Author's Note
Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think!
Part 1 of this story will follow the book fairly closely, with a notable exception. Parts 2 and 3 will diverge more notably.
PS I'm not Stephenie Meyer, so I don't own anything :(
Chapter 2 - Bella
"Edward," Bella said tentatively.
He'd been anxious since leaving Rio, alternating between fidgeting unnecessarily and sitting as still as a statue just as he had when Bella told him she thought she was pregnant. She'd never spent this much time with him when his focus wasn't directed entirely on her. It was disconcerting to say the least.
Barely a word had been uttered since they'd boarded the plane. She didn't know how he'd managed it, but he'd somehow acquired a private jet that had only stopped to refuel in Lima, Mexico City, and Las Vegas. The plane hadn't been idle for more than an hour in any one of the places. Bella had a feeling that a great deal of money had exchanged hands to make it happen, and the knowledge only added to her already queasy state.
She'd tried to talk to him earlier - at least when she hadn't been sleeping or throwing up - but he'd been too catatonic to acknowledge her. Particularly when she hadn't been able to keep down the saltines she'd packed to eat on the plane for the second time.
The few times he did speak, he'd mention destroying the child, and her mind would shut down and she'd stop trying to speak all together. The pain the thought caused to overwhelming to process properly. But now she was out of time. She could feel that the plane had started its descent into the small airport in Port Angeles.
"Just hang in there, Bella. We should be home in an hour," Edward murmured in what she guessed was supposed to be a reassuring tone.
Given the way the Cullen family drove she had no doubt that they would be back at the house in less than an hour. Her time was nearly up to make Edward see reason.
"Edward. Can we talk about this? Please. I -"
"Don't be scared, Bella. As soon as we get back Carlisle can get that - that thing out of you," Edward said, anger distorting his perfect voice and making his face twist into a grimace of disgust and self-loathing.
Bella gasped, hugging her stomach tighter as though to protect the baby growing within from Edward's cruel words. He doesn't mean it, Little One. She mentally repeated the apology over and over. She couldn't speak. She didn't understand why he didn't see this as the miracle that she did. A firm nudge pressed back as if in answer to her thoughts.
Her bump was already noticeably bigger than it had been only fifteen hours ago when she'd first discovered it on the island only moments before Alice called. It pushed her thin cotton tank outwards to make her look at least three months pregnant, possibly more. It shouldn't be possible, but there was no denying the physical evidence that seemed to be demanding recognition.
It was probably a good thing Edward splurged on their travel arrangements or people were bound to have noticed her changing body during such a long flight. Especially when she drew attention to herself by continuously vomiting.
The baby nudged Bella's hand again, as if eager to remind her of its presence, where her palm was still cradling the rapidly expanding bump. Her breath caught in wonder at the connection she already felt with the tiny life.
The brief moment was interrupted all too abruptly as it earned a violent, startling hiss from Edward. He was glaring angrily at the place where her hands rested. It was the expression he'd worn when fighting Victoria in the clearing last spring. It was a look that had no business being directed at her child.
"Is the whole family coming to get us?" Bella asked once the jet had finished taxiing to the gate.
She stood, but vertigo had her clutching her seat as she failed to stand properly without support. The spinning room of the plane's main cabin was so nauseating that she dropped forward to dry heave in violent, body-racking spasms. There was nothing left in her system to actually come up at this point, however, not even bile. Edward's arms, looped delicately beneath her own, were the only reason she hadn't dropped to the floor like a ten-ton stone.
"Better?" he questioned once her shaking had diminished to mere shivers.
"I think so. Are they coming?" she repeated, needing to know the answer.
"Yes. But we'll have to wait until we get to the house before Carlisle can get a proper look at you. It's just a bit longer," Edward said, carefully leading her from the plane with a hand pressed lightly to the small of her back, guiding and ensuring she didn't collapse again. "He promised to acquire everything we'd need while we were on the way back. You don't need to worry for much longer. We'll have this taken care of by the end of the day," he reiterated, keeping up a constant stream of chatter as he lead Bella through the tiny airport to where the vehicles were lined up waiting to collect family and friends returning from their own trips.
