One week later...

Jacob's POV

The sunlight across her smooth and perfect skin set the room alight with a golden glow. Her chest rose rhythmically as she laid on her back, her dark hair splayed out around her across her pillow, the fabric of one of my old t-shirts from my pre-shifter days pulled tight across her bump. She looked glorious, so incredibly beautiful. I could spend all day looking at her and would never get bored... especially now that our child was growing inside of her. 

The sunrise across the mountains had woken me from my sleep as the light seeped into the room, we had gotten home so late last night we had forgotten to close the blinds in our tired stupors. Today could not be spent lounging around in bed though, it was Monday, and Monday meant work - my alarm was set to go off at 7am. 

Our previous night had been a late one due to Renesmee's fifth birthday. Alice had gone all out, inviting the packs and their families and the Denalis. Ness now looked to be about fourteen and it was now obvious that she had a thing for Seth. He still doted over her but only as a friend now compared to an older brother. Her obvious attempts at flirting were making Seth, Edward and Bella squirm and it was an amazing source of entertainment to watch. She was the same height at Bella now, due to Edward's height and her growth rate Carlisle had estimated she would be around the same height at Aria at five feet eight inches. You could see the family similarities now, now that Ness was older, she was starting to look more like Bella, and Bella and Aria had the same lip and nose shapes.  

The sharp pinging of my alarm sounded, and I rolled over quickly to my bedside table to shut it off. I felt Aria stir beside me, her back arched and her arms went out above her head as she stretched. "Morning, my love." Her voice was quiet, but you could hear the smile in it. I rolled back over to meet her as she turned in towards my body, hooking her right leg over my hip as she rested her head against my chest. She hummed to herself happily as she snuggled against me. 

I kissed the top of her head. "Morning, baby." She tilted her head back to look at me and opened her eyes. Like always, I expected to take in those vivid pools of blue and gold, today it seemed that wouldn't be happening. "Woah." I breathed out in disbelief, taking in my beautiful wife's face like I was thrown back in time to five years ago. 

Aria's face fell into a frown. "What?" She asked warily, moving off of me slightly as she propped herself up on her elbow. 

I reached out to caress her cheek, silently telling her not to worry. "Your eyes Ari, they're red again." The gold had melted away and was replaced by a red so vivid it made the blue of her eyes pop. 

Over the last week she had been drinking one cup of human blood with every meal that she ate. It was still taking a little getting used to, having one of the draws in our fridge stocked with blood bags, but it was helping her. The bruises were gone, she had her strength back, she wasn't tired all the time, the colour was back in her cheeks, and she had put the weight back on. She was glowing. 

From the way her eyes became distant for a moment I could tell she was looking at herself through my eyes. "Wow. They are." She mused, a small smile on her face. 

"What are you smiling at?" I asked curiously, my thumb rubbing across her cheek. 

"The timing. Do you remember what tomorrow is?" She asked, smirking now. 

I raised an eyebrow at her. "It's Bella's 24th birthday?" It came out as a question, but I knew it was Bella's birthday. The only reason we still celebrated was because of Charlie. 

"It'll be six years tomorrow since I was changed. Since I first got these eyes." She admitted, her eyes distant again - going over memories in her head. "Does it scare you?" She asked, widening her eyes slightly, her smile dropping slightly as the doubt crept in. 

"Of course not." I said suddenly, leaning closer to peck her nose. "Just reminds me of a long time ago. Reminds me of when you let me back in." I said honestly, remembering the pain I had put her through, the pack finding out about her eyes, the fight with Jared... Ari letting me back into her life. I remember the exact moment she said the words, it was like she breathed life back into me again. 

Aria took her eyes off me; she looked down at my chest and began to draw circles against one of my pecs with her perfectly manicured nails. "Jesse was so mad. You got hurt that night." Her voice wobbled slightly as her fingertips retraced the parts of my skin that Jared had torn with his claws. 

I grasped her hand in mine. "So did you." 

She hummed in agreement, her eyes snapping back up to meet mine. "I'm sure they'll go back to gold once the little banana is here." 

Her words threw me off completely, I let out a single burst of laughter. "Banana?" I questioned with confusion, my chuckles continuing as I sat up and pulled her higher up the bed with me. 

