The Truth

Emily Uley

I was comfortably warm for the first time in two weeks. Wrapped in Sam's arms, I thanked the lord that finally, finally this day had come. No more sweating and burning from the inside, out. No more wet towels or sympathetic looks. I was no longer sick. I was me again, with one new addition. Thinking about it, I hugged Sam tighter, not wanting anything between us ever again...except maybe this thing.

I felt Sam smile against my bare shoulder, his lips whispering across my cool skin as he spoke. "It doesn't seem real, does it?"

"No," I agreed, pulling slightly away to glance down at myself. "But there it is..."

He took my shoulders in his strong hands, following my gaze down to where my shirt hung awkwardly. "Yes, there it is." I looked up at him and grinned; we had been trying for a while, and now, finally, finally all our hopes had come true. "I'm so happy," he said.

"Truelly?" I whispered, placing a hand over my slightly bulging middle. "I was a little worried at first because you were so quiet. I thought maybe you didn't really...want to be..."

Sam took my face in his hands, staring into my eyes. "I was a little surprised, is all." He laughed lightly. "It was quite a shock. First thinking that my wife was sick and possibly dying, and then the next finding out that she was...well..." He placed his hand over mine, on my stomach, his thumb moving in comforting circles over the back of my hand. "But, really, truelly, I am happy." He kissed me softly on the lips. "So, so, so happy."

I sighed against his lips, leaning forward into his arms again. He put his arms around me, supporting my weight. "Do you need to sit down?" he asked softly, already guiding me to a chair. I sat heavily, grimacing. Though the worst of the fever and sickness had burned off, I still felt weak and dizzy at times, or maybe it was just my body still adjusting to feeding two. Sam sat down next to me on the sofa, taking my hand in his. Now that he could touch me again without fear of making me worse, he didn't want to seem to want let go, which was fine with me. "Feeling okay?" he asked.

I nodded, breathing slightly heavier than normal, my hand rubbing in soothing circles over my lump. Something kicked beneath the surface of my skin, as if in response to the comfort. I frowned; normally you didn't feel it kicking until much later. "I can't help wondering..." I turned to look at Sam, who was watching me. "...why am I so far along, if it's only been two or three weeks. My sister didn't get this big until about her fifth month."

"Me and some of the other council members have been talking...Sue says that there were some stories of sickness like this, brought on by..." he nodded his head at my round stomach. "None of the council members have ever encountered it before, I suppose it's rare, but they believe it's because us werewolves heal so quickly, maybe it happens faster, it grows faster and matures." He sighed, "The way Billy figures it, by the rate it's growing, it should be full term in a little over two months."

I put my hand over my stomach, trying to guard it from my mental fears. I asked Sam, breathlessly, "Does that mean...our...it's going to be a...a werewolf too? That's why?"

Sam smiled without happiness. "Yes, I suppose. It probably won't reach that stage until later on in life, or maybe it never will...depending on the circumstances..." By that I knew he meant if the Cullens decided to move or stay put. "...but for now, it's just like any other, just growing faster."

I sighed again, craddling my lump. A sudden thought hit me. "Sam...you said this was a rare accurance...that none of the council members had ever seem this happen before...?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"Then..." I paused, remembering what Sue had told me the last time she dropped by. "Then what about Bella Swan?"

The fresh air felt nice after so much time inside, even though it was a chilly, rainy day. Of course, it was always raining. It felt good though, like a fresh start. And really, it was, a fresh beginning, a new life begun. At least for me and Sam. I was headed to Paul's house, to see if the same was to be said about Bella.

I shoved my hands deep into Sam's coat pockets - mine was now too tight around the middle - and hurried down the street, lifting my head every once in a while to drink in the slightly misty air and let the rain cool my face. I paused only once, outside their door, preparing myself for the news I had to tell, and then knocked. Sue answered minutes later, huffing as if she had run to get it, and looked surprised and slightly glad to see me. Her face was red and the lines were more prominant on her cheeks than normal. She was exhausted.

"Hello, Sue." I gave her a quick hug. "I came to talk to Bella, if I can. I have something very important to tell her."

