The world of Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I like to play in it.

I was initially inspired to write this FanFiction by 184's Surviving Love. She has graciously allowed me to do another take on her idea. In this story, I wondered what would have happened if Bella was worried enough about Carlisle and Edward's attempt to save her by aborting the baby that she felt compelled to flee the household to save her unborn child. Who would have helped her? How about a homeless girl in Seattle and the youngest member of the wolf pack?

This story takes place during Breaking Dawn and occurs after the honeymoon, as Edward and Bella return home early from Isle Esme after they learn she is pregnant.

Chapter 1 - Leaving Home

We drive in silence from the Seattle airport to Forks. I keep turning over all the events in my mind, but nothing was making sense. Or rather, what was making sense was terrifying me.

Clearly Edward and Carlisle thought my little nudger was a danger to me and needed to be removed – aborted! The memories of Edward's face after he learned of the news, and after he spoke to the woman cleaning the hacienda, are foremost in my mind:

Breaking Dawn, pg 133: He pulled me against his chest. "We'll be home in sixteen hours. You'll be fine. Carlisle will be ready when we get there. We'll take care of it, and you'll be fine, you'll be fine.

"Take care of this? What do you mean?''

He leaned away and looked me in the eye.. "We're going to get that thing out before it can hurt any part of you. Don't be scared, I won't let it hurt you."…

He spoke to Kaure [the caretaker's wife], and …"she walked a few steps forward, deliberately this time, and asked a few brief questions, which he responded to tensely. Then he became the questioner – one quick query. She hesitated and then slowly shook her head… she said one word in Portuguese "Morte,", she sighed quietly"…

I had called Rosalie from Isle Esme, and she meets us at the airport with the rest of the family. When I see the Cullens waiting at the gate, I leave Edward's side and run straight to Rosalie. She puts her arms around me and whispers to me, "It will be ok, I'll keep you safe."

When Edward realizes I have an ally in wanting to keep the baby, he is both horrified and worried. We finally arrive at the house after a long strained drive from Seattle.

We enter the Cullen house, and what should have been the joyous start of my new life, as a full member of the Cullen family, begins on a very different note. Edward takes the suitcases up to our room, while Esme quietly asks me if I want something to eat.

Carlisle finally breaks the awkward silence by bringing up the topic everyone has been dancing around. "Bella, may I examine you?" he asks. "I need to verify exactly what is going on."

"I was hoping you would, Carlisle," I reply. "Rosalie, will you come in with me?"

"Of course," answers Rosalie. She puts her arm around my waist and starts to lead me up the stairs. It is hard to believe that a few weeks ago she was so distant to me.

As we begin the walk to Carlisle's office, I turn to Edward and say, "Not this time, please?"

Edward, stunned, replies, "Of course, love. I'll wait here for you." I give him a small smile and enter Carlisle's office.

I'm still not used to the idea of my father-in-law, as I'm trying to think of Carlisle, doing this type of exam. He has already emptied a room next to his office and begun to stock it with medical equipment for the procedure he has planned. I remove my clothes and put on a gown, with Rosalie's help.

Carlisle has installed an exam table that begins as a chair and then is raised to an exam table, to make it easier for the patient to reach the examination table. He pulls up his stool, and as gently as possible, begins his exam. He sighs and pulls back after a few minutes.

"It is as I expected. The placenta around the baby is vampire material, so there is only a certain amount I can palpitate. But the growth is at a phenomenal rate. I am estimating the development to be about eight weeks although it has only been two weeks since conception. Your blood pressure is high. I will draw some blood and run further tests."

Rosalie says gently, "It will be all right, Bella, you'll see. Let's get you dressed and then to your room for some rest. After that long flight, you need to sleep."

I go to my room with Rosalie, and Esme comes in with a pasta dish. They pull up a table so I can eat in bed. Rosalie then relates what Carlisle and Edward are discussing. "Carlisle is telling Edward that things are moving too fast, this is too dangerous for you. You are losing weight, you look drawn and anemic, and you were already thin before the wedding."