Bella's eyes locked onto Rosalie the moment the statuesque blonde came into view. When Edward left her side to approach Carlisle and exchange words, Bella darted to her new sister-in-law seeking sanctuary and protection. Rosalie's arms encircled her at once, folding her into an embrace meant to both shield and offer comfort.
The relief was nearly palpable now that she had someone strong enough to take on Edward at her side. She'd never have been able to stop him from doing whatever he had planned on her own. If only he had just calmed down enough to listen to her, hear her out… But he was always so unreasonable when he was concerned about her welfare. Hopefully now that she had Rosalie he would pause long enough to see sense.
He had to. It was just too wrong to be against each other. He had to come around.
Everyone froze as they took in the unlikely duo. Rose had always been so vocal in her disapproval of Bella that it took a moment before the sight registered enough for anyone to comment.
"Rose?" Emmett asked curiously, stepping closer.
He'd been worried about Bella ever since they'd found out, but he hadn't expected Rose to be equally concerned. She hadn't mentioned anything on the way here, just insisted he drive her car. It should have been a tip off. She never let him drive her BMW.
Emmett only got one step before Edward tensed. "You called her?" Edward demanded of Bella. He looked dumbfounded, lost.
"Yes," she whispered, shirking into herself as though cowed by his censure.
It was agonizing to know she was upsetting him. It went against every promise she'd made to herself last spring. But it had to be done. There was no other choice.
"But w -" he started but broke off with a low growl, eyes flashing dangerously to Rosalie. She pushed Bella behind her so that Bella was sandwiched between herself and Emmett, and crouched defensively, ready to spring if Edward moved to reach Bella.
"Rosalie! Edward! Enough," Carlisle said sharply, eyes glancing around to assess how much the onlookers were taking in of his children's poorly timed dispute.
Luckily the municipal airport wasn't heavily trafficked and there were only three people outside watching them with interest. Carlisle's warning was enough to have Rosalie straightening, but she maintained her guarded stance.
"No. No," Edward denied, shaking his head. Bella could hardly breath. Dizziness made her head light as a balloon, and she could feel herself struggling just to inhale short, staccato puffs of air. "You can't possibly want to keep -"
"I think this is a conversation best had at home. Doesn't everyone agree?" Alice asked meaningfully.
"Yes," Carlisle agreed, ushering Edward towards his Mercedes. His son froze as he realized Bella was clinging to Rosalie, and moving towards her BMW instead of following him.
Bella hated that she was separating herself from Edward. It felt wrong, like deliberately severing a limb. But at the same time unavoidable, as though the part being amputated was infected with gangrene. A line had been drawn and for once she and Edward weren't partners. It wasn't them against the world the way it was supposed to be when one tied oneself to another for eternity.
Worse, she hated that it was necessary. Without Rose to intercede on her behalf, she feared Edward might talk Carlisle into doing something drastic. Something irrevocable. Something that would destroy her child, and by extension, her. Now that this child existed, she knew she could not survive its loss.
"She's not going anywhere near you," Rosalie spat venomously.
"Edward, she's only escorting Bella back to the house. Let her go with Rose. It will give us a chance to speak on the way," Carlisle said soothingly. "Come," he commanded gently.
Bella whimpered helplessly as Rosalie helped her into the car. It felt like an out-of-body experience. She was taking everything in without really being a part of it. Her only tie to reality the increasingly frequent and sharper bumps against the inside of her abdomen.
"Jasper, you should go with Bella," Alice said, stopping him from sliding into the Mercedes beside her.
"Why?" Rosalie asked suspiciously.
"She's falling to pieces, Rose," Alice said, nodding to wear Bella sat, still only halfway in the car. "That can't be healthy for the… fetus. Let Jasper help keep her calm," Alice explained sounding reasonable.
