark. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust and for her to realize it was well into the night. Kevin was in bed beside her already asleep. She sat up in bed holding a hand to her chest which hurt terribly. She realized she was shaking and got out of bed to rush to the bathroom. She was sick to her stomach and the moment her head was above the toilet she vomited violently. She hadn't even turned on the lights in her rush to reach the bathroom. It took a moment, but once she'd finally stopped, she flushed and laid against the wall of the bathroom leaning against the fancy tub. She was so dizzy that she didn't want to get up and yet she couldn't fall asleep either. Eventually she got back on her feet, went to the sink to wash her hands and splash water on her face and retreated back to bed where Kevin still laid. She got back into bed alongside him and tried with all her might to go back to sleep, but just as she would be about to doze off, a pair of bright red eyes would appear in her mind and it would startle her awake all over again. When it was morning, Amber felt like the walking dead. She heard the sound of brewing coffee but didn't smell coffee. Instead she smelled the intense aroma of the herbs Kyle had given her to combat her nausea and she heard a heavy mug be placed on her nightstand.

"Amber?" Kevin said, "I made you some of that tea. You're looking really pale this morning."

"Do I?" Amber asked and sat up. "I got sick in the middle of the night and I just couldn't get back to sleep."

"How about I tell Embry to lead the group on that museum tour and I'll stay with you," Kevin suggested. "Heather wants to go to d'Orsay museum and I doubt you're up for all that."

"I'm afraid not," Amber groaned. "I'm so sorry about all this. If I'd known I'd get this bad I'd have stayed home after all."

"Don't apologize, Amber. You're pregnant; you can hardly be blamed for being under the water now and then. If you like, once you're feeling better, we'll go to the roof top of Notre Dame just you and me. We can even relive an old memory if you're up for it."

"I don't feel very pretty right now, I'm afraid," Amber managed a smile, but her head was pounding too much for her to put forward any greater effort.

"My goddess doubts her beauty?" Kevin asked. "She who's beauty mocks Aphrodite herself?"

Amber smiled a little more, "You're biased. You're my husband; you're supposed to think I'm beautiful no matter what."

"Supposed to think and to actually think are different things, sweet Amber," Kevin said and kneeled before her, gently caressing her bare thighs and making her shiver but with pleasure. "I'm supposed to pay the bills, go to work, keeping things running at the law firm. I do, however, think you are beautiful every moment of every day and ask myself how this creature kneeling before you ever earned so gracious a gift as your love."

"You doubt your goddess's wisdom in this?" Amber finally started to play along and wrapped her arms around his neck when he got close enough to start kissing her ear.

"Eyes blue as the sea, hair gold as the sun and skin soft as fresh silk," Kevin whispered in her ear. "And that's just outside the temple." While it wasn't gone, her headache was alleviating and her stomach, while doing knots, was now caused by Kevin rather than their child. "We have a while before we're expected downstairs," he continued. "How about you and I take a hot bath together and, if you still aren't up for the museum after that, you and I will stay in. Just us. Everyone else can go to the museum."

"No, we'll go," Amber said, "though I won't turn down that hot bath. That and my tea is all I need I think."

"Absolutely," Kevin said and then wrapped her legs around his waist so he could carry her to the bathroom and started drawing a bath for the two of them.

He only put her back on her feet when they were in the bathroom and he started getting the water warm before putting in a stopper so the tub would fill with water. While that filled, Kevin went back into the bedroom and returned with a platter of muffins, fruit and coffee that was brought to their door for their complimentary breakfast, placing the platter on a high chair that he brought it with it so the food could be in close reach. By then the tub was half full, so they got undressed and went into the tub. Kevin got in first and Amber followed after so she could lay against his chest. When she got into the hot water, she moaned.

"I needed this," she said. "I feel better already."

"Here's your tea," Kevin said as he presented the mug he'd brought in to her. She took it and gulped the bitter liquid down as fast as she could. Once gone, Kevin grabbed a lemon poppy seed muffin and presented it to Amber. Her hands were wet so instead of taking it, she leaned over and bit right into it, making Kevin chuckle a little before kissing her ear and neck. "How about regardless of whether we go to the museum with everyone or not, you and I go to the roof of the Cathedral for a view of the city."