Esme chimes in with, "You do look peaked, my dear," as she brushes some hair out of my face. She picks up the dishes and leaves the room.

"But I want to keep this baby, Rose. If I die as a result of the pregnancy, he can just change me," I counter.

"It doesn't necessarily work that way, Bella. Humans can be so badly injured that they will not survive the change," replies Rosalie.

I didn't know that, but it doesn't matter. The baby is what matters now. "Can you leave me to rest a while?" I ask. I feel I've lost an ally too quickly.

"Yes, and I'll be listening for your call if you need me," answers Rosalie. She turns down the light, closes the curtains, then quietly leaves, closing the door behind her.

A short while later, Edward knocks on the door and enters with Carlisle. They want to discuss the abortion again after conferring together on the initial exam results.

"Darling," says Edward, "we really need to act soon. This is too great a threat to your health. If you want a baby, we can work something out. We can look into artificial gestation or get an outside donor. But this is just too dangerous. I can't lose you."

Carlisle enters the conversation at this point. "I must agree with Edward. I read and consulted while you were on your way home. There isn't a single case of a mortal woman surviving this type of pregnancy. The fetus is feeding off of your body, and the fact that the placenta is already of vampire material means that there is damage being done that you may not be able to recover from. If I can remove the fetus now, there is still a chance you can bring a normal baby to full term."

"So you're telling me that if this pregnancy progresses any further, I will certainly die, but if you end it now, I might be able to have a human baby, with a human father?" I ask.

"Yes," Carlisle nods. "A vampire fetus feeds off of your body and your blood. A normal human infant takes nourishment through the placenta, but the vampire feeds in a destructive way. You must let us end this, to protect your life. You are too dear to all of us to lose in this way," he adds kindly.

"We can end this, darling, and then look into another way for you to have a baby, if that's what you want," says Edward, who puts his arm around me comfortingly. "You are my world now; I cannot lose you."

"But I want to have our baby, Edward," I say quietly. Edward pulls me close and kisses the top of my head, rocking me. Carlisle quietly gets up and leaves the room, so we can have some privacy.

I tell Edward I am too tired from the trip to continue this discussion now and ask him if we can speak in the morning. I also urge him to hunt, as his eyes are black since he has not left me in days. To my relief, Carlisle and Jasper agree with my assessment, and they volunteer to take Edward hunting.

After they leave, I carefully and wearily get up. Trying to remember what I can about normal gestations, I decide if I can hold on for a month, the baby will be able to be delivered early, but should still be developed enough to survive. I am going to run. I don't know where I will go, but I'll start with Seattle.

I try to compose a note for Edward, but I am having trouble thinking clearly. I settle for a simple three liner, because nothing else works.

Dear Edward,

Please don't be angry ,but I am going away for a few days to keep the baby safe. Please know that I love you and only want to make you happy.

I hope you will forgive me,

Your loving wife.

I tell Rosalie I am going out onto the balcony to get some air, but instead I sneak into the garage and find the Cullen's emergency stash which they hold for emergency moves. The stash contains money, I.D. cards, anything that might be needed if they have to relocate quickly. I take $5,000 in cash. They have plenty of cash, and when I return with the baby, I hope that all will be forgiven. I feel uncomfortable with this kind of "borrowing", though.

I already have a credit card from Edward. I put the cash, my I.D., a credit card, and a cell phone, into my blouse pockets, then slip on a baggy sweatshirt and go back downstairs.

"May I have something to eat, please," I say to distract Esme. "Just some toast and tea would be great."

While Esme is busying herself with the bread and tea kettle, I slip into the garage, believing this is my one chance to save my little nudger. Alice's baby, the yellow Porsche, is by the garage door. Taking a deep breath, I grab the keys and take off in it.

Esme runs outside when she hears the motor start, but I floor it and reach 60 mph in a few seconds. At this speed, not even a vampire can catch up with me. I head out into the night for Seattle with my little nudger, our future uncertain, but in my own hands now.

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