"I'll sit up front. You can ride in back with Bella," Jasper offered when Rosalie still hesitated. Bella reached out to touch Rose's arm. Her sister glanced down, took one look at the clammy, strained expression and caved.
The tense ride home was thankfully short, and relatively smooth, but every hairpin turn passed the blur of green had Bella resisting the urge to hurl. She did her best to breathe normally, but it was difficult to do as she broke down in sobs only seconds into the ride.
The car was almost immediately filled with consuming bubbles of calm tranquility that allowed her broken faucet waterworks to transform into a slow dripping leak instead. The pain, while still present, was diminished to the equivalent of a blow from a hammer rather than a wrecking ball as well.
"He wants to kill our child," Bella whimpered, leaning into Rosalie's shoulder. Only Jasper's continuous efforts kept her from truly losing it at the realization.
"We won't let him," Rose vowed, running her fingers through Bella's messy hair. She hadn't brushed it since the night before her startling discovery and the snarls rivaled a ball of knotted yarn.
Rosalie distracted Bella from her worries by quizzing her on the specifics of her pregnancy thus far, lecturing her on taking proper care of herself, and actually giggling in delight when she got to feel the baby move for herself. It was strange seeing the usually disagreeable vampire demonstrate her maternal side.
Jasper spoke quietly from the front at one point, but Bella's inferior human ears missed his comment.
"What did you say, Jasper?" she asked quietly, uncertain if she actually wanted to know.
"You already love it. I can feel how much," he replied in his soft southern drawl. There was no judgement in his words, just acknowledgement of a truth that had already become a foundation of her very being.
"Of course!" Bella announced anyways when Emmett turned to glance at her. He looked troubled and uncertain, but he didn't say anything.
"She feels the way any expectant mother should feel," Rosalie added, patting Bella's hand as though they alone were aware of the secret and were daining to let others in on it.
Jasper didn't say any more, but he and Emmett exchanged looks that Bella couldn't interpret. There wouldn't have been time to ask even if she'd wanted to because suddenly she realized that they were pulling into the Cullens' drive.
Edward was out of the car, and at Bella's door before they'd even come to a complete stop. He looked demented, possessed. It terrified her. How was she supposed to bring him around to her way of thinking when he was obviously so irrational already?
"Don't worry," Jasper said, reaching back to brush his cool, stone fingers across her hand. He was out of the car and between her door and Edward before the temperature of his touch had even properly registered.
"What do you think you're doing?" Edward demanded, ending the words in a fierce growl.
"She's terrified. Back off, Edward," Jasper told his brother.
She appreciated his voicing his explanation. Most just thought their responses at Edward. Jasper had always been more considerate with her human deficiencies that meant she missed more than she'd like to. It was probably because he could actually feel her displeasure at being excluded.
Rose practically dragged Bella into the house, Emmett shadowing their steps the whole way. The rest of the family followed in behind, gathering in the family room by some unspoken agreement. Bella sank gratefully onto the sofa. She was so tired. Exhaustion threatened to drag her under despite the uneasy situation she was once again at the center of.
Edward tried to approach her, but Emmett moved to block his path. The largest Cullen crossed his arms over his chest and made it clear that Edward would have to go through him to get to Bella, and it was be an all out brawl if he decided to attempt it.
Frustrated, Edward turned on Carlisle. "You can fix her, can't you?" Edward pleaded, though it came across more as a demand.
"She's not broken," Rosalie fired off angrily.
"At the rate it's growing she will be!" Edward yelled, his frayed temper snapping. His hands clutched desperately at his head. Bella wasn't sure if it was because he was struggling to process the bombardment of his family's thoughts or if it was his own mind that he wished to silence.
"You can't know that," Bella insisted.