"Is the city view the only thing you're interested in?" Amber smiled.

"I'm not the least bit concerned truthfully," Kevin said. "I'm far more interested in you, but it doesn't hurt to appreciate the view of Paris before I begin my prayers." He took his own bite out of the poppy seed muffin and then presented it to Amber again so she could have her own bite.

When they finished the poppy seed muffin, Kevin grabbed the blueberry and the two of them got to work on polishing that one off too. Kevin had his sips of coffee as well while he turned his attention from feeding Amber to rubbing her shoulders and back. She melted under his touch and looked as though she might fall asleep. Her breathing did go shallow while Kevin rubbed her arms and once she was asleep, he held her to his chest and let her relax until their fingers began to prune and they needed to get out. Once they were out of the tub and dried off, Amber sighed with relief.

"Thank you for that," Amber smiled.

"Did you still want to stay here and relax or go to the museum?" Kevin asked.

"I'd rather go to the museum," Amber said. "I've actually never been to this museum, so I'm eager to go."

When it was eight, everyone met downstairs and they made the trip together to the museum. The Cullens were careful to keep out of the sun. Alice, Esme, Rosalie and Bella wore decorative head scarves while also staying under umbrellas with their respective husbands. Once they were inside the museum, it was clear to remove the umbrellas and scarves and the front desk was kind enough to hold the umbrellas for them. They all stayed close while going through the museum taking in all the white marble statues and paintings and anything else that was on display. It was certainly a quieter day than Versailles had been, everyone was grateful for a more relaxing day. If there was anything they saw that anyone in the group could offer personal or more in depth information about, they'd have the kids listening intently. They ended up staying at the museum all morning and into the afternoon until finally leaving and walking to a café. The Cullens went ahead and returned to the hotel for the day where they'd go about their own thing while everyone else walked through the city.

"Has Paris changed much since you lived here mom?" Heather asked Amber while they were walking through the city.

"Some of the buildings are a little different but that's about it," Amber answered.

"Grandpa," Levi said to Levi Sr., "do you think we could see your old apartment?"

"I doubt we'd be able to go inside," Levi sr. answered with a chuckle. "I suppose we could show you. Let's save that for another day, though. We've already been walking all day and our old apartment is on the other side of town."

"Okay," Levi Jr. answered a little sad they couldn't go right now but still excited to see it later. Then he looked up at Levi Sr. again. "Do you think one day you could show me the candle shop?"

"Levi, that's all the way in Berlin," Kevin said. "We don't know if it's in East or West Berlin and regardless, we'd need to pass through East Germany to get to Berlin."

"What about Munich? That's in West Germany right? Grandpa, you, grandma and mom lived in Munich didn't you?"

"Levi, drop it," Kevin said firmly to Levi which made him go a little quiet and appear deflated. Kevin felt back snapping at Levi but he'd noticed Amber becoming uncomfortable and he wanted the topic over with.

"We'll see our old apartment tomorrow, alright Levi?" Anna said to the boy, eager to lift his spirits. That seemed to make him feel a little better.

Once they'd made it to a string of cafes, they got themselves some food and enjoyed it in La Place de la Concorde where they could just watch the people who lived in the city go about their day getting to work, leaving work, enjoying some shopping or whatever else they were doing. There were performers in the square such as musicians, a man offering small drawings to anyone that would pay a few Francs for them and even a mime that was making his rounds teasing people and seemingly knowing exactly which people were tourists focusing almost entirely on them. That mime eventually made it to them, noticing the enormous group, and began performing. Levi, Caleb, Heather and Evalynn went right up to the mime enjoying his pretended dilemma of being stuck in a box that was getting smaller before miraculously escaping, never saying a word. Eventually the mime moved on after the kids weaseled a few Francs out of Kevin to give to the mime for his efforts and they left the square to return to the hotel.

