Celebration

[Amorentia]

Peni POV

"Here she comes," I heard Justin say as I made it through the hallway to the stairs. It went oddly quiet except for the occasional peeps of the kids as someone kept hushing them. It gave every indication something was going on.

It had been about three hours since I'd fallen asleep after giving birth to the Quads. After showering I wanted to see who all was still around and find my new babies.  None of the kids were asleep in their beds. That meant the party was still in full swing - that was until I came to the stairs and everything got quiet.

As I descended the stairs, We Are The Champions,started playing on the speakers downstairs. Fully laughing, I turned the second corner of the stairs to a huge, "Congratulations, You Did It!" poster. The kids all had noise makers and were jumping up and down. There were smaller poster board signs made saying: "Only One More Time," "The Quileute Breeding Program Thanks You," and Marcus with his ridiculous, "Lucky 16" poster that I gave him another  firm NO on his idea of octuplets next time. When I entered into the living room it was to the chorus and a great line of cheers as the song sang, "We are the champions my friend. And we'll keep on fighting to the end."

"I know I can see my feet!" I laughed back as the twins ran to hug me. They slowed down like they were told, but I kissed and hugged them as tight as I could. They told me how they held the new babies, as I told them how proud I was of them being the biggest brothers ever. I made my way around the room kissing and hugging everyone, getting plates of food made for me, as I was promise a nice chunk of my "After Babies" cake.  

"Nice to see you have to carry your baby weight like the rest of us," Leah said kissing my cheek as she handed me my little Breena who didn't like the noise very much.

Bouncing and shhing my little one, I gave Leah a look. It was frustrating to see I couldn't just shape shift back like I had after Bliss. I was wearing one of my early maternity dresses. With a hug to my cousin I told her, "Give me time."

Blaise and Sara were there with my fussy Blissful on her Baba's shoulder. Her eyes were deepest green on her as I kissed her whispering in Quileute that it was time for her to close her eyes to dreamland watching her rub her nose.  

Jaki was outside with his Grandpa Billy and some of the younger Pack where the three bonfires were burning. He'd been sent to burn off energy since he'd basically bend swinging from the Chandleer's all day in excitement.

Ebony and Ivory - my husband and brother - had Johni and Marki on their chest playing video games with some of the guys. My Elissa was snuggled with her Auntie Em, Marcus's Sister, as she sat close enough to John on a Love Seat  to make me raise an eyebrow.

After making a round to everyone, the Midwives and Ewan wanted to check over things quickly. Handing Breena off to Sam's Emily, I took the plates full of food to the bedroom upstairs. Everything looked good. My healing ability was almost back to normal speed. The bruises on my stomach from turning Johni during labor were very tender, but showing sings of improving. All my potions were being changed, new dietary calulations make to meet the milk supply for the Quads, and Ewan guessed I'd probably heal in about four days to a week if I took it easy. That's when I set my mind that if I had to try everyday, only doing a little at a time, I'd be back into my pre-pregnancy clothes at the end of those four days. Sitting on an Ice Pack, with some ice around my stomach, I was told what I'd been told for months - rest.   

Jacob was waiting at the door when they all left. Ripping off a crab leg I asked, "Did you see all my cubs?"

His mouth turned up in a grin, "Yes and they're all beautiful, but I'm sure you already knew that."

Chuckling I told him, "The first time they all cried at once we all were like, 'oh, crap'. But we'll work it out." I finished through a yawn turning the conversation to him asking, "How are you? Did you eat?"

"Well you certainly have your hands full there." Jacob came over giving me a hug, dodging my question. "I ate way more than I should have. I look like you did a couple hours ago."

Laughing I told him with a pout, "I can't shape shift back. At least not yet. Leah's very happy."

"You'll be back to your old self in no time. You're truly the envy of the tribe." Jacob told me.

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head saying, "I doubt that." Grabbing the plate of cake, I licked the icing off the boob part of the cake, I asked again, refusing his avoidance. "How are you hanging in, my brother?"

He sat down next to me on the bed. saying, "Low and a little to the left?" I snorted. "No seriously," he continued. "I'm all right. Being a single parent isn't easy but I'd walk through fire for that little girl."

"You're an excellent Father, Jacob." I assured him. "Have you heard from Nessie?"