"Yeah." She giggled, a little nervously. "They're the size of a banana at the moment. I'm ten weeks so really, I'm twenty weeks. A few days ago, they were a mango and by Thursday they will be a carrot." She babbled excitedly, smoothing her hand over the growing bump. 

I laughed again. Looking at her like she was crazy. "What the...?" 

"It's in my book!" She said seriously, her eyebrows furrowed. 

"Uh huh." I grinned at her as she pouted. 

"I'm serious!" She stressed, her eyes wide, the bright smile on her face. I wrapped my arms around her even tighter and pulled her closer before resting my hand against her stomach.

"Well, we can't keep calling them a different fruit or vegetable for the rest of their lives... you thought of any names yet?" I asked curiously, wanting to see if she had put any thought into it. Boy names were pointless, I had only been looking at girl names.  

"Erm, I have actually." She admitted, tilting her face to look at me again. "Well, I know I want them to have two middle names. I want one to be a family name and the other to be one that we pick ourselves. I want it to be an old Native name." She explained thoughtfully. 

"Really?" 

"Yeah, do you like that idea?" She asked, the smile making its way to to her face again. Every time she smiled, I could swear my heart skipped a beat. 

"I think it's beautiful. I already have an idea for our little girl-" I began but Ari's eye rolling cut me off. 

"You don't know it's going to be a girl!" She protested light-heartedly. 

I smiled at her. "I do... I've told you." I said matter-of-factly as I ran my hand over the bump again. "Anyway, how about Tala for the native middle name... it means the female alpha wolf." My smile turned into a full-on cheesy grin. 

Ari smirked, the smile fighting to break out across her face. "That's actually kind of perfect." 

"I know... named after you." I said smugly, as I moved my hand to her hip and gave it a squeeze. 

She grinned at me. "Thanks." She shifted slightly so she was sat back against the headboard like me. She took my hand that was resting against her in both of her own and rested it against the bump. "I like Rowan. Ro for short. It's cute, don't you think?" She asked endearingly. "Rowan Tala something Black?" Her voice drifted as if she was daydreaming.  

I joined her in that daydream. A beautiful little girl, a head full of black hair and Aria's gorgeous blue eyes. "Rowan Tala Marie Black?" Marie was Aria and Bella's middle name after their grandmother on their moms' side. That seemed like a good family name. "Gotta keep the tradition going, right?" I asked and again her smile was breathtaking. 

"I love it. I'll still keep looking though. We have ten more weeks to decide." She placed my hand on her bump again and rested her head against my shoulder. 

"I will too." I agreed.

"We need to sort out a nursery as well. Ten weeks is going to fly by." She admitted, a yawn soon taking over her. 

"These last ten weeks have." I acknowledged as I leant my own head atop hers. "Maybe we should wait to see what the sex is? That'll help up decide how we want to do it." I said thoughtfully, it would be just my luck if we painted the room pink and we had a boy. 

I could hear the smile in her voice. "Look at you getting all involved in interior design. I'm sure Alice is watching us decide this kind of stuff right now." She laughed before suddenly groaning in frustration. "She'll be here this afternoon chewing my ear off with colour schemes." 

I nudged her arm. "Better you than me." I joked with a chuckle. 

"Hey!" She protested with mild annoyance, sitting up completely so she was now facing me, her hand coming up to nudge my shoulder. 

As she leant forward to reach for me, I couldn't help it when my eyes lowered to the gap that had now formed at the top of her shirt revealing her cleavage to me. "Hey yourself." I smirked, quirking my eyebrows up at her, looking between her face and then her chest. "I've missed you, baby." I said sincerely, hinting at what we had missed out on over the last few weeks. 

"I missed you, too." Her eyes were suddenly full of emotion, there was a sadness there... a guilt. "I'm sorry-" 

"No, Aria." I kept my voice quiet, but I was serious. "There is nothing to be sorry for." I suddenly felt very selfish with my need. She was struggling to even be on her feet a week ago and here I was making suggestive faces at her. "You had to get better." 