Once at the hotel, some stayed downstairs near a little bar to talk while others went upstairs. Amber returned to their room while Kevin, upon Amber's insistence that he enjoy himself, stayed downstairs with Jacob, Levi sr., Embry Jr. and Sr. and anyone else that was staying downstairs. Renesmee and Caevia went ahead and took the kids to a little gift shop in the hotel promising to get each of them a souvenir. Once Amber returned to the room, she realized she was ravenous again despite having had a sandwich not an hour ago. She ordered room service, making sure to get the hazel nut cake that had been on the menu the previous day, and enjoyed it at the little table with her orchids in a glass vase. After she finished eating, Amber went out to the little window in their hotel room and opened it so she could pop her head out and take a deep breath. These were the things she sincerely missed about Paris when she'd lived here. Despite the situation at the time, Paris had been a beautiful place to live.

While Amber had her head out, she overheard performers begin to play, but she noticed immediately the music was….foreign for lack of a better word. It didn't sound like anything that street performers would generally play in the streets of Paris. This music sounded like old folk music that she'd never heard of. Then she heard singing and it was a language that, once again, she'd never heard of. She glanced in the direction of the music playing and saw a young man playing a tiny string instrument with a little hat for people to throw Francs in and the oddity of his music seemed to draw people in. She strained her eyes to read the sign that said in French 'Lithuanian Folk Music'. Odd she thought. That certainly explained why she couldn't recognize the language. She couldn't see the young man's face but even from her vantage point she could tell he was a blonde as could be. It reminded her of her own hair color actually. While she was staring, she heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Housekeeping," she heard a woman say in a strange accent that was definitely not French.

"Yes, please come in," Amber answered in French and the door opened to a young woman with brown hair stepping in with a cart of cleaning supplies. She bowed her head to Amber who bowed back before the woman got to work on cleaning and tidying up. While the woman was cleaning, she overheard the music being played.

"You like that folk music I see," the maid said in French. Amber realized it was a Dutch accent now that she thought about it.

"I poked my head out for some air and overheard it," Amber said. "I take it you're not too keen?"

"Can't say as I am, but the tourists are enamored by it. I think that boy's been playing outside this hotel for at least two months now. Must have earned himself a decent fortune by now."

"How do you suppose he knows Lithuanian?"

"I assume because he is," the woman answered. "I've spoken to a few guests that try to speak to him. If you try to speak to him in English, the poor thing takes forever to understand. His French seems to have improved from what I've heard but this woman that comes around at night to see him always speaks to him in German. Though from what I heard from another guest, his German leaves a lot to be desired too."

"So he's learning three languages at once?" Amber asked, surprised and admittedly impressed.

"So it would seem," the woman answered.

"How did he make it all the way to Paris? How did he manage to cross the border into Western Europe?"

"I can't say I know," the woman said. "I look forward to when his French is proficient enough to tell everyone."

While the woman continued to clean the room, Amber stared out onto the street watching the young man play his little string instrument. Eventually, she pulled her head back in, but she didn't close the window. Instead, she grabbed a book to read, moved a chair close to the window and listed to the young man below play while reading. The music continued to play even after sunset and since it still played, she stayed by the window and listened. Eventually Kevin made it back to their room and, while he was definitely a little drunk, he wasn't falling over.

"How was your afternoon?" Amber asked with a smile.

"Perhaps a little too productive," Kevin joked and leaned against the door. Then he heard the music from outside. "One of the street performers?"

Amber nodded, "According to the maid, he's been playing outside this hotel for quite some time. She says he can barely speak English, French or German but he plays to make money."

"What does he speak if not one of those?" Kevin asked.

"If his sign for playing Lithuanian folk music is to be believed, I suppose Lithuanian."

"Isn't that in East Europe? How'd he get to Paris?"

"I asked the maid that question and she said she looked forward to his French improving enough to tell the story," Amber said. "It's a shame he's not proficient now. I'd love to ask him. I suppose I could ask Edward."

"He wouldn't know," Kevin said. "He can read thoughts, sure, but if your thoughts are in a language he doesn't speak than he's not much help."

"That's a shame," Amber said. She was quiet moment while Kevin crawled over to the bed. Once he was on his back, Amber smiled at him. "What about Tristan?" Amber asked.

"What?"

"If we have a boy. Tristan Isaiah."

"Tristan Isaiah," Kevin repeated. "I like it now but ask again when I'm sober."

Amber giggled, "Alright. I'll ask again in the morning. But I think my heart's set."

"Is it?" Kevin asked.

"Yes," Amber said. "Tristan Isaiah or Lilliana."

