Yeah, alright...Let me hear it. I've been awful with updating.

My sincerest apologies everyone.

Life had gotten in the way. I went from working full time to applying for university, and then I went abroad for a bit ( that was amazing!Best experience of my life thus far) and now I'm back in school and it's kicking my butt.

Thank you so much for all the reviews as well... I hope I still have some readers out there who have not given up on me.

Anyway, without any further ado, enjoy Chapter 6.

-Lisa.

Chapter 6: Unexpected

Jacob's POV

I groaned before I even fully opened my eyes. Edward was here. I could feel him in the house, before his smell even assaulted my nose. It was weird that we were so attuned to each other now. I felt like I knew him inside out, knew his facial expressions, knew how his eyes turned pitch black when he was hungry, or how they would darken so much that they looked black when he was horny, but in fact, his irises just turned an onyx colour. I knew how his face lit up everytime he laughed, or every time Masen did something out of the ordinary; like the first time he walked, or said his first word. How he shone in wonderment and in contentment everytime Masen called him Papa. Or everytime, I told him I loved him.

Just like I knew he was making his way to my room, right now. And, indeed not even a second later, my door creaked open and Edward slipped inside.

Looking over at him, I noticed his eyes dark with worry, as he watched my face while moving across the room to my side.

He carefully lowered himself on the bed, next to me while I scooted over to give him some more room. " Sorry," I whispered apologetically, my eyes on his face, " I should've called to tell you I was here. And, I was... I guess I fainted on my way to the phone."

He sighed and laced his fingers with mine, " You don't have to apologize...God, Jake. That was the worse phone call I could have had. Especially...now."

"I'm sorry, babe," I repeated myself, guiltily.

" For what?" he asked softly, his eyes never wandering from mine. I knew he knew why, but he wanted to hear it from me.

I gulped, taking my time and tried to formulate this the best way I could. I didn't know how to explain myself. I had no idea.

" I don't know," I replied truthfully, " I don't know why I came here tonight. I've been feeling so overwhelmed...or maybe that's the wrong word. I just...I don't know why I can't seem to reign my emotions. One minute, I'm so horny that I could...rape you," I said, shamefully,"the next, I'm so overwhelmed...Worried, anxious...protective, especially of Masen."" What's wrong with me?" I whispered at the end of my rant.

Edward sighed, again before answering, "Nothing's wrong with you. It's just your hormones. Sam said the first mating season is always hard. Don't worry. We were waiting for you to get up before getting you checked by Carlisle."

"Oh.." I replied, blandly-my eyes burning with unshed tears.

"Why did you think you couldn't come home to me, Jake? What's so awful that you couldn't talk to me about it?"

With my heart in my throat, " It's not you, Edward," I whispered, shamefully and knowing that he could hear me perfectly, " It's me. I have no idea why I came here today. I just followed my instincts. I don't know. This house... It just reminds me of a simpler time."

The bronze head nodded before Edward leaned forward and pressed a kiss against my forehead, " You would never have to rape me. I'll always be willing..." he added with his lips on my ear; trying to make me feel better.

His face blurred from my view as tears clouded my eyes, and I sat up and wrapped my arms around him, " I'm sorry," I whispered against his neck, as I breathed him in.

"I love you, Jacob," he replied simply, " I want Carlisle to look at you, okay? I'm going to call him in."

I nodded slightly. Edward jumped to his feet as gracefully as a gazelle, " Ed, where's Masen?" I ask before he slipped out. Pausing at the door, " He's with Billy," he threw over his shoulder before darting out to find his father.

" Truth be told, I don't know what's wrong with you, Jacob," said Carlisle, with his eyes on his watch and his fingers on my wrist, "Apart from the fever-you have no symptoms of food poisoning, viral or otherwise. It's definitely not the flu."

" A heat stroke?" Edward asked, seriously, furrowed brows marred his beautiful face, " You're thinking he had a heat stroke?"

" It's possible. He's has most of the symptoms. Nausea, dizziness, his pulse is a little erratic. Jacob, have you had any hallucinations? Confusion? Disorientation? Difficulty breathing?"

" Uhm... yeah, I guess. Alice's phone call kinda knocked the wind out of me," I replied, resisting the urge to scratch my head, like a monkey. I could see Edward resisting the urge to roll his eyes at me-I smirked slightly at him.

" He has a bruise on his arm," stated Edward, blandly, with a frown and eyes glued to my biceps.

"Still?" I asked confused, as I tried to look at my arm.

" What do you mean still? Since when is this here?" asked Edward.

" Uhm...last night?" I replied, uncertainly as I flashed a memory of me pressing him against the wall of our room, and him digging his fingers into my arm, in pleasure.

"Oh..." he said softly as he gazed into my eyes, almost shyly-his frown still in place.

Carlisle drew his eyebrows together, mimicking the expression of his son, "Okay. Well, I think I'm going to take a sample of your blood. So I can run some tests."

I nodded simply, extending my arm out while Edward looked alarmed. " Blood? Why?" he asked, concerned.

" Although, the symptoms point to a heat stroke. I don't think that's possible. He's a wolf. You boys, don't have heat strokes-your bodies have adapted to the increase in heat. You should have healed completely by now..."