I had never been more scared in my life than I was nearly two weeks ago. When I had got that call from Esme that Aria wasn't well my mind immediately went to how Bella was. Then the fact that they had put her to sleep like that just to get her to rest... it was heart breaking. Rosalie didn't help the situation with her insensitive comments but that was Blondie all over. The thought of losing Aria broke me, and then seeing her atop that staircase in her pyjamas, the dark purple bruise splotched across her shoulder, neck and jaw... it made her seem so vulnerable and scared. 

Aria looked deep into my eyes then, the emotion there made my heart swell. She rose up onto her knees and then in the same movement she was straddling my lap, her chest pressed against mine as she reached up to hold my face in her hands and pulled my lips towards her own. The kiss started softly, timidly even. It had been about three weeks since we had last been intimate. 

She was gentle with her movements, as if she was scared, she would hurt or break me with her increased strength due to the blood. As the kiss deepened, she ground herself against me, gently rocking her hips backwards and forwards as she let her hands run through my hair, down my neck and over my shoulders. Her fingertips left a trail of fire, my nerves went into overdrive, her soft touches turning me on more and more. 

I gripped her hips, ensuring she kept her movements against me going, before I found the hem of her t-shirt and began to lift it up over her head revealing her gorgeous new body. Her breasts were firm and swollen, just the sight of them was enough to make my mouth water and I wasted no time in leaning down to take one of her nipples into my mouth. 

Her moan sent a jolt through me as she ran her hands through my hair and pulled. I moved on to her other breast, tenderly squeezing the one I had just left in the palm of my hand as she continued to move against me. She pulled my face up to meet hers again, taking my bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled it gently as I lifted my hips to try and get my boxers off. She realised what I was doing and lifted her own hips so that I could get them down my legs and kick them off. She began to kiss along my jaw as she reached between us and grasped me in her hand, massaging slowly, as my breaths became more ragged. 

"Ari." I moaned quietly. She hummed, a playful smile on her lips as she sat down again, flipping her hair to one side as she looked me in the eye. That done it. "I want to taste you," I purred before placing a kiss against the base of her neck. I smiled when her cheeks flushed pink and took that as the okay to gently roll her onto her back, being careful to her mind her bump, as her head relaxed into the pillows. I kissed my way down her body, over her shoulders, her breasts, her stomach and then over her hips... 

I tugged at the material of her plain cotton panties with my teeth and smiled. I could feel her eyes on me as my nose nudged her covered clit and I couldn't help the groan that escaped me as I shifted her legs over my shoulders. I pulled her panties down and threw them off the bed, focussing on the heaven that was waiting for me between her legs. I turned my head and kissed the inside of her thigh. "God, I can't wait to taste you again," I moaned into her thigh, my teeth gripping her skin before tugging gently. 

Her body felt like it was burning under my touch, goosepimples covered her skin as the excitement ignited her. I met her eyes again and the blush returned. In response, I placed a kiss against her clit and grinned when she physically shivered. I slid my tongue over her, then licked her slit, and a moan escaped her lips. 

I grasped her hips and pulled her down the bed a bit and then got back to pleasuring my wife. I kissed, licked, then sucked her as her hands found my hair. "Oh my God." She quietly cried, her legs shaking slightly as I sucked on her clit, my tongue then slid through her slit before teasing her entrance. "Oh my God!" She moaned again as I slid a finger inside her. 

I moaned at the sound of her voice, not stopping until she screamed my name and let her release overwhelm her body. I kissed her pussy slowly as she came down from her high, and then moved my lips from her clit and to her hips, kissing my way up her body again until I reached her chin. She ran her hands up my arms as I leant down and pressed my lips against hers before I positioned myself at her entrance. I pushed in slowly, moaning as I tried to be gentle. I started moving instantly, feeling her legs bent either side of my hips as we kissed deeply. 

Pleasure burned through my body as I cupped her chest and squeezed gently, watching as her eyes sparkled from the pleasure I was giving her. I broke the kiss, my lips finding her neck as I slid my cock in and out of her, her moans flowing quietly. "You're so tight." I moaned into her neck, my hand reaching down to hold her thigh against my hip. She moaned in response as I thrust deeper, her nails digging into my shoulders. "Do you like this baby?"