"No middle name for our Lilly?" Kevin joked, starting to fall asleep truthfully.

"Eden," Amber said. "I think Lilliana Eden is a beautiful name."

"Lilliana Eden it is," Kevin agreed.

Amber smiled at Kevin. Moments later he drifted and he started to gently snore. Amber got off his shoes and he groaned while she moved him around in the bed so he was lying straight instead of taking up the whole bed. After she got Kevin situated, she realized the music had stopped. She walked over to the window and saw the young man packing his instrument and his earnings while a fair skinned brown haired woman was standing near him. Once the man had his things, the two of them walked away together though not hand in hand. Since the music was no longer playing, she closed the windows and got in the shower before joining Kevin in bed.

Though she'd gotten to sleep with no issue, she was tormented by the same dream she'd had before, but this time some images were less blurry. The voices were clear as day once again as was the pain. She woke about the same time in the dream as she had previously, but when she woke, she was just back in her cell. She could see it clearly: the bars on the window with that pale light coming in, the smell of old dried blood filled the woman and it was bleak. She put her hands on her belly out of instinct to feel that it was flat, but when she looked down, there was blood everywhere. She stood up in a panic and when she did, she felt as though her insides had dropped and fresh blood seeped down her leg. When she saw and smelled the blood, she screamed. Then she felt herself being shaken and a familiar voice came to her head.

"Amber!" Kevin said, shaking Amber until she was finally awake. It was the middle of the night, but Kevin had turned on a light and it hurt her eyes. "Amber, it's alright. Whatever it is, it's just a nightmare," Kevin insisted once Amber was awake.

"It…" Amber started but stopped. She sat up and put her hand on her belly. When she looked down, there was no blood, no injury. Her baby was fine. No, she thought to herself. Her head started hurting and then she started to cry.

"Amber," Kevin said and held her close.

"It was so real," Amber said. "I dreamed I was in Dachau. I can't remember anything except my cell. When I looked down, I was bleeding. I thought I'd-"

"Nothing's wrong with the baby, Amber," Kevin reassured and put his hand on her belly. "The baby's alright Amber. I promise, the baby's alright."

"It hurt so bad," Amber said. "I felt the pain as though it were happening."

"You're alright Amber," Kevin promised. "Just breath. You're safe, Amber. No one will ever hurt you again." Amber was quiet as she cried.

He kept holding her close until she finally calmed down and Kevin managed to get her to sleep. By the next morning, Amber's head was throbbing and she felt ill and achy, but she said nothing about it. She was only suffering ailments of pregnancy she told herself and she wouldn't be confined in bed when they were supposed to be celebrating their daughter's Bat Mitzvah celebration. As Levi Sr. had promised they would, they all went to the other side of town to where their old apartment had been. The apartments were still there and they were just as Amber remembered them from the outside. A few of the shops were different, but it was like stepping back 25 years into the past for her. Had it really been that long.

"It's just as I remember it," Amber said to Kevin.

"Do you think we could go inside?" Heather asked.

"We don't live here anymore dear, so I would doubt it," Levi Sr. said. "But how about we look around town and we'll show you some of our favorite spots assuming they're still here."

Having a plan, they walked around the neighborhood together. They were pleasantly surprised to find that some places they favorite were still there and were able to go inside. Levi Sr. told his grandchildren all about how he'd get lunch at a particular shop nearly every day when he'd worked at the bank that was up the road and then showed them the bank he used to work at. They found the Post Office where Amber used to work and upon their prompting she told Heather and Levi Jr. all about her time at that Post Office in all its tedious and mundane glory. After enjoying lunch together in their old neighborhood, they went to another museum together before they all had dinner at a different restaurant in Paris. This restaurant had dancing both from professionals and patrons that wanted in on the fun. All the while, though, Amber felt as though she had a gaze on her that she couldn't shake. She conversed with everyone as best she could, but it was clear she was miles away.

"Amber?" Kevin said, getting her attention. "They're playing a waltz." He offered his hand and when she heard the music, she realized exactly what song it was: Shostakovich's 2nd Waltz. She accepted Kevin's hand and followed him while they danced to their song and, for a moment, everything melted away. "Are you feeling alright? You seemed distant," Kevin asked while they danced.

