Sighing, I set down the book that Noah had given me weeks ago. The print is so small, and often times it was written in riddles. They took me so long to decipher that I often had to stop after just a page of reading.

Suffice to say, nothing more about our situation has been found, even with me, Noah, and Avery reading the books.

My hand settles on my stomach when I feel the baby kicking from inside me. She has been more active lately, but somehow, she still manages to stop whenever someone besides me tries to feel her. The only times Rowan has felt her was in the middle of the night and his side was pressed up against my stomach. He still gets grumpy about it.

Stretching out my back, I sigh as some of the tension leaves my body. I have been sitting here too long, which always results in me having to waddle around as I wait for the feeling to return in my legs.

The Christmas tree sitting in the corner, fully decorated brings a smile to my face. Today is finally Christmas. We are going over to my parent's for a late breakfast, where Avery and Nik are going to join us. Grandpa had even promised to drop by.

Even though my family is close by, it is hard to get them all in a room together. It will be nice to see them without having to track down Theo or not seeing Papa and Dad because they are out working on something.

Rowan is just walking back into the tent as I move to stoke the fire.

"Hey, I got that," he says, rushing over to me.

"Rowan, putting a piece of wood on the fire isn't going to hurt me or the baby."

He just shakes his head, taking the piece of wood from me. "No need for you to do it when I'm here." It is hard to be mad at him when he leans down to kiss me, and he knows this.

"Find anything new in the book?" he asks while I pour myself a steaming hot cup of tea.

"Nothing that we can use." Blowing on my coffee, I take a careful sip, not wanting to scald myself like I do most mornings. "But I am not even half-way through yet. Hopefully, something will come up soon."

Rowan nods, throwing the piece of wood in the fire. After wiping off his hands, he walks over to me, carefully pushing my legs apart and kneeling in between them. Raising my eyebrows at him, I watch as his hands settle on my stomach, rubbing along the taut skin.

My stomach has definitely gotten bigger, seeming to noticeably every night. My skin feels itchy at times, but I force myself to not scratch at the taut skin. That's how people get stretch marks.

"Hi baby," Rowan murmurs, leaning down to press a kiss on the top of my stomach. "Are you ever going to let me feel you in there? Sometime when I am not fast asleep?

"She's just a little shy," I whisper, running my fingers through Rowan's hair. It has gotten longer, enough so that a few strands fall into his face if it isn't brushed back. I love it though, and I hope this baby gets his hair. "Doesn't like being put on the spot."

He just smiles, looking back down at my stomach. "No need to be shy, baby girl. Daddy loves you so much already."

His words cause my eyes to become warm with tears. Stupid hormones are causing me to get emotional about everything.

Rowan- the wonderful boyfriend that he is- doesn't even laugh when he hears me sniffling. He just stands up and pulls me into his arms, holding me close. It is enough to send my tears over the edge, gently crying into his shirt."

"We both love you too, so much," I say into his chest, words warbly and muffled.

He seems to understand though, just humming and rubbing my back in comfort.

It takes a few minutes for me to compose myself, but I finally do. Rowan just looks at me with a raised brow, silently asking if I am okay.

"I'm fine," I whisper, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips. "Your love for our baby just gets me all emotional."

He chuckles, pulling me in for a deeper kiss, before finally letting me slip away. "Nice to know."

Narrowing my eyes at him, I carefully change into some clean clothes, watching as he gathers up the homemade apple bread that I had made late last night. "Don't you be using that against me, Rowan Zima."

"I would never," he says, eyes hilariously wide as he presses a hand against his chest.

"Oh please," I grumble, rolling my eyes.

Rowan lets the faux-innocent expression fall away, not able to hold back his laughter anymore. He wraps his arm around my waist after we duck out of the tent, leaning down to press a kiss against my hair.

His warmth is a nice contrast to the freezing air out here. The snow is still on the ground, not warm enough for it to melt and no rain to wash it away. By now, I am just sick and tired of the stuff, especially since it is more slush now than the pristine white it had been when it had first fallen.

Everyone is already at my parents' by the time we get there. Even Aunt Grace, Aunt Olive, and Uncle Tate made it. They had been keeping to themselves ever since they got back, so it is nice to see them.

"Matty!" Mom says, the first one-as always- to see us come in. "You made it." He wraps me is a tight hug, patting the side of my stomach, before pulling Rowan into a hug. "Breakfast is ready. We were just waiting for the two of you. Didn't want to start without you."