" But..."started Edward.

" I might be missing something, Edward. It's just a cautionary step. I want to be thorough," replied Carlisle with a smile.

" When will get the results of the blood work?" asked Edward as Carlisle rubbed alcohol on my arm.

Carlisle squinted a little before I felt a pinch as he stuck the needle through my skin. I glanced up at Edward to see him frown as he moved a little closer and took my hand in his. " Gosh, Ed. Will you relax? It's just blood work. I've been getting this done since I was little," I said telepathically. I swear if he wasn't a vampire who didn't age, I'd have to worry about being married to a prematurely greying husband.

His grip on my hand tightened as the blood pooled silently into the syringe. I wondered if smelling my blood was painful for him. If he wanted to puke or if he wanted to suck me dry. I risked a glance at his face-a smirk was pulling at the corners of his lips and my heart took off on a high speed chase as I caught the double meaning between my thoughts. "Pervert," I thought at him.

" Okay, Jake. We're done here. So, you can head home whenever you want. Come by this afternoon for your results. I'm sure Edward won't relax until we know. In the mean time, keep yourself hydrated. Lots of liquids."

I nodded, " Sure, doc."

As Carlisle exited the room, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, pulled a worried Edward on my lap and nuzzled his face, " What's the matter, Sullen Cullen?" I thought at him.

" Why aren't you worried?" he asked softly as he leaned his head on top of mine.

" Because you worry enough for the both of us."

" Can you be serious for a minute?" he snapped.

I pulled away to look in his face. His amber irises were rimmed with black and I knew he was mad. But, I didn't know why.

"What?" I asked.

" Why does everything have to be taken so lightly with you?" he growled at me.

" What. Are. You. Talking. About?"

"Why aren't you worried about your health? I'm worried," he whispered.

" I know you are, babe. But, I'm human. I get sick."

"No. You're a wolf. You don't get sick. I don't care how long you've stayed and played in the sun on Isle Esme, you didn't get a heat stroke. Carlisle knew that too. That's why he took a blood sample. There's something more."

I stumped. I stared at him, eyes wide with concern. "Oh..."

"Yeah. Oh!" he snarled.

" There's nothing we can do now, except wait for the results," I said softly as my heart sank.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced a smile on my face, " Let's go see our son. I'm sure dad's got enough of him."

" Your dad absolutely adores him," said Edward with an eye roll.

" I know and that's why Masen runs circles around him," I replied with a chuckle.

We stepped out hand in hand and weaved our way through the house, in search of my dad and Masen. Our search ended in the living with my dad infront of the t.v., watching a game with Masen cradled in his lap, fast asleep.

" Hey, Sleeping Beauty," greeted my dad as he saw us, " how you feeling?"

I stuck my tongue out at him before answering, "Great," I replied with forced cheeriness. Edward's hand tightened around mine, giving it a squeeze before letting it go and he darted out towards the kitchen.

" Damn," said my dad as he watched my imprint leave," I don't think I'll get used to seeing him doing that..ever," with a chuckle.

" You'd get used to it, if you saw it enough times," I replied with a shrug, " how's the pup?" with a nod towards my son.

" Great. He needs to come over more. You need to come over more. All three of you," he added a little louder, for Edward's benefit.

" We'll keep that in mind, Billy," replied Edward as he walked back into the living room, with a tray of food. All liquids. I raised my eyebrow at him and he answered with a stern and a 'go-ahead-see-if-you-can-defy-me" look.

I grumbled incoherently under my breath as I sat down on the couch, and took the tray he offered without complaint.

"Can I make you something to eat, Billy?" he asked politely.

" Nah. I'm good, kid. Sit."

" You want me to take him off your hands?" gestured Edward towards Masen.

" Nope. We're good," replied my dad as he glanced down at the sleeping toddler, a fleeting smile on his face.

Edward's POV

It was only after lunch with the pack and Jacob's family that we made it out of the Reservation. I had been on edge the whole time. I was still anxious. Carlisle had been blocking me from his thoughts as he contemplated the reasons behind Jacob's sudden fainting spell. And, that was possibly the main reason why I was worried so much. Jacob didn't get sick. In the three years, we've been together, he never once got sick. That worried me. Not to mention that he's been sick since our first night on Isle Esme.

As per Carlisle's instructions, Billy was accompanying us back to the Cullen Mansion. Another reason as to why I should be worried. If it wasn't serious, Carlisle would never have asked Billy to come.

Billy's thoughts are calm as usual-thinking about everything and nothing. I sneaked a glance at his profile-he was staring outside the passenger window, peacefully. This was definitely one of the things that made me respect him so much. He was wise beyond his years and his calmness was comforting, especially now. There was an aura of certainty and wisdom that surrounded Billy Black, and he always made me think of a sage.

Jacob had fallen asleep in the backseat while Masen kept himself entertained by talking to himself and his stuffed wolf, Woofie. He, no longer thought a sleeping Jacob was entertaining. And trying to get his father's attention seemed to be futile. As we pulled up in the long driveway of the Cullen house, I pulled in a long unnecessary breath. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Billy. Turning his head to face me, he though at me, instead of talking. Something he found to be very convenient. " Wolves don't get sick, Edward. Surely, you can think of something else that might be wrong with my son?"