"I'm alright," Amber promised and rested her head against Kevin's chest. She could have fallen asleep in his arms, but the movement of his steps kept her alert while she followed his lead. When the song ended, she realized that everyone in the room was staring at them and they applauded once the dance was over.

"Daddy, can I have a dance?" Heather asked as she rushed up to Kevin and Amber.

"I'm honored you asked," Kevin said and then took Heather up in his arms.

Amber stepped away with a smile as she watched Kevin dance with their daughter with her feet atop his, only tall enough to meet his chest. While they danced, Amber kept feeling like she was being watched. She glanced behind, but she didn't see anyone who appeared to be staring at her. Most everyone's attention was on Kevin and Heather dancing. She convinced herself she was being silly and returned her attention to Kevin and Heather. When they finished dancing, the three of them returned to the table to have dessert together.

"Daddy, can we go to the Eiffel Tower? I want to see it at night," Heather asked.

"Yes, Uncle Kevin, can we please?" Evalynn chirped in.

"Girls, by the time we get going, it'll be nine," Kevin said.

"Please daddy?" Heather pleaded again and resorted to her puppy dog eyes and, like always, it worked like a charm.

"Alright, Heather, we'll go to the Eiffel Tower," Kevin said and Heather's smile and appreciative hug was reward enough.

Sadly, most in the group weren't quite up for Heather's request to go see the Eiffel Tower so it wound up just being Kevin, Amber, Levi Jr. Caleb, Heather, Evalynn and Embry Jr. that went agreed to go while the remainder 2 dozen of the group returned to the hotel to get to bed. When they arrived, it was everything Heather imagined it would be. It shot into the sky with lights that lit up the area. There was no one there to allow her to go to the top, but she didn't care. She was just happy to see it.

"Daddy, do you think we could come back tomorrow so we can go to the top?" Heather asked.

"If you want to, honey," Kevin agreed.

"Embry, have you or daddy ever gotten to go to the top before?"

"Nah," Embry answered. "Both times I was in Paris, it was a warzone so no one was enjoying themselves."

"When your father and I came here together when I still lived her, your father called this thing…what did you call it? Useless?"

"It is useless," Kevin answered Amber. "It does nothing but sit there. I recall informing you that we topped this stupid thing with a Ferris Wheel at the Chicago World's Fair."

"Yes, you told me," Amber giggled. "I'm shocked this thing survived the war honestly."

"Trust me; we all are," Embry said.

"Can I go closer?" Heather asked, but rather than wait for an answer, she went ahead with Evalynn, Levi and Caleb following after.

"I'll get them," Embry sighed and went after the kids while Kevin smiled and wrapped his arm around Amber's shoulder. In response, she reached up her hand to hold her on her shoulder and watched Embry wrangle up the kids.

But then, while they enjoyed the view, Amber started feeling like she was being watched again. It was unsettling. She looked around trying to find who would be looking at her and, several meters away, came eye to eye with vibrant purple eyes. When she looked at the face of the owner of those eyes, she knew the face near immediately. She'd seen that face before. She remembered it vividly and it gave her vivid and horrible flashbacks. Enough so that when she saw his face, first she began shaking and then she started to scream as she started to back away.

"Amber?!" Kevin asked looking at her and making her look up. "Amber, what's wrong?!" Kevin asked and looked where she'd been looking. When she followed his gaze, the man was still there but he was no longer looking at them.

"My God," Amber said, "I feel so stupid," she continued. The man had blonde hair and, the more she looked at him, he looked nothing like who she'd thought. Perhaps it was a case of similar features. She realized, when she noticed the tiny instrument and sign, that it was the young man from the other day that played music.

"Amber, what's wrong?" Kevin asked again.

"I'm sorry," Amber said as Embry and the kids approached.

"Mom, what happened?" Heather asked.

"It's nothing, honey," Amber said. "I just thought I'd seen someone I recognized. I….it wasn't them. They just looked very similar."

"We're going back to the hotel," Kevin said. "Embry, can you look after the kids? Bring them back once they're done?"

"Sure," Embry nodded.

"Mommy, are you alright?" Levi asked.

"I'm fine, Levi," Amber said. "You enjoy the tower. I think I just need to go back to the hotel and sleep."

