Swans Don't Quit

Jake

"Can you stop at the store?" Isabella asked and I nodded as I made a turn and pulled into the store parking lot.

"I'll only be a minute." Isabella said and slid out of the truck and walked into the store. I leaned back into my seat and picked up the paper. A tap on my window startled me as I read. I looked out the window to see Paul; he was looking around the parking lot and into the trees. Something had him spook. I rolled down the window to see what he wanted.

"You need to get to La Push. We just chased a leech through here. Get your sister and yourself back on the res!" Paul said before running back into the trees. I rolled the window back up and heard the door open to the passenger's side. I jumped and turned to see Isabella getting into the truck with a small bag.

"You alright" She asked as she closed the door and put on her seatbelt. I nodded and put the truck in gear and headed back to my house.

"Where are we going?" She asked as we passed the turn off to the house.

"We're going to go back to my house. You can pick out which room you want for when dad goes to that chief's conference in Seattle." I said and she seemed to go along with it. I tried not to speed on the way to the house. When we got there I hurried us inside and locked the doors. I know that locking the doors wouldn't stop a vampire but it would at least slow them down a hair and give me notice.

"There are two bedrooms on each floor. My rooms on the second floor at the end of the hall." I said and headed into the kitchen to get a sandwich and a drink. I made two sandwiches and grabbed Isabella and I each a drink. I heard her walk back down the hall way and come into the dining room. I pushed a sandwich and the bottle of water toward her while I cracked open a can of coca cola.

"I've never been stable on my foot that makes stairs dangerous. I think I'll stay down here in the first bedroom, if that's okay?" She asked and I nodded.

"That's fine by me. I don't want you to get hurt on my watch, anyway." I said and she chuckled and pulled out the bag she had gotten at the store. She pulled out a book and opened it up flipping through the pages; she seemed to skip a whole chapter!

"You just skipped a whole chapter Isabella." I said and took another bite out of my sandwich.

"It's not a regular book, Eli." She said and flashed that cover at me. It was a baby name book.

"Isn't it a little early for that? You have another four months to prepare for his arrival." I said as I looked at her curiously.

"I'm tired of him being called just that 'him'. He needs a name and now is as good a time as any to give him a name." Isabella said and cracked open her bottle of water. I shrugged and went back to my sandwich.

"How do you plan to name him?" I asked and Isabella looked at me confused.

"What do you mean how do I plan to name him? How does anyone name their child?" Isabella asked confused.

"How do you plan to pick a name? Just look at names on a page and pick two you like?" I asked and she nodded.

"How are you going to know that the name is right and that you love it if it's only on paper?" I asked. Isabella looked curious.

"If you are going to find him that right name for him it has to have meaning." I said and walked into the living room and came back with my computer. I open up a browser and pulled up google.

"What are some names that mean something to you?" I asked and she seemed to think about it.

"Dad's name." Isabella said and I typed them in.

"Charles is free man, strong. Alexander is defender of man, warrior. But do you really want to name him after dad? That's some pretty big shoes for him to have to grow into." I said and she took another bite of her sandwich. She seemed to think about it before shaking her head.

"That is a big pair of shoes. What about Caleb?" She asked and I picked my head up at look at her.

"That's my middle name." I said and she nodded her head with a small smile. I smirked and typed it in.

"If I'm using dad's middle name than it only makes sense to use yours too. I mean mom's pretty much disowned me, so I'm not going to name him after someone on her side of the family and you two are the only ones left and you mean the most." She said and I looked back down at the computer.

"Caleb means dog." I said a little disappointed in the meaning of my name.

"Alexander Caleb, warrior dog." Isabella giggled and set her hand on the small bump that was growing on her abdomen. I couldn't help but think of the pack with the meaning behind the name.

"It's definitely something different." I said with a chuckle.

"It's perfect. I love it." Isabella said with a bright smile.

"So Alex or Xander?" I asked and she looked a little confused at my question.

"Full names are something that parents use when you're in trouble and nicknames make your name shorter and not so much of a mouth full." I said and she thought about it.

"I think Alex is nicer and Xander doesn't shorter Alexander by much." She said and I nodded. I started thinking about what I could make for the little guy. I can't do the blankets and pillows like women do, but I can make him something. I closed up the computer and put it away.

Since forcing Isabella out of her cationic state we have had a better relationship. We didn't avoid each other and I helped with the doctor appointments and getting the groceries so she didn't have to. I knew when she could no longer drive would be driving her everywhere because I don't work as long of hours as dad. Who knew a baby could bring a brother and sister as distant as us together?