"Look at her, Carlisle. She's only a couple weeks at most, but she -"
"It is accelerating at an alarming rate," Carlisle acknowledged. "I don't believe the human body is equipped to handle such profound changes so quickly," he continued, frowning as he performed a visual assessment on Bella. Deep furrows etched themselves into his marble skin letting everyone know just how worried he truly was. "I'm sorry I didn't know to warn you. If I'd known… "
"See! Bella, you can't let that thing stay inside you another minute. It's going to kill you," Edward announced, vindication coating each unconscionable word.
"I'm strong enough. I know I am," Bella said stubbornly. She met his eyes, unflinching as fierce determination took root in the very depths of her soul.
This was one time where Edward's ability to mesmerize her would have no effect. There was no altering her from this chosen path. All she could do was see it through to the end.
"It's not a baby, Bella," Edward said condescendingly. "It's part me. It's a monster," he said, disdain positively dripping from the damning declaration.
"You're not a monster, and neither is our child." It was ridiculous to even consider something that resulted from our love could be evil. Edward was too perfect, too good. It was only her own weaknesses that she needed to fear having a negative effect on the child.
"Bella, Edward's right. We don't know what this is, but I can already see the damage it's inflicting on you. We need to hurry," Carlisle said, interrupting before Edward and I could continue debating when everyone already knew the result would be a stalemate. Neither of us would ever budge on our opinions of the other or ourselves.
"Carlisle, no. It's her choice. Her right to decide," Esme said, resting her hand on Carlisle's arm and voicing her opinion for the first time since the newlyweds had returned.
"Esme… If her body is not compatible… "
"It's Bella's decision," she repeated firmly, and Carlisle nodded his agreement.
"I can't believe this!" Edward swore, throwing his arms up, and looking every inch the image of a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. "I knew I never should have agreed to your ridiculous stipulations. I never should have touched you," Edward groaned, oblivious to the pained blow his words dealt Bella.
"You don't mean that," Bella whispered, eyes round with alarm.
"This is all my fault. If I'd known… Jacob was right," he said, sounding tormented. Bella inhaled sharply. Jacob had said awful, untrue things at the wedding. Edward couldn't possibly be in agreement with him now. He shouldn't even be wasting his time remembering them. "I never should have touched you," he repeated, eyes closed on his tortured face.
"You regret being with me?" Bella asked, choking on the question and terrified to hear the answer.
"Yes! So much," he said fervently, and Bella barely even registered when he continued, "if this is the result."
"We belong together. It was perfect."
"I hate myself for being with you."
What she viewed as a transcendent act, a merging of their souls in addition to their bodies - because what else could have resulted in the creation of a new life - he viewed as his final act qualifying him for damnation.
A chasm tore open inside her. Pain, far worse even than when he left swamped her. It clung to her like lead weights attempting to drag her beneath the surface. Down, down into the endless murky depths until she drown. Her swiss cheese heart had only recently been mended and the compromised edges were too weak to hold together under the onslaught of his words.
"Stop, Edward. You're upsetting her," Jasper said, moving to stand behind the couch and reach to rest a hand on her shoulder.
Comfort and support immediately cocooned her, buffering her from the devastating thoughts and reality she found herself facing. Jasper's ability made it easier to breathe and battle against her husband on the most important issue ever to happen throughout the course of their eternity.
"You need to stay calm for the baby. Think of the baby, Bella," Rose murmured. The words did much to stop her anguish in its tracks. The baby was depending on her. She couldn't let her emotions put it at risk.
"Let's all calm down and let Carlisle exam her. Maybe it's not as bad as it seems," Alice added. She'd been unusually quiet throughout the discussion.
Bella looked to her, grateful for the support, but was surprised to see how diminished and haggard her sister looked. Alice looked nearly as wretched as Edward. Her face was scrunched, wrinkles creasing her forehead as though she was concentrating fiercely on something, and her shoulders were rounded, making her hunch in on herself. Concern bloomed in Bella's chest making her want to go to Alice at once, take her in her arms, and sooth her - Bella's own problems be damned.