"Nope, and Kat took off, too." He looked sad. "I don't know what's going on with them at all." Then he shrugged. "Liyet is my priority."

"Daddies little princess." I smiled.

We both turned to the door when there was a knock.

"Peni," Shiloh looked around the door, "I have those potions for you."

Jacob looked up and then away quickly making me want to giggle. Why do they give me ideas?

"Come in sweetie," I told her. "Thank you." Shiloh walked over. I could tell she was too shy to look at Jacob. Last time he saw her she was probably still a kid. Not the twenty year old knock out she was now. Smiling at my wickedness I played matchmaker, "Jake, you remember Shiloh, Quil's sister?"

Shiloh waved tucking a peice of hair behind her ear as she said, "Hi."

I stuffed my mouth full of cake so as not to chuckle when Jacob cleared his throat nervously before saying. "Yeah, I think so. Hey Shiloh, what's new?"

"Nothing much." She said in her sweet voice. "Just doing my college things." 

"She's taking classes at the Community Center to become a Physical Therapy assistant." I bragged on her. "She's got strait A's - super smart.

Shiloh blushed rolling her eyes saying, "Peni..."

"Well that sounds cool." Jacob said looking to me for help. Smiling I knew I was going to make this worse cause it was hilarious.

"Yeah," I told Shiloh giving Jacob a teasing smile. "Jacob's living here on the Rez now."

"Are you?" Shiloh asked. "Are you going to live here now?"

Jacob looked up at her as I cheered inside. "Yeah, I guess?" He told her. "I'm living here on the Rez now for the time being. Apparently I'm a newly single parent." Turning around he stuck his tongue out at me as I stuffed my mouth full of more cake.

"I saw your daughter downstairs." Shiloh said softly. "She's beautiful. Congratulations.

"Shiloh," I looked at Jacob with an even cheesier grin, "Jacob's was just saying he's hungry. Do you know if the Clams are ready yet? Do you think you could help him get some."

"They should be, or close to it." She looked at him. "You don't know how to get your own clams."

Laughing in my head at the look Jacob was giving me I told her, "He has no clue how to pick the good ones. He's got delicate hands. Burn easy."

Now neither of them was in any doubt of what I was doing. I gave Jacob the shittiest smile while Shiloh looked at me like, "right." 

"Come on," Shiloh said a bit sarcastically. "Wouldn't want you to burn yourself on some tiny clams."

"You callin' me a clam picker? What kind of insult is that?" Jake snorted and then blushed at his own stupid joke. "Maybe we should go downstairs and see about the food. I think Peni's delusional."

They were almost as cute as me and Marcus, I laughed to myself as I blew him a kiss saying, "Have fun."

As I made my way back downstairs our Shaman had arrived. We all figured tonight was as good as any. There wasn't a family member missing. The only Pack not there were on patrol, or MIA for personal reasons. So everyone bundled up, as we wrapped the babies in warm blankets, and went to the Quillayute River to bless the Quads with their Naming Ceremony and officially welcome them to the tribe. Under the light of Grand Mother moon, we all could feel the Ancestor's looking down from the blanket of stars. It was intimate and special, them being blessed surrounded by family, on our tribal land, with our own water. Each baby was already given their Power Animal:  Marki the Blue Jay, Elissa the Octopus, Johni the Moose, and Brenna the Moth.

If you want to read a sample of what the babies Birth Blessing would be link click HERE

When we got back home, I climbed back in bed to shared a kiss with my husband so thankful for him. Then I phased to Wolf form to feed our tired babies. Instantly they all snuggled in still liking the warmth of my body in wolf form. It had only been several hours since we brought the babies into the world. Though the Pack Consciousness I shared with them I could see how happy and fulfilled they already were. All full, blessed, and full of love we all fell asleep together. After all I'd been through in bringing them to life, things were truly as they should have been - all was right in our little world.  

Peni Cleartwater Flint written by Amorentia. Jacob Black written by Nessie-Jacob. Marcus Flint written by shtteredprncess. Leah Clearwater written by Amorentia All others written for this post by Amorentia.

Want to read more? What to join in the Creative Writing fun? Our full stories are in Through The Looking Glass. Link HERE to join. Be sure to tell them Peni sent you!