About five minutes before we arrived at Emily's, Jacob's phone rang in the center console. I glanced down to see Chloe's name flash across the screen before he picked it up.

"Hey, Chloe."

Jacob listened intently for a few seconds, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he nodded along to whatever she was saying.

"Okay, gotcha. See you soon."

He hung up and put the phone back, reaching for the glove compartment in front of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked suspiciously as he rummaged around.

"I was given specific instructions," he said, pulling out the "Princess" blindfold triumphantly, "to make sure your eyes were covered before we arrived."

"Oh, Chloe..." I whined, my stomach beginning to knot. "She knows I hate surprises."

"I am also to reassure you that it's going to be okay and you're going to love this," he chuckled as I slid the blindfold over my head. "Chloe said just trust her."

"I do trust her." I let out a sigh of defeat. "Doesn't mean I like surprises anymore."

The car grew quiet as Jacob pulled onto the gravel drive, then cut the engine after shifting to park. Counting to ten to mentally prepare myself, I waited for Jacob to make his way around the car to help me out. The instant his hands grasped mine, the knots in my stomach turned into butterflies. It still shook me to my core just how much I loved him, and how much I meant to him.

The gentle squeeze on my shoulder let me know that Jacob knew what I was feeling, and I could hear the smile on his face when he spoke.

"We're coming up to the porch, Leaf. Three steps up, okay? One... two... three. Good, now take five steps forward. The door is right here, watch your step."

"Mmm," I took a deep breath as the smell of pumpkin wafted into my nostrils. "Emily's been baking something delicious."

"Just for you." Emily laughed as I felt her join us, her hands grasping my left elbow gently. "Okay, Jake, stop right about here."

"On the count of three, you can take the blindfold off, Leaf!" Chloe's voice rang out from the other side of the room. "One... two... three!"

As soon as the blindfold came off and my eyes readjusted to the light, I nearly jumped at the chorus of "Surprise!" Tears swelled in the corner of my eyes as I took in the faces around me; Chloe and Mom were standing in front of both packs, each of them with a huge grin.

"What is going on?"

"We know that technically it's not the right time for this, you still have a few months to go, but we all know you haven't had much time to celebrate the good news with all the help you've been giving the Cullens - not that anyone is saying that's a bad thing, you just love to do what you can to help out your friends," Chloe rushed out with a chuckle. "But you need time to yourself, to celebrate the moments of joy life gives you. So, we're throwing you an impromptu baby shower!"

"And even though it's too early to know if you're having a boy or a girl," Mom chimed in, "we stuck with neutral colors and other things you would need, instead of clothes. We can always get those later."

"You didn't have to do this." I sniffled, wiping away the tears from my eyes.

"Nonsense!" Mom wrapped me in a hug. "We want you to know that you two aren't alone in raising this baby. You have a village - well, a tribe - behind you."

"Thank you, Mom," I whispered in her ear, sniffling.

"We appreciate all of you," Jacob spoke a little louder, taking in the group around us. "Despite everything that's happened over the last few months... you are our family. We love you."

"Awh, Jake. Don't you start going soft on us, too... Autumn's supposed to be the emotional one!" Quil called out, sending the packs into laughter. Jacob swatted his best friend upside the head, grinning as the guys pulled him into a congratulatory group hug.

"And as promised," Emily reappeared beside me with a plate in her plate, "one mini pumpkin pie for the mother-to-be!"

"Oh, Em... you shouldn't have!" I laughed at the sight of the pie. "Is this because I couldn't have any at Thanksgiving?"

"Yeah." Emily shrugged sheepishly. "Jacob mentioned how you couldn't have your favorite dessert because you were feeling a little sick, so I asked your mom for your grandma's recipe."

"You didn't..." I gasped softly, taking a better look at the pie. "This is Grandma Lily's recipe?"

"I found it in a box about a week ago." Mom smiled warmly. "It just appeared next to your keepsake box I stored in the attic. Seems like your grandmother had a few tricks left up her sleeve, even in death."

"And that's not the only surprise." Sam's voice carried over the small talk from the packs. "Although, this is more for Jacob."

Sam nodded to his pack who all grinned in response and parted like the Red Sea, revealing the living room behind them. Jacob's eyes searched his brothers' faces before landing on his surprise, his body stilling from shock.

"Rachel? Rebecca?" His voice caught in his throat as he rushed over to the identical black-haired women, both of them wrapping their arms around him the second he was in reach.

"Hello, little brother." They said in unison, laughing as Jacob spun them around.

"What are you doing here? When did you get here?" Jacob asked in one breath, the confusion on his face priceless as he took in the sight of his twin sisters.

"About a week ago." Rachel said, her eyes wandering to Billy who sat near Mom. "I graduated college early and decided to move back home while I try to get a place in Seattle... but it looks like I'm going to be staying in La Push for a while."