"You can't see her future," Edward accused. Redirecting his fury to his favorite sister. "Her future has vanished," Edward added to the room at large, each word a nearly undecipherable hiss.
"Yes," Alice admitted in a small tinkling voice. The high sound was clear yet pained. "It's all gone. I can't see anything now."
"There's your proof, Bella. This will kill you," Edward said, launching the words like javelins meant to impale the precious cargo in her womb.
"We could always try changing her at the last minute. Most of you were nearly dead when Carlisle… " Alice tried to suggest, but broke off as if not trusting herself enough to even finish a thought. Never had she looked so much like a lost child seeking to reunite with her missing parents.
But she was right. They had all been on death's doorstep when Carlisle changed them. Esme had even already been presumed dead. The idea gave Bella hope, more than she'd already had that this was not only possible, but that it was certain to work out. She'd give birth to her baby then be changed into a vampire. She'd get everything she ever wanted and have an eternity of happiness.
Jasper's fingers brushed gently along her shoulder as he felt her growing hope. The light touch seemed like affirmation.
"Stop it, Alice. It'll kill her before we even get the chance," Edward insisted. "Don't give her false hope."
"I can do this. I know I can. I just need you to believe in me," Bella whispered in a small voice. Why did it seem like she was asking for the world from him? Demanding something impossible?
"No. No - this is insanity! How are any of you even remotely considering this?" Edward shouted before striding rapidly from the room much as he had when they'd voted on the issue of her becoming a vampire. And like that time, there was the crash of something being broken followed by a string of expletives.
"Come on, guys. You're starting to go around in circles here, and that isn't going to help anyone," Emmett said as Edward returned ready to start in on her again.
Emmett was right. Edward's argument wasn't changing. He wasn't offering up a valid reason not to go through with this, just repeating his unfounded, irrational fears again and again.
"Alice had a point. Carlisle needs to look her over before you get worked up unnecessarily, Edward," Esme pointed out.
"He's not touching her," Rose hissed, glaring at her father with distrust.
"What?" Bella asked, not understanding why Rose sounded so adamant about this. "Why can't he?"
"He'll kill the baby - for Edward," she explained.
Bella's breath caught in terror that Rosalie might be correct, and she inched closer to Rose and Jasper. Carlisle had already voiced his support of Edward's decision to terminate the pregnancy. What if he used the opportunity presented by the exam to do it? She wouldn't be strong enough to stop him. Her frail human body was no match, she was at his mercy. And if he acted before Rose could stop him the end result would still be the same. Her baby would be dead.
The already erratic breaths she was managing to inhale came faster. She was hyperventilating even as her head shook in the negative to deny the possibility of someone trying to murder her son before he'd even had a chance to live.
"Rosalie," Carlisle breathed, obviously hurt that she'd think him capable of doing such a thing. He turned to Bella and continued, "I promise I will do nothing more than check the health of you and the fetus. I will not do anything against your will."
The marble hand on Bella's shoulder squeezed gently, projecting a sense of lethargy into her and helping calm her breathing enough that the black spots cleared from the edges of her vision when she began gulping down larger lungfuls of oxygen. The panic eased enough for her to recognize that the entire family was watching her in concern.
"He won't, Rose. I know he'd never abuse his power in such a way," Esme vowed. The look she directed at her husband following her words conveyed a shared knowledge of what would happen if he did. Carlisle nodded. "But it's important that he do what he can to keep both Bella and the baby healthy," she added, motherly concern apparent.
"All right then," Bella agreed, hesitantly.
She looked around the room uncertainly. Everything was backwards. Never had she imagined that she'd have cause to fear and distrust Edward and Carlisle. That it would be Rosalie and Jasper that sheltered her from harm. But Esme's words made sense, and Jasper's calming influence allowed her to think logically enough to know that it did need to be done - for the sake of the baby - but she was still scared of what he might do.
"Rose? You'll come with me?" Bella begged, reaching for her sister's waiting hand. Rosalie smiled reassuringly and helped her follow Carlisle.