"Yes," she moaned, looking me in the eyes as I hovered above her. I pushed deeper inside her again and moaned loudly as a bolt of pleasure raced down my spine. "Yes!" She moaned a little louder, barely being able to keep her eyes open as she held firmly onto my shoulders. "Harder." She moaned, her voice a whisper.

"Are you sure, baby?" I asked, I didn't want to be too rough with her.

"Harder." She moaned, biting her bottom lip as she looked between us. The desire in her eyes gave me no doubts. I couldn't not give her what she wanted. I obeyed, going harder than before.

Then, to my surprise, with her vampire speed and strength she rolled us around. Her hair fell around her shoulders and then against my chest as she leant over me, connecting our lips in a warm kiss as she began to move her hips in a circle. I bit my lip hard and grabbed her hips, "Fuck, I love it." I groaned as she giggled, the sunlight pouring out from behind her made her look like a goddess.

She leant down and pressed kisses against my jaw and neck and over sweet spot. My hands moved over her ass, squeezing tightly and moving her up and down my cock at a steady pace. She moaned a little louder than before, her back arching as she bit her lip. "Look at me," I commanded softly, my voice suddenly hoarse. She looked down at me, our eyes locked. We were both moaning quietly, I looked between us every now and then, my body fighting the urge to explode every time I saw my cock disappear deep inside her. 

I could feel myself getting close and from the way she picked up her pace and ground her hips harder against me I knew she was close too. "Fuck, baby," I moaned, I leant up, grabbing her ass hard as my lips attached to her neck. I sucked and nibbled at her skin as she held onto my shoulders. "It's so good," I moaned, my head buried in her neck as she wrapped her arms around mine. 

Her legs started shaking and she gasped for air as her orgasm hit her. She bit her lower lip hard, moans flowing from her mouth as she closed her eyes. I clenched my teeth, the growl leaving my chest as I continued to guide her hips in a circle as I came, the pleasure shooting through me as I reached my high. 

She dropped her head onto my shoulder, panting. "I missed that... I missed you." 

"I missed you too, baby." 

Aria's POV

I just couldn't stop smiling. Everything was perfect. More than perfect. Was there a word for that? I felt so at peace within myself, so happy for Jake and me. I finally felt like I could just relax and be happy and enjoy the next ten weeks of being pregnant. We could be a proper husband and wife. 

Jacob was getting ready for his day at work and because I was feeling so good (and hungry) I decided to cook breakfast. I had the radio blaring, my flask of cold blood on the go, and I was clad in one of Jacob's more recent t-shirts that fell to almost mid-thigh compared to the one that I had on this morning from his human days that didn't even cover my butt. 

"Never mind I'll find, someone like you!" I sang out, not caring if it sounded bad or even terrible. "I wish nothing but the best, for you, too!" I continued as I poured the scrambled eggs into a serving dish. 

I surveyed the area just as there was a knock at the door. The bread was ready to go into the toaster, orange juice was ready in the jug, bacon was frying. I could leave it for a second. 

I carried on humming to Adele as I made my way through the house and towards the front door. I already knew that it was Jesse from his thoughts. The voices from a distance just sounded like background noise now, I could zone it out or listen in for entertainment purposes if I wanted to. I couldn't hear the baby yet though, I could feel a presence mentally as their brain developed but no thoughts yet... physically no kicks either, just light flutters as it moved in there slightly. A normal human woman wouldn't be able to feel these minute movements. 

As I entered the hallway, I could see Jesse standing on the other side of the glass door, pulling his work shirt over his head. If it was any other time of the day Jesse would have walked straight in but as it was first thing in the morning, we had locked the door overnight. "Hey." I grinned at him as I unlocked the latch on the door, speaking to him through the triple glazing.  

"Hey. I can hear you screeching from a fricking mile away." He laughed as I opened the door, his eyes casting down to me as I stepped to the side. "What the-" His laughter faltered as he took in my new/old eyes. 

I batted my eyelashes at him. "I know." He wasn't scared, just propelled back in time like Jake and I were. "Creepy, isn't it?" 

Subtly he nodded. "It sure is. It makes you think back, you know?" 

"That's what Jake and I said this morning." I smiled up at him, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. It weirded everyone out that I was drinking human blood, even myself, I didn't want to draw more attention to it. "Anyway, would you like some breakfast?" 

"Sure."