Her gaze flickered to Paul and I didn't miss the way her cheeks flamed with a slight pinkness or the lopsided grin on Paul's face as he smirked back at her playfully. Before Jacob could react, Rebecca spoke.

"And I got in three days ago." Rebecca grinned slyly. "We made Dad keep it a secret from you."

"I'm just happy you guys are here!" Jacob grinned, pulling his sisters into another hug. "I know how hard it is for you to be in La Push... I missed you."

Both women's faces softened at their younger brother's words and they buried their heads into his shoulders. The tribe smiled at the reunion before turning their attention elsewhere, giving the Black siblings space. Glancing over at Billy, my heart melted when I noticed the silent tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Why don't we have you get comfortable in the living room before the guys take over?" Emily suggested, eyeing the culprits as they made a dash for the baked goods sitting on the counter. "That way, you don't get a wooden chair to sit on."

"Sounds good to me!"

We shared a laugh as Emily guided me to the couch, carefully avoiding the Blacks who were now talking in low voices off to the side of the room. Jacob met my gaze over his sisters' shoulders just as I sat down, his warm smile breaking into a full-blown grin.

"Rachel, Rebecca. I'd like for you to officially meet my fiancée, Autumn." He said brightly, leading his sisters over to me. Emily excused herself as Sam called for her from the kitchen.

"It's nice to finally meet both of you."

"Wow, Dad was right... you've made little Jake really clean up his act." Rebecca laughed as she sat to the left of me, pulling me into a hug. "It's great to have a face attached to a person, instead of just my own imagination!"

"I have to agree." Rachel nodded, taking the right side of the couch. "Our brother hasn't been this happy since... well, ever. It's a good look. And I can see he makes you happy too."

"He really does." I beamed at him, snickering the blush working its way up his neck and into his face.

"Okay, enough about me." He scolded lightly, putting his hands up in mock surrender. "We're here to celebrate the baby."

"Oh my gosh, yes!" Rebecca's face lit up. "I'm so excited for you guys! And I'm excited to be an aunt finally!"

"Have you decided on baby names yet?" Rachel asked curiously. "I'm sorry if that seems rude to ask, I know you're only a couple of months along."

"It's not rude at all." I smiled reassuringly at her. "But no, we don't have any names picked out just yet."

"You have plenty of time," Rachel smiled back. "No pressure on names for at least a few more months, right?"

"Exactly."

"Who's ready for presents?!?" Chloe bounced into the living room, eyes shining bright.

She laughed at the slight grimace etched onto my face at the mention of presents, knowing I really hated being the center of attention for longer than five minutes at a time. I playfully stuck my tongue out at her, causing Mom to give us her famous "okay, children" look. Everyone else wandered into the living room to take up seats around Jacob and me, some of the guys lingering in the kitchen to let the women be near the excitement.

I quietly looked around the room as Chloe and Emily fluttered around setting things up, basking in the love and warmth radiating in the atmosphere as laughter filled the rooms. I couldn't help but smile, knowing that my wolf family had been healed in unexpected ways without anyone truly realizing it... and for that, I was wholeheartedly and completely happy in this moment.

* * * * * * *

Hours after the baby shower had ended, I found myself crawling into my bed, exhaustion slipping over me like a blanket. Murmurs floated up the stairs as I pulled the comforter up to my shoulders; Mom had ordered me to bed while Chloe and Jacob helped unload the gifts from the vehicles. Just barely registering the conversation below, my eyes slid close and my body relaxed as I listened.

"So, have you guys decided where you're going to live when the baby is born?" Chloe asked, her tone strained; she probably had set down a box that was slightly too heavy for her inside the front door.

"No." Even half-asleep, I could make out the sheepishness in Jacob's voice. "We've been so busy with the Cullens that I don't think it's even come up in conversation... my dad's house will probably be too small with him and us, not to mention Rachel... which means Paul will be over a lot more."

"And this house would be just as crowded," Chloe added. "It's not much bigger than yours."

"Right. Autumn will probably want us to stay in La Push with the packs, especially with my dad being in a wheelchair. Although now that my sister's staying for a while, that means an extra person to help take on some of that responsibility."

"What if you..." Chloe's voice was cut off by my phone ringing; grimacing as I struggled to roll over, I grabbed the device from my nightstand and flipped it open without looking at the screen.

"Hello?"

"Hey Leaf." Bella's voice chimed softly from the other end. "How was the baby shower?"

"Rachel and Rebecca showed up."

"No way!" Bella gasped and I could imagine her eyes growing wide in surprise. "I haven't seen them in years... I bet Jacob didn't see that coming."

"He was definitely surprised." I giggled half-heartedly.