"Sorry, Mom," I say, handing the bread over to him. "I guess we lost track of time."

He shoots me a knowing look, making me blush. Before I have time to correct his completely wayward thoughts, he is already calling for everyone to sit down before the food gets cold.

"Did I just read that right?" Rowan asks, pulling out my chair for me before sitting down himself. "Did your Mom really just imply what I think he implied?"

"That we had sex right before we came over here?" I take the pile of pancakes Gwen is handing me. "Yep."

The rest of the breakfast passes too quickly, laughter filling the tent as we all reminisce about past Christmases. Like the time when Theo was only two and climbed the Christmas tree. Or how Rowan used to sneak down the night of Christmas Eve to peek at the presents while Henry kept watch.

It is nice to have all of us together, the love in the air so that that you can practically feel it. All of it has all the guilty feelings melting away. The only time they creep up is when Avery remarks that he and Nik have to leave, since they are having lunch with Henry, Rosalie, and her family.

Rowan had just given my leg a squeeze, and I had just pushed him out after his parents. Having his family split apart has been hard for him, and he hasn't talked to his brother in a long time. Even if it makes something inside of me twist, watch him leave the tent with his parents. I know that it will be good for him to see his brother.

"Matty." Turning, I see Grandpa watching me with concerned eyes. "Are you alright?"

Smiling, I follow him over to where the fire is currently crackling. "I'm fine."

He watches me for a minute, clearly trying to decipher whether or not I am telling the truth. Even though I can tell he knows I am lying, he just nods his head. He reaches behind his chair, where a small table is set. There is a folded piece of paper on top, and he hands it to me.

"My gift to you and Rowan." He smiles as I take it. Opening the card, I see that it is a sketch of a cradle. "I just finished it a couple days ago. I gave Noah and Beckett theirs already, but I thought I would save your for Christmas."

My eyes start burning again, my chest getting tight.

Stupid hormones.

"Thank, Grandpa," I manage to choke out, but as soon as I look up at him the tears spill over. "It's beautiful."

He reaches over, grabbing my hand with his. "It's sitting in your tent if you want to go take a look."

Nodding, I push myself up from the chair. "I really do."

After saying a quick goodbye to everyone- which isn't that quick at all, considering I have to go around and hug everyone, chatting for a few minutes- I force myself out into the cold. The air is bitingly cold, making me shiver despite the thick coat and hat I have on.

Luckily, there are still coals in the woodstove by the time I make it back to my tent. It makes it easy for me to build it back up again, placing a few smaller pieces of wood on the glowing embers. Rowan would know as soon as he walked in if I used one of the heavier pieces of wood, and I really don't want to be lectured on Christmas morning.

The cradle is sitting right next to the bed, stealing my breath away. It is simple, which just adds to its elegance. The legs are attached to a rounded piece of wood, making it so the cradle rocks when pushed. It is made of dark wood, a stiffer mattress type pillow strapped to the inside. It is everything we could have needed, so much more than I ever thought we could have.

My hand trembles as I touch the smooth wood. A picture of a tiny baby with light tufts of hair sleeping in here runs through my mind. In just a few months, that picture is going to be a reality.

Sitting down on the bed, I shuck off most of my clothes, leaving me in just my underwear. The food is heavy in my stomach, just adding to my exhaustion. We had both been up since before the sun rose. Rowan because he wanted to build up the fire, and me because the baby decided to fall asleep on my bladder.

But no matter how hard I try, I can't manage to fall asleep. It isn't until Rowan stumbles back into the tent an hour later, remarking on the beautiful cradle that I feel the last of the tension leave my body. He joins me on the bed, pulling me close to his side as I bury my nose in his neck.

It is the only part of him that doesn't smell like Roses and Pine, like his mates. I can't help the jealousy clawing at me, wondering how he could smell so much like him. It is as if they rubbed themselves all over him. When I pull away slightly, I see that he is wearing a shirt that is definitely not his, most likely his brothers.

Whatever those two are trying to pull is ridiculous, but for now, I can revel in the fact that Rowan is here with me, hands tapping against my stomach as he tries to tempt our daughter into kicking him. Closing my eyes, I breathe in his scent once more, pushing the jealousy as far from my thoughts as possible.

*****

Someone in the comments mentioned a possible guide to the families in this world, and I thought that would be a great idea. It will be added to the beginning of this book very soon, so that it can be referenced.