Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer

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Bella sank back into the cushions.

"Emmett, do you remember how I was sick a lot, right before I left? I had been throwing up and couldn't really keep most anything down?"

I nodded—Edward had wanted to skip our hunting trip to stay with Bella, but she had started feeling better, and insisted he go.

"Well, Edward and I were joking about it. I was saying that he should just turn me then, so that I wouldn't have to deal with nuisances like illness. He just laughed at me and said he would appreciate anything I would be grateful for after I was turned, and so wanted me to suffer through it. He wasn't overly worried about me, though, because I was feeling better. But once you all left, I just felt awful, and finally decided to go to the doctors, just to get things checked out. I went to the clinic, and the doctor gave me the once over. Then she sat me down and told me I was pregnant. I just stared at her. She laughed, and assured me there were plenty of other options if I wasn't ready for a baby, but that I should wait a few days to let the shock wear off. I think I was still numb when I left the office. And that's when I saw them."

Bella paused, taking a deep breath.

I wanted to ask her about the baby, but she seemed ready to barrel on with her story, and I knew better than to stop her after it had been so hard to convince her to begin. But I couldn't help but wonder—she had been surprised by the baby, too. If she had been having an affair, having unprotected sex, wouldn't the news have come as no shock? And looking at the girl in front of me, did I really think this sweet, awkward, gentle person was capable of hurting Edward in that way?

There was an innocence about Bella—a complete lack of awareness of her beauty or sensuality that made it hard to believe she would ever play the seductress. We all knew of her feelings for the wolf, and when her future disappeared, it had seemed like he was the most likely explanation. But Bella had said her goodbyes to Jacob, and seemed truly happy with Edward. And what did Jacob have to offer her that Edward did not? My mind screeched to a halt. Had she gone to Jacob so that she could have a child? How could she do that to Edward? I felt tortured by my thoughts, a state that I was unused to. I tried to refocus on her narrative.

"Who, Bella? Who did you see?" I asked.

"Aro," she said, looking me directly in the eye. "And Jane, Felix and Demetri. They were all waiting for me in front of the clinic."

My jaw snapped shut. Of course. How could I be so stupid? The Volturi were the only ones who had the power and the skill to maneuver around a coven as strong as ours.

I listened in horror as Bella's story played out, reliving each moment with her. Her eyes went out of focus as she fell into her memories and I was as caught up as she.

Bella's POV Flashback

Aro smiled widely, like he was delighted to see me.

"Dearest Bella, what a pleasant surprise. I hope to find you in good health," he crooned, indicating to the clinic behind me.

I nodded stiffly at him, but didn't know what to say. My mind was working madly—how could Alice not have seen them, when she spent so much energy watching for their decision? Aro began speaking, and my attention snapped back to his powery face.

"It is good that you are healthy, my dear. Human illnesses are such a bother. But I have to say, you are not in the condition that I might have hoped, given Edward, Alice and my last conversation. We are going to have to do something about that."

My hands wrapped around my waist without me even thinking. If they turned me, it would kill the baby. This action pleased Aro. His smile widened.

"Ah, Bella, why the concern? I know from Edward's thoughts that this is something you had, at least at one point, been hoping for, yes? Are you concerned about the pain? Because it really isn't all that more painful than, say," and he paused thoughtfully, "childbirth." His smile widened still further—a leer, with all his teeth showing, and I was sure his skin was going to crack into dust. How could he possibly know?

"Ah, ah, sweet Bella, don't look at me that way. I am no monster. I will show you just how big my heart is. Even though your life should have been forfeit after our first meeting, I will grant you a second reprieve. All I ask is that you accompany me and my companions on a little trip—call it an extended vacation, if you wish. Say, nine months, and then you are free to come back."

What should I do? Clearly, Aro knew about the baby. He was giving me no choice at all. If he changed me, the baby would die, but if I went with them, I knew he would not let me leave with the child after the birth. I stood mutely before him.

"Bella, Bella, Bella," Aro continued. "Need I make this deal any sweeter for you? Your Edward has a nasty temper, no? I am sure he will be none too pleased to find out about our little chat. He might be so unhappy, in fact, as to desire some sort of retribution." Aro's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Believe me Bella. If Carlisle's coven tries to fight us, they will not be left unscathed. I'm sure you do not want to be responsible for any of their deaths. Think of Edward, and little Alice. Better to keep this just between us. In nine months you will be free to return to them, and no one need ever know about any of this."

I had to do as Aro said, because he was right—if it came to a fight between the Volturi and my family, someone would get hurt.

Emmett's POV

Bella broke from her memories to look me in the eye. My expression probably showed a trace of incredulity. I always had a hard time believing my family would come out the worse in a fight.

"Emmett, you know I am right about that. I had to make sure nothing happened between them and you, and I had to keep the baby safe. I figured that, with a choice between letting them turn me then, and waiting, that I should wait. That way I would have time to figure out a plan. I am still figuring out a plan. I need to find a way to keep you all safe.

I nodded at her, not really in agreement as much as encouragement for her to continue her story. Her eyes again became vacant as she reentered her memories.

"Aro," I said, speaking to him for the first time, "I'll go with you. I have to."

He chuckled at me.

"Bella, you don't know how happy this makes me. I already feel such affection for you, and now we will have time to truly get to know one another."

"How did you know?" I asked him bluntly. If I was going with him, the least he could do was give me the courtesy of answers. "Is it just chance you came here today?"

Aro clapped like a delighted child. "I'm so glad you should ask, Bella, dear." He smiled benevolently. "Today is the result of one of the luckier circumstances of my very long life. It feels fated some how." He paused, clearly savoring his moment of exaltation.