As we walked towards the kitchen, I let my happiness take over again. "We were born and raised, in a summer haze." With my vampire speed, I popped the toast into the toaster, flipped the bacon, set up three places on along the kitchen island, and cleaned up. 

"You're in a good mood." Jesse noted as I whizzed around him, even pulling his chair out for him before he even got to the island. 

I stopped on the other side of the island and grinned at him. "I am. I feel good." I admitted as I reached for my drink and took a long sip. I was getting hungry out here... Jake needed to hurry up. 

Jesse held a hand up, his face morphing into a grimace. "Please stop the explanation there, I don't want to know more." I laughed at his expression; his face softened slightly but he was still disgusted. "How are you two anyway?" He asked, changing the subject as he motioned towards myself and the baby. 

I ignored his question for a moment, not being able to help myself as I sang along to the next line of the song. "I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but I, couldn't stay away. I couldn't fight it." The toast pinged and I blurred towards that end of the counter to retrieve the toast. "The banana and I are good." I answered, smiling again, as I heard Jake making his way down the stairs. 

Jesse's face scrunched up in confusion. "Banana?"

"See, it's weird!" Jake called from down the hallway, and I rolled my eyes playfully. 

"He or she is the size of a banana... until we know if they are a he or she, they will be called the fruit or vegetable of the week until we pick a name." I explained sensibly as Jake appeared around the corner. 

My heart leapt as I laid my eyes on his smiling face. My knees felt weak at the sight of him, nervous butterflies appeared in my stomach... I was just so in love with him it hurt. 

Jesse ignored our loving gazes. "This is her idea, right?" He asked before taking a swig of his orange juice. 

"Totally." Jake admitted before moving towards me and within three strides I was in his arms. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I settled back into him as he placed a lingering kiss on the part of my shoulder that joined my neck. "Hey baby... and banana." I could hear the smile in his voice as he smoothed his hand over the bump before reluctantly letting go of me to take a seat beside Jesse. "Hey, man." They clapped hands in the way that men do. 

"Hey." He returned the greeting as I served up the eggs, bacon and toast and then proceeded to take a seat on the other side of Jake. Before I even had my butt on the seat Jesse and Jake were grabbing at the serving spoons... they will never not be hungry. "So, there's something I wanna tell you guys." Jesse said after we had all had a few mouthfuls of breakfast. 

I had a really bad habit of ruining surprises for myself. I couldn't help it! When someone said they wanted to tell me something the mind reader in me cheated. After a quick peak into Jesse's mind, I couldn't contain myself. I dropped my knife and fork and sprung up from my seat to hug him. 

"Really?! Oh my god Jesse I'm so happy for you!" I squealed, almost giving Jake a heart attack at my fast movements and suddenly loud voice. 

As I wrapped my arms around Jesse's shoulders he groaned lightheartedly. "God, I hate when you do that!" He laughed, hugging me back with one arm as he was still seated. "But thank you." 

Jake looked between us completely confused and I smiled at his little pouty face. "Someone wanna clue me in?" He asked, an eyebrow raised. I stepped away from Jesse and put my arm around Jake's shoulders instead and settled into his side. 

Jesse grinned proudly. "I'm going to propose to Scarlett tonight." 

"Congrats, man." Jake beamed as he reached across me to pat Jesse's shoulder. "I was wondering when you were finally gonna do it." 

"Thanks." Jesse cheesed, a little bashful. "I need your help though, both of you." He admitted before taking in another mouthful of bacon. 

I stepped up right away, my inner Alice coming out. I wanted my best friend to have an amazing experience and memory. "We will help in any way we can. Right, Jake?" 

Jake side eyed me, wondering what I was signing him up for. "Of course." 

Jesse put his knife and fork down and turned to us, his expression completely serious. "So, you have your scan this afternoon, afterwards I was thinking you, Aria, could ask her to go on a walk down to the beach? I want to set this whole thing up down there, and Jake, I was wondering if you could help me with that. As soon as the girls leave the house, you phase and get there way before they do." He was very animated as he spoke, but he never lost that crease between his brows as he explained his plan.  

Without wanting to upset him and cause his temper to flare, I asked my only question very delicately. "What if she doesn't want to walk?" 