"Okay," Levi finally answered hesitantly while Kevin led Amber with him to leave the square so they could return to the hotel.

"Who did you think you saw?" Kevin asked once they were alone.

"I don't know," Amber said. "I was mistaken. I know I was. Let's just drop it. I'm tired."

Although he wasn't keen to, Kevin did drop the subject and focused on getting her back to the hotel. Once they returned, Kevin insisted on drawing her a bath to help her relax. She asked him to join her and the two of them soaked together in the tub, but there was no romance. Just Kevin trying to help Amber relaxed. Yet despite his efforts, she constantly felt on edge. She felt empty, her head hurt and she felt like crying but she held back. Once they were in bed together, Kevin held her close and it managed to give her some comfort, but it was doomed not to last. It seemed as though as soon as she finally fell asleep, she opened her eyes to see a view she'd not seen in decades: Auschwitz. She was outside working. She felt sore and raw. She remembered exactly why and every time Schneider came into her view, she felt like she might vomit and tears burned her eyes.

All she could think of was feeling used and like she'd betrayed Kevin. She told herself that if it kept her mother safe then she'd do it again and again without complaint. But the bitter truth remained that she was no better than a whore. While she worked, two men approached her: Dr. Keller and another man who's name she couldn't remember. She didn't want to remember. His hair was a dark brown, his skin pale and, despite his handsome features, there was nothing but evil behind his bright red eyes. He wore sunglasses in her memory, but there were glimpses of those eyes when he'd turn his head or look at her a certain way.

"Look at her, Doctor," the man said. "Is she not the vision of Aryan beauty?"

"I've been rather fond of her myself I must say," Commander Schneider answered and her skin crawled.

"What you told us about her breaking down an iron door; that's true?" Doctor Keller asked.

"Indeed it is," Commander Schneider said. "Shot the bitch five times and she kept getting back up. She might be worth your expertise."

"I'm inclined to agree," the other man answered. He gently pulled his glasses down to seemingly get a better look at her and his red eyes were in full view to her. "Yes, I'm very much in agreement."

"When can we get her to Dachau?" Dr. Keller asked.

"I can have her on a train tomorrow," Commander Schneider answered.

It had only been then that Amber found her voice and tried to beg them not to send her away, but it was of no use. Next thing she knew, she was screaming and holding onto anything she could for dear life so they wouldn't take her. If they took her, her mother would not survive. But it was useless. Tiring of fighting her, they soon shot her and by the time she came to, she was already on a moving train. She couldn't remember much of anything from there. She's steadily lost her sanity until her only care was blood. But another memory came into sharp focus. She remembered those bright red eyes staring into hers as she was being violated but powerless to fight him off. She remembered this again and again and again until she was like a used rag.

Then she was in her cell and pain radiated through her body. She knew now exactly what it was. It was contractions. Constant and unrelenting causing her to cry with pain. She remembered, even in her altered state, keeping her hands on her belly. A full, rounded belly hard as stone. She was taken to another room where there were so many people. Dr. Keller was in the room preparing his tools. It was a birthing room she realized. And there in the room was the man with the red eyes. In her altered state, she'd hissed and screeched at him, but his only answer was ever to call her precious and even force a kiss on her. She remembered the pain becoming worse and worse until Dr. Keller started yelling at her to push, but she'd not understood him at the time. She did eventually start to do so out of instinct and as she did, the man from before took a hold of her face so he could keep her close.

"Give me a son," he ordered in a voice that only she could have heard. "Prove you were worthy as I'd said: give me a son."

She'd answered him with a scream and an attempt to bite him, but he'd dodged her. Moments later, the room filled with crying. A baby's cry. It had been a time, Amber remembered, when the feral instinct, if only the barest bit, had receded and her only concern was her baby. A little boy who's hair was blonde as hers and when he opened her eyes to look in her direction, his eyes were a vibrant purple. She tried to reach for the boy, but she was forced back. The baby seemed to try reaching for her too, but Dr. Keller had a hold on him and took his to a table where she heard her baby screeching louder as they applied a number to his tiny arm. Amber screamed louder and nearly managed to escape her restraints only for the man to shove her back and shoot her right before her son was forced from the room. At the shot, Amber screamed herself awake, sitting up in bed and waking Kevin.

