Chapter 7

"So who are you choosing Bells?"

"Well, I choose…"

"I choose Edward. Jacob, I will always love you. I just don't have real feelings for you. Please, please, understand." I spoke slowly, afraid of what might happen.

"I can never understand how you can love him Bella, but that's not my decision." He paused. "Edward, you know I'm the actual alpha."

"Yes, that's true."

"I'm calling a truce. Between you, and me, and anybody else that agrees. I want to visit Bella and the baby. I want to be involved in their lives. Will you please agree to this truce Edward?" I watched in awe, my hand resting on the small bump of my stomach.

"Yes, Jacob. You've been kind and gracious to me and you protected Bella when I didn't. Thank you. You may visit Bella whenever you like." I gave a tired grateful smile and then winced. They both looked at me in alarm.

"I'm fine. There's just a pain-ow-here." I pointed. Edward frowned. "It was probably just a cramp. I'm okay."

"Jacob, I'm going to take her home now. You can come over tomorrow if you'd like."

"Yeah, sure. See you guys soon." Edward then swooped me into his icy arms and carried me and carried me back to the car. As he set me into my seat, he took my face into his hands and looked at me sternly.

"Are you sure you made the right decision?"

"Positive." He shut my door and got in the driver's side. As we started to drive home, I fell asleep. I awoke slightly as he brought me into the house and laid me on his bed. He then pulled me close to him. I curled against his chest, feeling too warm. I was about to ask him about that, but sleep overcame.

I sat up with a start. My hair was matted to my forehead and neck. The room was black as pitch as I searched the sweaty sheets for Edward. He was nowhere to be found, so I worked my way out of bed and across the dark room to the door. "Edward?" I called. I heard footsteps and saw Carlisle coming up the stairs.

"Bella? What's the matter?" He brushed my hair back and rested his hand on my forehead. "Bella, you're burning up. Come with me." He brought me to a room down the hall with surgical lights and a hospital-type bed. He sat me on the bed and stuck a thermometer under my tongue.

"Where's Edward?" I mumbled groggily.

"He went to go and talk to the pack and then he was going to Denali to see Jasper. He didn't want to worry you. He pulled the thermometer out of my mouth. "Hmmm…Alice!" He yelled. Alice walked into the room.

"What do you need Carlie?"

"Don't call me that. Bella has a 103.5'F fever. Can you get an I.V. started and draw…3 vials of blood without hurting her? Actually, just do the I.V., don't draw the blood. I need to call Charlie and tell him that Bella is sick and will be staying with us for a while." He left the room. Alice got to work, then, grabbing an I.V. bag, wheeling over a pole and tray with various syringes, vials, and a thick blue rubber band. I eyed it dubiously.

"You're not going to pass out on me, are you?" She asked, tying the band above my elbow. I shook my head. "Good." She turned my hand and arm around, looking for a good vein. "You have teeny veins, you know."

"I know. How many times have you done this?"

"Many. I used to help Carlisle at the hospital as a nurse's assistant. I went to med school too, I just didn't like it much." She tapped a vein on the side of my left thumb and picked up the needle. "Deep breath, and one…two…three…little poke."

"Ow!"

"It's in! First time in eight years too!"

"Yay." I muttered. She fiddled with it for a while, adjusting the drip speed and hooking the I.V. to the tube in my hand.

"Did you get the I.V. in, Alice?" Carlisle asked as he walked back in.

"Yep. Bella has tiny veins. Did you know that Carlizzle?" He sighed.

"Bella, I'm going to take a few vials of blood. Alice, can you take her blood pressure and pulse?"

"Sure thing, daddy-o." As Carlisle took blood and Alice checked my pulse and blood pressure, I listened to their conversation.

"Alice, have you been getting into the sugar again?"

"Hey Bella, want some apple juice?" I giggled at Alice's attempt to avoid the conversation with Carlisle.

"No, Alice! Shut up and listen to me! Have you been getting into the sugar?"

"What about ice chips?"

"Mary Alice Cullen! Don't make me take away your shoes!"

"Fine. I had two spoonfuls of sugar. That's it. I promise." Ah, Alice. So like her to finally shut up after her shoes are threatened. I rolled my eyes.

"Bella, how are you feeling?" Carlisle asked.

"A bit dizzy and thirsty. What time is it?"

"One in the morning. I'm going to put this blood in the lab. Alice, will you get Bella some crackers and ice chips?"

"Okay Carlisle." As they both walked out, I laid back on my bed. Ugh. Hospital beds are the worst.

Author's Note: I am so sorry that it took me forever to get this chapter up. I have been so busy. For the past two weeks, I've had color guard (flag twirling) practice for two hours after school every day to prepare for a parade. Then there was homework and all that. And now, I have finals next week. Then, finally, school's over! Yay! I'll be able to write more! I hope you'll all stick with me and keep reading. Reviews are especially motivating. (Hint hint) So, read and review! Thanks!