"Umm...I'm not sure she's fit to receive any news right now..." Sue hesitated in the doorway. Leah was visible over her shoulder, standing on the staircase, a bowl of water in her hands, looking tired as well. "She's...not well..." Leah walked back up the stairs; a door clicked shut.

I nodded, "That's why I'm here. I think I may know what's wrong with her. But," I interrupted Sue as she started to enquire, "I think I should tell Bella, before anyone else. It's a little private."

Sue sighed, nodded, then let me in, pointing me up the stairs.

It was dark in Bella's room, and it smelled of sweat and sickness. Leah looked up as I entered, her profile just barely visible in the low light filtering through the closed curtains. She sat at the side of the bed, holding a pale, trembling hand between both of hers. "Emily?" she whispered, patting and setting the hand back on the bed, tiptoeing to me. A slight moan echoed across to us from the bed, a body shifting uncomfortably, the hand groping and coming up empty. "What are you doing here?" she whispered.

"I'm here to help Bella." I glanced back over to the motionless form. The head was slightly raised now, glistening eyes visible. "Emily?" a cracked voice enquired.

I ignored it, opening the door and ushering Leah out. "I need to speak to her alone. Can you make sure no one comes up for a while?"

Leah nodded, looking slightly confused, but headed down the stairs and I closed the door quietly. I turned back to Bella, lying panting on the bed, and sat down by her side, taking her hand. Her skin was slick with sweat, her hair stuck to her prominant cheekbones, eyes glazed with fever. "Hey, Bella, how are you doing?"

She sighed, a small noise deep in her throat. "I'm better." She smiled slightly, "I can sit up now without passing out. And," she added, gesturing at an empty bowl, looking proud. "I ate two bowls of soup and I haven't thrown it up yet."

I smiled back at her. "Good to hear it."

"How are you? You're better now, right? Paul told me. I didn't believe it until now though; I thought maybe he was just trying to make me optomistic." Her eyes flashed with happiness. "And look at that belly," she whispered.

I glanced down, running a hand over it, smiling. "Yes, we just found out a couple days ago."

"I'm happy for you."

"Thank you." I cleared my throat, preparing myself. "And that's why I came to see you today," I began. "I think this may be what's wrong with you."

Bella stared blankly up at me, her eyes confused. "I don't understand," she finally whispered.

I wet my lips, looking down. "We think that the this may have caused the sickness and fever that I had. The elders have never seen it before, but there are stories." I looked up at Bella, and a slow understanding was flooding her eyes. "It prooved true for me, so...I thought..."

"I'm pregnant?" her voice cracked.

I shook my head. "Not necessarily. It's just a theory. You may just be sick."

Bella frowned again, "Then how do we know. Do I just have to wait and see?"

Again I shook my head, pulling the rectangular box from Sam's coat pocket. Bella's eyes fixed on it, and she swallowed. "We need to test it, to see."

Her eyes turned glassy, and looked from me to the box, down to her thin frame below the sheets. "It's...it's not possible. I don't...how?"

"Did you and Paul...?"

A slight colour flooded her cheeks. "Yes, but..."

"Then it's possible." I gazed sympathetically down at her. "Bella, I know it's a lot to take in, but we should really test it, to see. Maybe you're worried for no reason, it may be nothing."

She closed her eyes, taking a few calming breathes, and then nodded. "Okay."

Five minutes later we were in the bathroom, me guiding her carefully to the toilet, one ensteady step at a time. I handed her the box. "Let me know if you need anything, okay? I'll be right outside." I clasped her hand one last time and backed away. She stared at the box in her hand. "When you're done we can sit on the bed together if you want. You don't have to do this alone."

She didn't glance up from the box. "Thank you, Emily."

I closed the door, waiting. I wasn't sure whether to be hoping for it to come up positive or negative for her; she was young, after all, but I couldn't be sure of what she wanted. Finally, the door cracked open, and Bella appeared, looking terrified. She held out her hand to me, the pregnancy test held out like a bomb. "Emily," she cried.