The crease deepened as he thought about how to alter the plan should Scarlett refuse to walk with me. "Then... I don't know. She loves a walk she'll say yes I'm sure of it." He nodded, reassuring himself it seemed more so than us. 

I grinned at him. "Okay." My best friend and my brother were getting married! "Wow this is so exciting! I'm really happy for you Jess!" His smile took up his whole face, and it lasted a full five seconds before his hunger took over again... with Jake quickly following suit. 

Maybe imprints were the wolves' second love... it seemed food always came first. 

* * *

"Hello!" Scarlett's voice rang out from the front door. I had been at home all day so there was no need to lock it again. She knew that we heard her coming from miles away, but she still felt it was nice to announce herself.   

"We're in the hospital or baby room... or whatever it's called." I announced back, making my voice louder so that she could hear from the other side of the house. Carlisle laughed quietly beside me, and I smiled meekly at him. "Birthing room sounds weird." I shrugged.  

Carlisle, Esme, my dad, Bella and Ness were waiting with me in what was originally our third bedroom but had now been transformed into a mini hospital room. Carlisle had transferred all of his hospital equipment from the Big House to our house so that we were ready for when the time comes to give birth. I couldn't go to a normal hospital because questions would be thrown around about my high temperature, needles wouldn't be able penetrate my skin, my strength would be unheard of... Emmett, Rosalie and Carlisle were currently building me a special reinforced gurney with stirrups so that when it came to pushing, I would have something to bear down against without it breaking. 

Jake was still on his way home from work, running slightly late due to dropping off Jesse at the beach. I was a little nervous that Scarlett would say no to a walk, but I hoped that if I batted my eyelashes at her and begged she wouldn't say no to her pregnant best friend. 

Scarlett entered the room with a bright smile on her face. "Hey." She said to everyone and in turn, everyone greeted her back. She looked at me a little warily as she took in my new appearance. "So, is this what you used to look like? Your eyes I mean." She clarified a little unsurely, her eyes darting across my face to see if there were any other changes. 

When my other family members had arrived, it seemed that Carlisle and Esme had been given a heads up from Alice - she did in fact have a vision about us talking about names and the nursery and saw my eyes then. Bella and Ness were not informed and were shocked to see me. Again, Bella thought back to times long ago, Ness back to when she had first met the Denalis and I lost my temper being protective. My dad was startled of course, he was accepting of everything, and despite how much he tried to not think about it, there was always that tone in his mind that wished I had never been bitten. I didn't mind, being turned into a vampire isn't something you would think to happen to your children. 

"Yeah, freaked out? I think Jesse was this morning." I asked, wanting to sense how she really felt. 

Scarlett smiled a toothy grin. "No, it's pretty." She said honestly, typical Scarlett, nothing scares her, and she finds the beauty in everything. 

"I think so too." Nessie chimed in, moving from across the room to wrap her arm around my waist. For years she had been far more developed mentally than physically, but now that she was the same height as Bella and starting to develop a womanlier figure it was a little weird to me. In two years, she would be 'fully grown' and was going to look older than me...   

"Once the baby is born, and you're back on animal blood or no blood at all then I'm sure they will return to gold." Carlisle assured from the corner of the room as he continued setting up his equipment. 

"Sounds good." I said happily. It looked like I'd be wearing contacts in public again for the foreseeable future. 

Scarlett crossed the room to assist Carlisle in setting up the equipment. "How are you feeling? Where's Jake?" She asked as she got to work. 

"I'm fine. I feel strong. Nothing like last week. And..." I reassured before clearing my mind. I blocked out all the other voices and focussed on trying to find Jake. Us vampires could hear anything that was in a three-mile radius if we wanted to, but my mindreading expanded beyond that to about fifteen miles. It was the wolf in me that enabled me to hear at that distance, the boys could hear each other's thoughts well over two hundred miles away from one another. I grinned when I found his thoughts. "About five miles out."  

"Very good." Scarlett smirked, never getting bored of our weirdness. 

The room was still being put together when I heard the tyres of Jake's truck rolling across the dirt track that led up to our driveway. I excused myself from the conversation concerning Esme's cooking skills (she had been taking classes from Dad and was learning some of his recipes) and swiftly made my way to the front door, opening it as Jake climbed out of his truck. 