Glancing at him, I met his bright shiny brown eyes. Eyes that reminded me so much of Jacob and Masen's. Eyes full of mirth and happiness.

"Like what?" I whispered, not wanting to wake Jacob and have him hear the worry in my voice.

" You'll find out soon enough, boy," replied Billy before turning back to the front, facing the approaching house-signaling the end of this discussion.

If he wasn't worried..Maybe I shouldn't be either. But, I was still apprehensive at finding out the results of Jacob's blood test. It made me sense. What was with all the secrecy? Why did Billy seem to know what Carlisle was thinking?

Walking into the Cullen house, we were immediately surrounded by anxious vampires. Esme darted forward and pulled Masen out of my arms and hugged his little body, Carlisle watched them with an indulgent smile before leaning in and pressing a kiss on Masen's cheek.

A bleary eyed Jacob stood with his hands on the handles of Billy's wheelchair; hands that tightened as Carlisle looked up at him, with a small brittle smile. The world around us dissipated-my siblings surrounding Esme who had her hands full with our son, Billy as he looked at Carlisle knowingly, as Jacob's eyes met mine, and I heard the panic running through his mind. My heart broke and I felt myself inching closer to him, placing my hand on his warm hands.

" Jacob," started Carlisle softly, " why don't we move on the examination room upstairs?"

Jacob's heart thundered in his chest, his hands tightening on the handle of the wheelchair as slight tremors rolled off his body. He nodded mechanically and he glanced at me, " Will you come with me?" he begged silently, his vulnerability etched on his face.

" I wouldn't be anywhere else," I whispered as brown eyes stared at me.

As Carlisle spoke to Billy in his office, while blocking me from their thoughts, I waited with Jacob in the examination room, that Carlisle had recently build to accommodate our Quileute counterparts.

Jacob's fingers were twined with mine as he contemplated what was in store for him...for us and for Masen.

" Jake," I started but was instantly cut off by his worried face and tense body posture, "what if I'm dying?" he whispered.

If it could my heart would be drumming against my rib cage. My face contorted with pain as the idea of losing Jacob ran through my head. How would I live? I didn't know to live without him anymore. He was my soul...He was my soulmate. My partner. My husband. My best friend.

"No," I whispered in agony, " don't say that. Don't think it. I'm not going to lose you, Jake. I won't. I can't," pulling him into a hug, pressing his body close to mine.

I inhaled him, taking in everything that was Jacob. The hard planes of his body pressed against mine. I could feel the outlines of our wedding bands pressing into each other's skins, binding us together. The slightly erratic thrumming of his heart against my chest, that mirrored his pulse. His warmth that was the completely opposite of my cold body. His scent-soft, seductive and addicting at the same time.

A knock on the door broke us apart, but he never let go of my hands, like I never let go of his. We were each other's support system, each other's strength and each other's weakness. Together, we turned around to face my father.

Carlisle gave us a smile before gesturing towards the bed that lied in the corner of the room, " Why don't you take your shirt off and lie down, Jake? I want to show you something."

Worried, but complying to his wishes, Jacob moved away from me, and laid down on the examination bed. His thoughts muddled with worry and concern while his eyes never left mine.

"Edward," said Carlisle, pulling me out of my trance. As I glanced at my father, he motioned me forward. His thoughts urged me to stand by Jacob. Needing no further persuasion, and in three long steps, I had joined my mate and my hands had found his again.

We watched as Carlisle moved some equipment around so that it sat next to Jacob's head. With a tube of some sort in his hands, "This will be a little cold," warned Carlisle as he place some gel on Jacob's abdomen. I frowned at his ministrations. I've taken enough biology courses to know that he was prepping Jake for an ultrasound. Ultrasound of what was the question burning through my mind.

Spreading the gel over with the wand, Carlisle flipped the instrument on, and pointed to the screen.

Jacob craned his neck to get a better look while I narrowed my eyes at the screen.

" What are we looking at?" asked Jacob, as he glanced between my father and I.

"Listen closely. What do you hear?"

Jacob had no clue, and as I listened closely, I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach. My eyes widened as I stared at Carlisle.

" Is that..." I whispered in awe and confusion.

Without hearing my complete sentence, Carlisle nodded and I thought my legs would give out; even though they never could.

"What?" asked Jacob, "What is it?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, glanced at Carlisle, before answering, "A heartbeat. It's a heartbeat, Jacob."

Author's Note:

*grins*

So? How do you like it? Was it worth the wait ( I know; not that long of a wait... but humour me for a second!).

I'd like to take a moment to say that I have never, ever written mpreg in my life before, so please don't be mad if I get something wrong. Also, I've read this chapter four times since this morning, and I've been making changes to the story all day. My writing style has definitely changed since when I started writing this story back in the day.

Anyway, please let me know how it was. If you're still reading that is. ( I really hope you are! :) )

Lisa.

ps. I drew a blank when I came to upload this chapter. I had forgotten how FF works for a second...yeah, that's how long I was gone.