Perhaps getting to see or hear the baby would help Edward come to terms with what was happening and help him to see that it was nothing more than a physical manifestation of their love for one another. Glancing down at the protruding bump resting heavily between her hips, Bella knew she had to be far enough along by now for an ultrasound to show that it was even starting to resemble a baby rather than a bean. She remembered that much at least from the middle school health class she'd taken in Phoenix.
"Edward do you -" she called from the bottom step to where he'd remained frozen, undergoing a staring match with Alice.
"You can't be serious," Edward said, expression contorted into disgust as he turned to stare at her. Bella flinched and retreated, backing up into the security of Rose's encircling arm.
As Rosalie ushered her from the room, Bella heard Jasper and Emmett herding Edward outside. The unmistakable sounds of things being destroyed echoed through the quiet house. Bella fervently hoped her husband was taking out his misplaced rage on the property and not his brothers. The last thing she wanted was for them to fight because of her. Or for someone to end up hurt over this.
Walking up the staircase, Bella just knew Carlisle would have used the time since finding out to create some elaborate and entirely unnecessary setup all for her. The thought made her cringe before she even entered the room to see that she was correct in her assumption.
His office was precisely what she dreaded finding. It looked exactly like an exam room at the hospital. The desk and bookshelves had been pushed aside to make room for some strange medical device on wheels with a screen and a larger machine with a mysterious function that Bella couldn't even hop to guess at. Carlisle was even waiting by what looked to be a padded exam table when they entered the room having moved much quicker than she was able to.
"Was all this really necessary?" Bella grumbled.
"Yes, actually," Carlisle replied with false lightness. "We don't know what to expect. I've never heard of this happening before. It's best to have anything I may need at our disposal if I'm to properly help you."
"Sorry," Bella mumbled, feeling sufficiently chastised. She longed for the day when she was no longer human and would stop being such a burden to the people she loved.
He began with the basics, questioning everything from the frequency of her and Edward's love making, to when Bella could pinpoint the first symptoms, to exactly which symptoms presented and when. Bella fought back her self-consciousness in order to answer every question as completely as possible. Her father-in-law's professional demeanor and Rosalie's soft urgings helped make the procedure a little less uncomfortable.
All the while Carlisle took notes, documenting everything she said. He'd likely have enough information to publish a thousand page book by the time he was done. Or at least it felt that way. She'd finally asked why he was even bothering to write anything when she knew he had perfect recall, and he said it was for her, in case she wanted to see the details for herself after her transition.
Then he began the physical examination. It was mortifying when he announced that her breasts had already swelled over half a cup size. Actually they were nearly a full size bigger. She hadn't noted the increased tenderness in that area until the exam and now she was all too aware - as was the rest of the family. Edward had to have noticed the change during their last day or two, but he hadn't same a word. He was always too uncomfortable to mention such things. It was the same as when she was on her period.
"It's perfectly normal. To be expected really," Carlisle assured. "Now let's get an idea of the health of the fetus."
Carlisle was concerned over the hardness of her baby bump. He tried to keep his expression neutral, but Bella caught the flicker of unease that flashed when he touched it for the first time.
He prodded it a few times, eyes widening when her nudger greeted his grandfather. His hand paused and his head tilted ever so slightly as he waited to feel the baby move again. The little man did not disappoint.
Carlisle's expression remained impassive as he measured the circumference of her belly and compared it to the measurement Alice reported from when she'd altered Bella's wedding dress.
"There. All done with that part," he said simply, turning to make a few notes on the chart he'd begun.
Bella wanted to ask what was wrong, and what he was thinking. She wanted to know if there was something wrong with her child - besides its unusual growth - and what Carlisle wasn't saying aloud. But she got distracted when he moved to pull the rolling screen towards her. An ultrasound machine, that's what it was. Finally she'd be able to see her son! Everyone would see that they were getting worked up earlier for no reason because it was just a baby.
