The Pack

Until My Last Breath

Jake's POV

After work Leah asked me to meet her at the beach. Lately we'd been bumping heads all because she wouldn't do one little thing for me. I told her that I knew her body well and that her body was changing. Every change of course to me was more beautiful than the next. I didn't know if she was becoming softer because she was becoming human or if she was pregnant. I didn't know which one I was actually wishing for. I knew I wanted Leah and me to grow old together … at the same time but all this business with Sam has made it difficult for me to keep my temper under control. I also knew Leah wanted a baby. I wanted her to be happy but I wasn't sure I'd be a good dad. I got out of my truck and found Leah sitting with her back to me looking out into the ocean. I took my shoes off and walked over to her and sat in the sand beside her.

"It's a peaceful day isn't it the waters are pretty still," she whispered after a few minutes. I watched her face she'd been crying I knew she had brought me here to tell me why. She pulled a pregnancy test out of her dress pocket and handed it to me. I didn't know whether it was negative or positive.

"It's negative," she said quietly. "I'd hoped … I was stupid to hope." She wiped a few more unwanted tears away.

"I'm sorry baby." I went to gather her in my arms and she stopped me.

"Don't. I don't want to fall apart over this. I told you I wasn't pregnant but something is going on with me … I don't want to be human without you. I wish- I wish there was a way to slow it down or take it back because Jake if I can't have a baby with you and grow old together I would be more than happy to stay young with you forever." She sighed and smoothed her hair back. "I think I know what I have to do to make it stop."

"You may not have to make it stop Leah, if you become human I'm sure I can get you pregnant," I said confidently. Leah's eyes widened and she burst into a fit of giggles. "It did sound a little weird." She nodded.

"You're so cocky," she laughed.

"You have no idea," I retorted nastily and knew she got my meaning.

"Trust me I do." She winked and hopped up. I watched as the wind dance around her a bit and moved her pretty teal dress in all different directions. She was flawless and so beautiful. I got up and went to reach for her and she dodged me. "Oh no Mr. Black I don't need a reminder of your cockiness here." I went to reach for again and she ducted me once more.

"Come on Black you must be turning human too because you move like an old man," she teased.

"We'll see about that!" We went flying down the beach and I eventually caught up to her hitched her over my shoulder fireman style. I spun her around and enjoyed the sound of her laughter. I eventually repositioned her so I was carrying her piggy back. I walked slowly back towards our cars to go home.

"Whatever hand fate deals us Jake … I'm yours until my last breath," she whispered. Her words were meant to comfort me but left me more worried. I was worried that she may think something was wrong and that her days on this earth may be numbered.

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Leah's POV

I really didn't want to have any secrets from Jacob. However, I needed answers and I needed to figure things without him. I didn't want to put him through any unnecessary stress. I didn't want him to see me drained or sad. I just needed to do this alone. So after he went to work I contacted a couple people that knew and organized a meeting. I was lucky that they both had time to come over to my house.

"Hi sweetheart," Billy said and I saw my mother behind him. I was a little unnerved by her being here. She pushed Billy into my house. "I talked to Jake about adding a ramp. Since the two of you are living together it just makes sense. Unless you don't want me to visit." He chuckled as I smiled a little.

"Of course we want you here Billy," I offered them some of the cookies and coffee on the table. They were worried since I was being so quiet.

"So why are we here sweetheart?" My mother asked as she took another of my cookies.

"I really wasn't expecting you to be here mom and I'm waiting for someone else and then I will explain everything," I said and just as I was about to sit down the doorbell rang. Carlisle and Ness … Ness why was she here? God couldn't people come alone.

"Leah," Carlisle greeted me. "I'm surprised to be invited here." He entered the house cautiously and Ness gave me a little side hug. I rolled my eyes a bit but I was learning to find her more comical than annoying. So once everyone was situated in my kitchen I stood at the head of the table and took a deep breath.

"I fear something is wrong with me …. I'm not sure if I'm turning human or if I'm sick, but I need to find out today," I explained. Both Carlisle and Billy frowned and my mother gasped.

"Sweetheart," she whispered and she went to hug me. I allowed her to but only briefly.

"It's okay mom. So is there a way to test it?" I asked Billy directly and he looked at Carlisle.

"If you need me to leave I will," Carlisle said bluntly.

"NO, you're just as important to all of this as Billy is. I need you to test my blood and see if you find anything. Did you bring your stuff?" Carlisle nodded and motioned for me to sit down as he rifled through his bag. He brought out some things to draw blood. He smoothed his cold hands along my skin and it caused my skin to crawl. It caused my stomach to crawl to the point that I thought I was going to hurl all over him. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.

"I found a vein," he murmured as he took the needle and tried to puncture my skin once … twice … and more. "Leah, this isn't working." I opened my eyes and looked at the bent needles on the kitchen table.

"Take her temperature," Billy advised and Carlisle nodded.

"108.5," Carlisle stated.

"Normal considering what you are," Sue muttered. "Honey are you sure you're not …"

"Yes mom I took a test!" I fumed.

"She's not what?" Billy asked.

"Everyone thinks Leah maybe pregnant," Ness explained. "Jacob was talking to Seth about it last night. He was shocked she wasn't."

"What makes you think a human pregnancy test would prove anything? You're hormones and everything are very different from a human woman. The test could be wrong," Carlisle advised as he attempted to listen to my heart. He frowned and shook his head. He pulled out his stethoscope and listened once more. He looked up at me with a very serious look on his face.

"You're heartbeat is abnormal, I would like to do an ultrasound if that's okay?" I nodded. "We'd have to do it at my house. You can't bring everything in a little black bag … you I do have a Doppler. I haven't used one in a million years because normally I don't need one but this time since there are so many heartbeats in the room it would be best to be accurate." Carlisle placed the machine on my stomach and within seconds I heard it.

"Do you hear that Leah? That's your baby's heartbeat," Carlisle whispered with a little smile on his face. I was in disbelief I was so disappointed yesterday by the missing pink line on the little test. Now I was laying here listening to the most beautiful thing in the world. Carlisle was rambling on about what we needed to do next and I heard my mother crying and I think Ness was hugging her but all of that was a blur. The only thing I could focus on was the little thump, thump, thump.