"Hey, Blue." His smile could have melted me to the floor there and then. Just the sight of him caused flutters in my lower stomach. He was covered in oil, well his shirt was, and that greasy, dirty, sweaty look was sending my body into overdrive. From the way his smile turned into a smirk, I knew that he knew what he was doing to me. 

"Hey." I smiled flirtatiously at him as he approached, silently letting him know that I wanted him. Now that I was physically stronger again my appetite for him was back with a vengeance. "How was your day?" I asked him as his arms wound their way around my waist, he knew I didn't care about the mess. I breathed him in, his touch was sending tingles across my skin, as he dipped his head to place a lingering, soft but needy kiss against my lips. 

When we broke apart, he kissed my nose and then my forehead before returning to his full height. "Good. How are you and the banana?" He asked lovingly, placing his warm hand over the the centre of my bump. 

I placed my slightly cooler hand over the top of his. "We're good." I then dipped my voice to ensure that the human ears down the hall couldn't hear. "Ready for later?" 

"He has everything he needs. I'll rush down there once you guys are out the house and I've had a quick shower." He confirmed as he joined our hands together, intertwining our fingers.  

"Wonderful." I beamed up at him. "No let's go see this baby." 

As soon as I laid back against the hospital bed, Bella fulfilled her purpose of attendance by wrapping her shield tightly around Scarlett and Carlisle. I wanted to find out everything at the same time as Jake, and I would have to work to keep my shield around Scarlett, Carlisle and eventually Alice when she was told the sex of the baby later today to plan the baby shower/gender reveal party. When Bella wasn't around, I would have to be good and shut my mind off to everyone... maybe there was a way I could block out an individual's thoughts? 

The scan we were having today was the anatomy scan which basically checked how the baby was developing, to see if their organs were forming correctly, and that they had the right number of fingers and toes. Checks were completed for any birth defects and that the placenta and amniotic fluid was healthy too. 

As Scarlett moved the wand over my abdomen, Carlisle explained everything. He said the baby was healthy and developing exactly how he expected and wanted for this stage of pregnancy. It was clear the blood had helped to keep us both strong and with how human the baby seemed he was sure that I would be able to give birth naturally and that there would be no need for a caesarean. He also estimated that at this rate our baby would be a fully grown adult in about ten years' time compared to Renesmee's seven... that thought was even scarier. My child would look older than me in ten years... 

Bella minutely flinched at the mention of the word 'caesarean'... Renesmee's birth story wasn't exactly the most relaxing or smooth experience. "Sorry, Mom." Nessie mumbled before sucking her bottom lip into her mouth. 

"It wasn't your fault, honey." Bella wrapped her arm around Renesmee's shoulders and pulled her into her side.

"So, are you guys sure you don't want to know?" Scarlett asked us as she handed me a paper towel to wipe the gel from my stomach. 

"I'm sure!" I said quickly at the same time Jake said: "It's a girl!" 

Again, my eye roll was completely obvious and ended with a playful glare. "Will you stop?" I laughed. 

"You're going to be so embarrassed if it's a boy, Uncle Jay." Nessie said with a grin using her nickname for Jake that she hadn't grown out of. 

Jake shook his head. "I'm right." He said, finishing with an obvious shrug. 

"Whatever it is, we will let Alice know so that she can plan the party accordingly." Carlisle chuckled, stopping the lighthearted bickering. 

Carlisle began to shut down the equipment and slowly the guests began to leave, and then when Jake announced that he wanted to go shower I took that as my opportunity to ask Scarlett to take a walk with me. I was met with no hesitation, and she practically dragged me out of the door herself. 

As we walked, she told me about her day at work, how she had helped deliver two babies today, and that she was thinking of surprising Jesse with a vacation. The walk to the beach took around thirty minutes at a slow human pace, and not even halfway through our walk I could hear Jake thundering past us towards the beach. I'm sure he heard us too so he could tell Jesse how far away we were. 

"I'm surprised you haven't peaked yet." Scarlett said, I suspected she meant me taking a look to see the sex of the baby. She had a teasing, knowing grin on her face that I knew was soon to drive me insane. 