How long would it be before Carlisle could confirm that it was the little boy from her dreams? The little boy with the perfect emerald eyes and wild bronze hair. The little carbon copy of his father.
The disappointment was raw and very, very real when the realization hit that the ultrasound wouldn't work. Carlisle seemed genuinely frustrated by it as well. It was odd to see the normally composed doctor so ruffled.
Bella tried not to let it get to her. Rose's encouraging explanation helped. "It's just because it's so well protected. The hard placenta is helping you keep it safe, Bella, since you're only human."
"It would help if I could get a sample of the amniotic fluid. That should provide -"
"That's dangerous for the baby," Rosalie said, moving to place herself between Bella and Carlisle.
"What? Why? I don't -"
"It could help us learn -"
"He wants to stick a needle in you, and take fluid from the sac surrounding the baby. But without an ultrasound, he could accidentally hurt the baby instead," Rosalie interrupted Carlisle to inform Bella.
"No! No, absolutely not. Carlisle, you can't," Bella said in a rush, clutching the back of Rose's shirt in an attempt to keep her in place as a shield.
"Calm yourself, Bella. I won't do it if you don't want me to. We should do a urine test, however. I trust you don't have a problem with that, Rosalie?" he asked in chiding tone. "It's noninvasive."
Bella flushed the whole time she peed in the cup Carlisle provided and while he used the little test slip to analyze the hormone concentration. Everyone in the house was aware she required human moments, but this one seemed usually obvious since everyone was waiting on the results.
The relief was intense when Carlisle was finally ready to share his conclusions.
"Given your size and levels of hCG hormone, I'd say you're at roughly sixteen weeks. The levels were on the high end though, but that could just be a result of the fetus's accelerated rate of growth. Without an ultrasound to see the fetus's developmental stage it's difficult to be exact. Documenting the changes in your body over the next couple days should give us a better idea of how fast it is growing and the expected duration of your pregnancy."
"But it's healthy?" Bella asked.
"As far as I can tell," Carlisle said slowly. "I am concerned that you're not keeping anything down. With the changes your body is undergoing, it's more important than ever that you have the proper nutrients to sustain the alterations."
"Would you like to try eating again?" Rose asked. "I can make you something," she offered.
"I am hungry," Bella admitted.
"You should have said something! We can't take care of you unless you keep us informed about how you're feeling."
"You guys don't need to bother -"
"The baby has needs, Bella," she chastised as they headed towards the kitchen. "You have to let us take care of you for the baby," Rosalie argued, smiling smugly when Bella simply nodded in agreement and didn't protest further.
Edward was waiting for them in the kitchen. He looked furious, and more determined even that he had before the examination took place. Rosalie hissed angrily at the sight.
"What now, Edward? Going to stop her from eating until you get your way?"
Edward didn't acknowledge his sister, but a calculating gleam entered his onyx eyes. It was one Bella was all too familiar with from the many times he'd tried to make compromises with her. The same one he'd worn when presenting her with her "before" car, cell phone, and platinum credit card. It was the one he wore when he was confident that he was going to win an argument.
It chilled Bella to her very marrow to see him wearing it now, but she had to try anyways. This was too important. If he'd thought she was stubborn before, it was nothing compared to the fight he would get now if he tried to force her on this.
"Rose - Rose, I need to talk to him," Bella whispered, lightly touching Rosalie's arm. "Alone," she added.
Rosalie didn't move. Edward and she seemed to be competing in a silent battle. Tension built, thick and suffocating as it clouded the room like a foggy morning. Bella wrung her fingers nervously.
Finally Rosalie turned to go, promising, "I'll be right outside the door if you need me."
"Bella, please - please don't do this," Edward began the moment the door shut behind his sister. He moved forward to take her hands, unknotting her fingers and lacing them through his own.
"I have to," Bella said, resolve firm even in the face of his agonized pleading.