"I am sure you remember our last visit, yes?" He actually waited for me to nod before continuing. How could I have forgotten even a second of the nightmare of that last encounter?

"Then I'm sure you remember my special gift? I have to admit; I was slightly disappointed when that gift did not work on you. Ah, but when your Alice stepped up and touched her hand to mine—a world of possibility opened up before me. In that very second, the moment I decided to release you, she had a vision of your future. I suppose it was because Edward had clearly decided to stay with you and my decision to let you two go free alined. It allowed Alice to see this," he finished, sweeping his hand to encompass the clinic and my arms still wrapped protectively around my waist.

"And Bella, there is more to my gift than simply viewing a mind. Although I rarely have the need to employ this power, it is within my ability to remove a thought. Surprisingly effective, in this case, as without this vision of your future, Alice was, in essence, left blind, at least in regards to you. Starting the very moment you set foot in this clinic, your future went blank for her. I have stolen this moment, a moment that your future is entirely wrapped up in, and without it, Alice cannot build any visions of what is to pass in your life."

"But, Edward," I questioned doggedly. "He must have seen what you were doing."

"'Yes, yes, dearest Edward. Having seen his thoughts only the day before, I understood exactly what I could think about to distract him thoroughly—you. How much I wanted you to stay with us and join our coven, and the likely result if I did not get what I wanted. He was furious, and then so relieved when I chose to release you. He was not concentrating as closely to my thoughts as he should have been."

Bella seemed to return to the present, remembering I was in the room with her.

"After that, things moved quickly," she continued, looking me in the eyes. "They let me return to the house to leave a note. I knew I had to make it clear that I had left of my own free will or Edward would come looking for me, and then you would all be in danger. Then they brought me here—another cloudy city where they could go about their business, watching me from a distance without putting me in danger of getting hurt by living in closer proximity to them. They don't bother me, except to check every couple of days that I am still here. Aro knows that I would never try to contact any of you." Bella looked exhausted as she continued.

"I've spent my time thinking of plans for running away. If I could get away, then at least I could protect the baby, even if I could not return to Edward. At first I thought it would be easy. I planned my attempt for right after one of their check-ins. I thought that if I could just get away fast, then they would not be able to track my scent. But Demetri found me on a bus heading out of the city." Bella's voice became dull, thick and she stared forward blankly. "He killed the other five passengers."

I could see those deaths would be forever emblazoned in her mind and my anger mounted. How could they have subjected her to this? I growled deep in my chest. How had we failed to keep her safe?

Bella continued her narrative in a hollow voice. "Demetri crashed the bus to make it look like an accident, and I knew that running away was not an option. I have no money, and no place to run to. They can easily track the scent of my blood. I can do whatever I want with my days, go wherever I want, but they have me trapped as effectively as if they locked me in a cage. I spend my time trying to figure out a way out of all this, but I just don't know what to do."

Bella's face clouded over with hopelessness, and I now understood the strain I noticed before. She had spent the last three months desperately trying to extricate herself from a hopeless situation. I could see her weariness. The shock of seeing me and telling me her story had taken what little reserve she had. Her eyes were drooping, and her face pale. I crossed over and took one of her hands. It looked small and fragile in my grasp.

"Bella," I got her name out, but then did not know what to say. We had failed her so thoroughly.

"Bella, I am sorry," I tried again.

She opened her mouth to cut off my apology, so I spoke quickly.

"I am sorry you had to experience what you did. But you don't need to figure this out alone."

She nodded slowly.

"I want you to go to bed now. Leave me to think about solutions for tonight, and we will talk in the morning."

She nodded again, heavily, and headed back to the bathroom to change. I continued to sit, trying to process everything she had told me. I heard the bathroom door open and close and Bella make her way into the bedroom.

"Emmett?" She called me softly.

I entered the bedroom to see her form dwarfed by the king sized bed. She was curled in the center, the covers pulled up around her, making her pale face look disconnected and vulnerable. I sat on the side of the bed, leaning forward to touch a soft curl.

"What is it, Bella?"

"I'm glad you're here," she said simply.

For the third time in a day I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms securely around her. She sighed softly and leaned her head on my shoulder.

"You won't be alone anymore," I murmured to her. "I am not leaving until I deposit you into Edward's waiting arms."

She laughed softly at this, but then looked up at me, her eyes serious.

"Is he really okay, Emmett?"

What could I tell her? That Edward had ceased to function when she left? That we had to drag him out to hunt, or even to leave their room?

"He will be fine as soon as he sees you," I hedged.

She smiled at me, but I could see her eyelids sinking down, and her utter exhaustion claiming her. Her breathing evened out and I listened to the rhythmic beating of her heart. As I listened, I was sure I could hear another beat, softer and faster, the heartbeat of the baby.

Holding her, I understood why Edward was unwilling to part with her humanity, beyond the issue of her soul. There was a softness to Bella's form, and a warmth that was deeply appealing. While I struggled to suppress the part of me that called for her blood, the greater part of me felt the overpowering need to protect the delicate being in my arms.

I wondered about being a parent. I had not, since my human life, been in the position to love someone who truly needed my protection. Rosalie could give as good as she got, and while I would happily lay down my life for her, she did not need my physical protection. A child, on the other hand, entered the world so vulnerable and so trusting. And here Bella lay in my arms, believing in me wholly, never doubting that I would keep her safe and love her as she loved us.

She sighed and muttered, pressing her soft cheek into my shoulder. I gently stroked her hair, and she settled into a deeper sleep. I held her like this, until her slow heartbeat told me I could move without waking her. Then I shifted until her head was back on the pillow and slowly lifted my weight off the bed.

I knew that there was only one option now. I had to get Bella back into the safety of our family. I pulled out my cell phone, and placed another call.