I squinted my eyes at her. "Please do not tempt me." I groaned as the salty sea air began to billow through the breeze towards us. I could smell Jesse and Jake's scents in the air too, from the way their breathing was laboured and the fast beats of their hearts I could tell they were rushing. I would have taken a look to see the scene, but I had to be good and not read any minds at all, I could accidentally look into Scarlett's mind. 

Her grin widened as she brushed a few strands of her blonde hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. "But it's such a good secret." She taunted as we came to a steep set of rocks that were at the beach's edge. 

I jumped down first, landing with ease and grace despite being technically five months pregnant. It was a little too steep for Scarlett to jump, so she sat down on the rock's edge and leaned towards me. "Scarlett... I will leave you on this rock." I warned with a pointed look. 

Her smile broadened but she conceded. "Okay, okay, I'll stop... now help me." I lifted myself up onto my tip toes to grasp her waist to lift her down from the rock. If anyone saw us now, I was sure it would be a strange sight to see. 

We carried on walking for another ten minutes before we reached the beginning of the next curve of the beach. Jesse was concealed behind it and from the smell in the air there were roses, lilies, and lilacs around him. I stopped Scarlett, placing my hand on her arm softly. "So, I need you to carry on without me." 

Scarlett looked complexly confused. "What?"

"Just carry on around the cove there." I tried not to smile; afraid I would give something away. 

"Why?" She asked, dumbfounded. Her face scrunched up, not liking the secrets. It was her turn to be kept in the dark. 

I signed. "Scar, trust me." 

She looked at me sceptically but turned and carried on the walk alone. As soon as rounded the cove I blurred into the trees again and found Jake instantly. He was stood in his shirtless glory, his muscular torso on display as he watched Scarlett approach Jesse with shock clear on her face.  

Jake turned to me when I came within ten feet of him. My eyes raked down his body, taking in every muscle, every crevice and line that his toned muscles created. "You look good." I complimented as my hormones ignited again... I could feel my need for him between my legs. 

He smirked at me. "Someone's hormones are now in overdrive." He opened his arms to me as I moved towards him. 

"Are you saying you don't want me?" I asked him teasingly, knowing that if he wanted to, he could have me right here against one of these trees. 

"Don't be ridiculous." He almost growled, the need in his eyes as he caught my arms in his hands and pulled me tight against him. My heart skipped a beat as he caught my jaw between his thumb and forefinger but, as he dipped his head to press his lips again mine, a hearty kick from the inside of my stomach sent him jolting back. 

"Woah!" We both said in unison, looking from each other's startled faces and down to my stomach. The kick didn't hurt, but it was unexpectedly strong. But wow, baby's first kick! 

"I felt that!" Jake exclaimed before squatting down in from it me. "Are you okay, was that the first time?" He lifted my shirt up to inspect the area the baby's foot had pushed against and I heard his sharp intake of breath as he took in the faint little bruise that had now appeared. 

"I'm fine." I said immediately, pulling him back up to his full height. "I promise it didn't hurt." I continued, placing my hand on the side of his face as I saw the worry burying itself there. "As I get stronger so does the baby." I explained as I looked back to my stomach, seeing the bruise melting back into the colour of my normal skin tone. "See." 

"Strong little banana." He said quietly, smoothing his hand over the skin again as if to reassure himself before he pulled my shirt back down. "Maybe that should be their name." He teased, his humour back once he was assured, I was indeed fine. 

"Definitely not." I scoffed with amusement. 

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked a final time, his forehead creased.  

"Yes, baby." I confirmed before leaning up on my tiptoes to peck his lips. We turned back to the couple then, wanting to watch the excitement unfold. "Quiet! Quiet!" I flapped at Jake before settling my hands over my lips to ensure I didn't make a noise myself. 

"I didn't..." Jake began but stopped when he realised it was pointless now that my attention was fully on my brother and best friend. Instead, Jake wrapped his arms around me from behind, settling across the place where the baby kicked. 

We watched in silence as Jesse gave his speech, slowly dipping to one knee as he presented her with the ring. My heart swelled for them as Scarlett began to cry before throwing herself at my brother, the both of them falling into the sand as she squealed out her answer. 

It looked like Alice had another wedding to help plan.