"No you don't!" he screamed, roughly jerking his hands away and turning to knock the decorative bowl of fruit off the counter. The metal clanged loudly when it impacted with the fridge, and Bella jumped at the sound.
Slowly she took a few breaths, attempting to slow her racing heart as she watched Edward falling to pieces before her very eyes. It wretched her mended heart, the scars from the previous hurts stretching painfully. Frustrated, she felt the hated yet familiar burning sting in the back of her eyes.
Great. She was going to start crying again. Just great!
"You'll see. We'll be a happy family. Once our baby is born -"
"You'll die. You won't be around to see the monster you're insisting on dying over," he said bitterly.
"Stop saying that," Bella said, sobs breaking free. Warm tears began flowing freely down her face. She swiped at them angrily, but there were more to replace them making it a useless effort.
"How did I not see - how did I not realize you'd want this - this abomination?" Edward asked, almost to himself.
"Edward!" Bella gasped. "We created this baby together. Nothing coming from our love could ever be an abomination," Bella cried defensively, still furtively trying to stem the flow of tears.
Jasper entered then, hovering near the door, but using his gift to project serenity into the room and ease the mounting tension that had only escalated with Rosalie's departure. His presence was the only reason she was able to continue her conversation with Edward. If left to handle it on her own, she'd have crumpled into a heap of broken glass upon hearing Edward's pronouncement.
"I won't sit here and watch you die," Edward said. There was something new in his expression, in his stance. He was still, a stone column of unbreakable resolve as he faced off with her.
"I'm not going to die. You told me that when Esme -"
"It's not the same thing," Edward said, brushing her words aside like an annoying fly buzzing about his head.
"It is."
"As long as you're pregnant," he spat the word like it was the most foul curse, "you'll die. And I won't watch that happen."
"But I am pregnant. And that's not changing until I give birth," Bella said quietly, not understanding why he still wore that calculating look. It made her uneasy. "So where does that leave us?"
"I already told you. I can endure a great deal where you're concerned. But I can't handle you letting yourself die when there's an alternative available. I won't watch this happen."
Understanding came, clear as a cloudless day, and suddenly she knew what he planned to do.
"Are - are you threatening to leave if I don't let Carlisle kill our baby?"
"Yes."
"No, Edward," Bella said, numbness sweeping through her and making it impossible to move or sense her surroundings. "You promised you wouldn't leave again. You swore to me! I married you."
"We promised forever," he agreed. Then he looked Bella straight in the eye and said, "You're the one going back on your promise." He looked confident, as though already assured of his victory.
"I'm not," she breathed, the words barely audible to her ears yet she knew he'd have no problem hearing her.
"Bella, I'll stay with you forever. All you have to do is get rid of that," he said, jabbing a sharp, accusatory finger towards her midsection.
The ultimatum had barely left Edward's beautiful lips before Bella responded. "Never," she vowed fiercely, feeling an almost vampiric surge of possession engulf her.
He looked momentarily confused, disoriented. As if he was an actor in the middle of a scene, and just been handed a new script where his character abruptly dies rather than triumphs. He readjusted quickly - much quicker than her - his mind processing things a million times faster than she could hope to. Then he nodded.
"Goodbye," he said simply, turning and ghosting from the room.
"Edward!" Bella screamed, moving to follow, but tripping over the scattered fruit still littering the floor from Edward's earlier outburst.
She faltered, stumbling a bit as she screamed for Edward once more. Her legs collapsed out from beneath her.
Then cool arms were lifting her. Bella stared, nearly unseeing, into the concerned face of Jasper. He cradled her gently against his chest as he carried her back to the couch in the living room. Her mind processed the stunned faces of the rest of the family gathered close as they passed them, but her mind was nearly consumed with one single fact.
"He left me - again," she gasped, heart shredding apart as if blasted with a sawed-off shotgun.
The black emptiness was a welcome relief, and Bella greeted it eagerly when it washed over her, dragging her down, down, where nothing could touch her - however, temporarily.