I rushed over, taking her arm, helping her to the bed. She collapsed there, sweat glistening on her forehead. I glanced at the test in her hand. "What is it?"

She shook her head, eyes closed. "I don't know...it's hasn't seasoned yet, I guess." She sighed. "Oh, Emily, I'm so scared. What if it's positive? What am I going to tell Paul?"

I took her hand, clasping it reassuringly. "You'll tell him the truth."

Her eyes started to tear. "What if he hates me? What if he leaves me because of this?"

"I don't know what will happen, Bella. I really don't. But if he loves you, he'll accept it and stay. If not, you're better off without him."

"I can't live without him," she whispered, almost inaudibly. I saw her eyes flash to the test, and her face paled.

"What does it say?" I asked, but she didn't respond. Her lips went white, her eyes watering. She let her arm drop onto the bed, the red plus-sign glaring up at us both, bright against the darkness.

The tears slid slowly down her cheeks, the silence drawing out around us like a pressurized balloon. She sniffled, wiping them away slowly, carefully, then, even more slowly and carefully, she slid her baggy shirt up, revealing the good-sized lump there, between her hips. Her eyes went wide, her hand sliding over it, palm down, as if she could erase it. "How-it's only been-"

"It's the werewolf," I whispered. "It makes them grow...faster...you should come full term in a about two months."

She didn't seem to hear me, just stared wide-eyed ahead, her shirt sliding back over the offensive shape. "I can't hide this," she whispered. "He's going to find out sooner or later."

"No." I took her hand in mine, staring into her eyes. "You're going to tell him. Today. Bella," I shushed her before she could protest. "He deserves to know. You owe him that much."

Slowly, vacantly, she nodded her head. "I...I...I can do this..."

I nodded, "Yes you can."

Just then the door downstairs closed, two pairs of footsteps echoing up the stairs. I heard two distinct voices.

"She'll be happy to see you," Paul was saying. Bella went rigid beside me on the bed.

There came a laugh, one I would know anywhere. "Yeah, I hope so. At least she can't punch me." It was Jacob.

They were right outside the door now, the doorknob turning slightly. "You'd be surprised," Paul joked. There came a knock, and Bella gasped. "No."

"Bella?" Jacob called, "Can we come in?"

I answered for her. "Yes."

They came in, first Paul, then Jacob. Paul looked tired, but there a smile on his face, hope in his eyes. Jacob was the same, if not happier, wearing an actual pair of jeans. When he saw Bella, his face brightened even more.

"Hey, Bells." He smiled.

"Jacob," Bella breathed. "You're back."

"Yeah," he clunked his way over, his shoes thundering across the floor in his eagerness. He gave her a light hug. Bella just looked stunned, her eyes on Paul, who hung back. "Ya miss me?"

Bella nodded, looking stunned.

I cleared my throat. "Umm...Jacob, could you step outside for a minute? There's something Bella needs to tell Paul."

"But-"

"Just for a moment," I persisted, giving him my best mom look. He left reluctantly.

At once, Paul was crouched down in front of Bella, clasping her shaking hand. "What is it, Bella? Is something wrong?"

Bella looked away, shaking, and he turned his frightened gaze on me. I cleared my throat again, nodded my head at Bella. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Paul. Swallowing, she picked up the test from where it had buried itself under the fold in the sheets. I gave her one more encouraging smile.

She turned her gaze on Paul, holding out the test with a shaking hand, plus-sign up. He stared at it, eyes widening. She swallowed, voice shaking. "Paul, I'm pregnant."

Paul looked slowly up at Bella, then at me. He swallowed slowly, standing, staring at the floor. And then he turned, walked slowly to the door, and left.

Hey guys, sorry it's been such a long time again. I just got back from England, and I started this there, and decided that, due to major jet lag, I would type the whole thing up at 12:30pm. I'm tired now, so this is just going to be quick, and sorry about the cliff hanger. more up soon I hope. review, review, review please! thank you to all who have reviewed, favourited, and alerted both this and Quartet. never have I been so excited to have my inbox full. thank you again.

until next time,

isabellthelooser.