"You're probably exhausted, so I won't keep you too long. I just wanted to let you know that we're having Christmas at Charlie's around 1 on the 25th, and you guys are invited. Julie and Chloe too, and Casey and the pack. I know Sue is already planning on coming, but I'm not sure if she told Leah or Seth."

"I'll make sure they know. Thanks, Bells."

"Good night, Leaf."

"Night."

I flipped the phone shut and with the click, so did my eyes.

The clock on the nightstand read 12:37 when I finally woke up the next day, my eyelids heavy from a restless sleep. Stretching as I yawned, I almost jumped when my hand touched paper instead of the pillowcase underneath it. Curiously, I sat up and unfolded the note, noticing my name was scrawled out in Jacob's handwriting.

Autumn,

When you wake up, go to the treaty line.

See you soon. -J

The mystery in the shortness of Jacob's note intrigued me and I hurried out of bed, a smile growing on my face. As I headed down the stairs eight minutes later, I realized the house was unusually quiet.

"Mom?"

No answer.

I headed towards the kitchen and found a note propped against a box of doughnuts waiting for me on the counter. Picking it up, I also reached for one of the Boston creme doughnuts Mom left for me.

"'Leaf, I went to the bakery for a last-minute order. Be back in a while. Love, Mom.'" I read out loud to fill the silence, taking a bite. "Okay then."

Grabbing my keys from the dish in the front hallway, I left for the treaty line, doughnut in hand. Jamming to a popular '90s boy band anthem, I almost didn't realize a familiar face was waiting for me at the treaty line.

And it wasn't Jacob.

"Emily!" I squealed, throwing the car into park. She laughed as she watched me scramble out of the driver's seat, a matching grin on both of our faces.

"I missed you too, Leaf!"

"Wait, what are you doing here?" I asked, eyebrows wrinkling in confusion. "I'm supposed to be meeting Jake here."

Emily smiled slyly, and I finally noticed the white lily in her hand.

"Okay, what is going on?"

"All I'm allowed to say is you're supposed to follow the trail about 50 feet ahead of us," Emily pointed to the right side of the road leading into La Push, "and I am to escort you."

"Alright then. Lead the way, boss."

Emily linked her arm through mine and led me towards the trail she had pointed out, the cheesy grin returning to her face as we drew closer. Just inside the path stood Sam, a white lily in his hand and a grin that clearly said up to no good.

"For you," he chuckled, handing the flower to me and kissing Emily on the cheek. "Right this way."

And so the pattern continued; along the trail, our friends and family had been placed strategically apart, each one with a lily waiting for me. And after handing me the flower, they would join the growing crowd behind Emily and I, no one telling me what was going on. Not even Edward who only smirked when I glared at him or Bella who pretended to lock her lips shut.

Just before reaching the end of the trail, I nearly burst into tears when I realized Chloe was waiting for us, a clear vase filled with only water in her hands.

"You couldn't have given me a heads up?" I joked as we approached, struggling to keep the tears at bay.

"What kind of friend would I be if I ruined the surprise?" She shot back with a lopsided grin.

"The best kind." We giggled together and Chloe linked her arm on the other side of me, careful not to jostle the bouquet of lilies she had helped shift into the vase.

"Ready?" She asked in a low voice. I nodded, and we began walking again. When the trail cleared from the woods, I gasped lightly, taking in the sight in front of us.

Jacob stood in the middle of a nearly empty field, small tree logs forming some sort of outline around him in the snow. He smiled warmly when I met his gaze, nodding at the girls to stop a few feet away.

"I know it doesn't look like much now, but what do you think?" He asked me, gesturing to the area around him.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?" I responded.

He grinned even wider, causing his eyes to twinkle with pure joy.

"Our home."

"Our... what?" I stammered, grateful Chloe and Emily were holding me up.

"I know we haven't had a chance to talk about where to live when the baby comes," Jacob spoke gently, making his way to me. "Esme actually gave me the idea when they built the cottage for Bella and Edward, and Chloe helped make that a reality last night when we talked about it... well, her dad did, but still. It's still close to your mom, and Dad will be in his house about a half-mile that way."

He pointed to a small break in the woods behind us; sure enough, I could make out the red paint of the house among the white snow and brown bark.

"But this," he turned back to face me, "this spot will be all ours. Edward and his family agreed to help build it, and both packs are going to help, and it's going to be ready in the spring before the baby comes. We just can't do anything now because of the snow and the ground being frozen but —"

Jacob's words cut off mid-sentence as I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and crushed his lips to mine. Loud cheering erupted behind us and I flipped off Emmett while still kissing my fiancé, earning some laughs.

"I absolutely love you, Jacob Black." I murmured against his mouth, smiling. "This is perfect... thank you."

"Merry early Christmas, Princess." He whispered back, pulling me closer for another kiss.