"Amber?!" Kevin asked, immediately reaching for her. He turned on her nightstand light to see Amber was crying violently. "Amber, it's alright, it was just another nightmare," Kevin tried to sooth.

"No," Amber shook her head and cried harder. "No," Amber repeated. "My baby," she cried.

"Amber, the baby's alright," Kevin insisted. A knock came at their door and Kevin rushed over and opened it to Carlisle and a few others.

"What happened?" Anna was the first to ask.

"Amber had a nightmare," Kevin said.

"Is something wrong with the baby?" Carlisle asked, overhearing Amber's cries.

"I don't know," Kevin said. "Can you.."

"Of course," Carlisle stepped in as did Levi Sr. and Anna. Anna did her best to sooth Amber, but she was inconsolable but she wouldn't say what was wrong. Carlisle was able to examine her and was able to determine there was nothing wrong. "There's nothing wrong," Carlisle said. "I'll want to give her a more thorough exam, but there's a heartbeat and everything sounds normal."

"You hear that, Amber?" Anna said, "The baby's just fine. There's nothing to worry about."

"No," Amber said again as she shook her head.

"Amber, please, tell me what's wrong," Kevin begged, but she practically leaped off the bed to avoid the touch. She couldn't bare it. She felt so violated and used. She finally managed to clear her head enough to say, "I'm going for a walk," as she went to grab a coat.

"Amber, it's the middle of the night," Levi protested.

"I don't care," Amber said, getting her coat on and secured tightly.

"Let me get dressed and I'll go with you," Kevin said.

"No," Amber said, shoved her feet into her shoes and left the room.

She ignored everyone calling for her as she left the hotel. She couldn't seem to get out fast enough. She didn't stop until a half hour later when she found herself in the park just a few miles from their hotel. The greenery, the flowers and the bridges helped her to finally relax just a little. She already knew Kevin was following her but he kept his distance. She would thank him for it once she calmed down enough. Eventually she finally reached a little park bench that overlooked at lake and took a seat. Once she did, she just started to cry. The realization hit her hard and overwhelmed her. Worse yet, she'd forgotten all about him – her own son – until that very night. She felt ashamed and it was too much to bare. Kevin wanted to approach her so badly but he knew she would rebuke him if he did. She didn't want him right now and it made him feel all the more powerless. He heard another pair of footsteps coming up the path and looked in that direction to see a young man walking along appearing sullen. He seemed to notice Amber crying and was about to approach. Immediately cautious, Kevin was prepared to intercept the man, but Amber looked up at the boy and it made him stop in his tracks.

Amber looked up at the young man that had walked up the trail. He was the man from before. His hair was blonde and slightly wavy and a little longer, but he kept it back in a ponytail that was then secured into a loose single loop bun on the back of his head. His eyes were purple and she realized why seeing him before had sent her into a panic. He looked so much like his father. His features were chiseled and handsome and he had a five o'clock shadow, yet despite looking like his father, his eyes held none of the cruelty or evil. Nothing of the sort. He appeared to stiffen a little, appearing unsure. Amber wasn't sure what to do either. She had to be mistaken, she thought. After a moment, he seemed like he was about to say something, but it was clearly not going to be in German, French or English. He stopped himself and appeared at a loss. Then it seemed as though a thought occurred to him. He started to pull up the fabric of his left sleeve and presented it to her. The site made her heart stop. It was her number, but it ended in a J.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing and looked up at him. She'd not put on her bracelets before rushing out of the hotel so she only needed to pull aside her sleeve to present her number to him. He shook a moment as much in disbelief as she was. But when they looked at one another again, she suddenly realized she wasn't wrong. She knew it was him beyond a reasonable doubt. She stood up from the bench slowly so she was facing him and once she stood, he finally spoke.

"Mama?" he said. He sounded nothing like his father. His voice was his own and it suited him. She opened her arms to him as she was tearing up and when she did, he approached her swiftly, practically falling into her embrace. She fell back onto the bench and he kneeled down to follow her. Once in her arms, he started crying, burying his head against her belly while she hugged his head petting his hear.

"Mein Baby," Amber muttered and it seemed to make the boy cry all the harder. She leaned her head down so she was covering him. The empty feeling was finally gone.