This carries straight on from the last chapter...i couldn't really find a way to start, so i just jumped right in!

DISCLAIMER - I OWN THE MELTING SNOW

Read on, my brave warriors!


Edward's POV

Here were the things that I had already worked out:

I had let my natural brotherly instincts take over, which were to protect the sister, at whatever cost. I didn't think I had gone too far…Alice shouldn't be having this baby, and she should know that. She was too young…23…a baby now would ruin the promising future she had ahead of her.

I shook my head, trying to see it from Bella's point of view. How did she see it? I knew the only way I could earn her and Alice's forgiveness was to try and see what she was talking about; I needed to understand. But I knew I had hurt Alice immensely with what I had said, and she wasn't going to forgive me easily.

I decided to start my second (and less pitiful) attempt to track down Jasper, as Bella had asked me. Bella was right, Alice needed him to support her, and I agreed with that. This whole baby thing would be easier if I was certain he wouldn't run out on her.

Well aware of how hypocritical I was being, but shoving it to the back of my mind to think about later, I tried Jasper's cell.

It was turned off, but I didn't expect it to be on. Jasper was more evasive than that.

I sat down and thought of places he could've gone, and in the end I came up with two definite maybes. 1 – out of the country. That seemed highly likely, knowing Jasper.

2 – His crafting workshop, across town.

Why hadn't I thought of that before?!

I grabbed my keys and left the apartment at once, not wanting to stay there for too long. It was lonely, living alone.

As I drove my way through Manhattan, I had too much time to think. Most of me felt intensely guilty for shouting at Bella and Alice; I seriously didn't know what had come over me, and now I had hurt both of them.

I sighed and concentrated on the road again, narrowly avoiding ramming headfirst into a taxi. I ignored the driver's angry shouts of disapproval and looked around, expecting to see Bella sitting there, making some stupid comments about my 'insane' driving. My head ached when I realised, yet again, that she wasn't there.

After searching for a parking space I swung open the door of the workshop where Jasper liked to make his carvings; it wasn't his profession, but he came here some nights after his law studies or at the weekend. Usually Alice went with him, and none of us would see them for hours on end. Alice always returned carrying a new figurine Jasper had made and painted for her, which went on a little shelf above her bed. There were hundreds of them up there now. Bella always said that they would turn into fairies one day, with the amount of fairy carvings Alice had.

I poked my head around the door of Jasper's working room, "Jasper?"

It was empty, save for unfinished carvings and a few smashed pieces of wood on the desk. I walked over and sat down, picking one up.

Turning it over in my hands, I saw that it was a vague representation of Alice, with a baby in her arms. It was chipped and looked as if Jasper had stabbed at it viciously whilst trying to make it. The baby looked unreal, much bigger than it should be, and it was a strange shape.

I put it down and picked up another. This one was just him and Alice, but Alice was in the air, flying away, whilst Jasper watched her. I thought I caught a little bump in Alice's stomach.

All the figurines were like this; I could guess what Jasper was thinking. I picked them up one by one, staring in horror at the twisted, mangled shapes. Jasper was taking this harder than I had thought.

Three were different from the rest; - all finished, standing up in a little row, delicately painted. A note sat, propped up in front of one, and I moved closer to see them better. I gasped when I saw what they were.

The first was Emmett, Rosalie, and two little curly haired children, sitting at their feet, one girl and one boy. They all looked blissfully happy; Rosalie had her arms around Emmett and the children had their arms around their parents' legs. The girl was the splitting image of Rosalie, down to the last golden curl, and the boy possessed Emmett's naturally cheeky look, but had blue eyes coupled with dark brown, tightly curly hair.

Jasper had inscribed at the bottom: For Emmett and Rose, and their beautiful future family. I shook my head in amazement…I hadn't known Jasper was so…attuned to us. He had captured Rose and Emmett's family perfectly.

The second was Alice and Jasper, the only one that didn't look mangled. I guessed it was the last of them he'd made. They only had one tiny baby, resting in Alice's arms, whilst Jasper hugged them both tightly. The baby had Jasper's blonde hair, but Alice's electric blue eyes. I couldn't tell whether it was girl or a boy; I thought that Jasper hadn't been that sure either.

The inscription read: For my beautiful, wonderful, darling Alice. Know that I love you, more than anything.

There was an envelope, propped up innocently against it, which I would've thought would be for Alice, except it had my name on it. I picked it up, and studied it.

Edward, it read

This is for Alice…tell her I love her, and that I'll be back soon. Don't hate me; I just need time to think. I'm so sorry for doing this, but I swear that I'll come back.

You can read this if you want, but I would prefer if Alice did first.

Jasper

p.s that last carving is for you. Take it, and give it to Bella. I hope it will help you work things out…Alice was right all along, you two are meant for each other. Don't let my actions prevent that…I hope I carved it right.

All my anger at Jasper faded away as I read the letter; I thought that I could understand how he was feeling. Hell, that's how I had been feeling for the past two weeks!

I put the letter carefully in my pocket, and gently picked up the last carving.

The last was Bella and I. With three little children, two girls and a boy. The boy looked just like me, and he was sitting on my shoulders, clinging onto my hair. The little girl baby was in Bella's arms, and the older one was standing, holding both of our hands. The girl had my wild bronze curls and eyes, and the boy had Bella's wavy chocolate locks and deep brown eyes. The baby had a tuft of half brown, half bronze hair…as if Jasper couldn't make up his mind, but her eyes were brown, just like Bella's. Those three children were a perfect mix of me and her.

The inscription was short: Bella and Edward's Family.

That last carving had a profound effect on me. I gazed at it, and I could finally see why Alice was keeping her baby. This potential family of Bella and me was…perfect. As I turned it over in my hands, examining every angle, I realised that I wanted it…I wanted that family. And Alice wanted hers…no matter how early it came. That was why Bella was angry, because she, eventually, wanted to have children just like Alice did. And I had scared her with my anger at Alice, and she was afraid. Afraid that I would take that future away from her.

Internally thanking Jasper, I flipped out my cell and called speed dial number 1. Bella.

It rang for a long time, before switching to answer phone, "Hello, this is Bella Swan. If you're listening to this message, it means I can't get to the phone right now. Call back later or leave a message!" There was a scuffling sound and Bella giggled, "Edward, stop it! I'm trying to record something!" She cleared her throat, "Anyway, and I'll try to get back to you. Thanks." She finished with a laugh and an, "Edward," before the answer phone message cut off.

Since when had Bella not answered her phone? That wasn't like her.

Inexplicably worried, I called Alice. It rang for a while, then she picked up, "Edward!" she cried, sounding panicked.

I forgot the whole fight I'd had with her, "Alice, what's happened?!"

"It's Bella…she's gone!"

"Gone?! Gone where?!"

"She left!"

"Why?!"

"Oh Edward…" she swallowed, "There's something you need to know…"

Bella's POV (earlier that day)

"Alice, what are you on about?"

She shook her head, "I can't be sure yet…Bella, when was the last time you slept with Edward?"

I frowned, confused by her blunt question, "What kind of question is that?!"

"Just answer it. Please?"

"Um…2 weeks ago. Why?"

"Oh…my…god."

"Alice, what is it?"

"Bella, you need to take a test."

Later

Alice was rummaging around in her bathroom closet, whilst I stood behind her and whined, "Alice, what's going on? Why are you being so cloak-and-dagger?"

"Because you have to wait until I find what I'm looking for."

I sighed and tapped my foot impatiently. A few minutes later she turned, holding something out to me in my hand. I glanced at it and immediately balked, backing up against the wall. "No. NO! I don't need to take that!"

She walked over; still holding it out, "Bella," she said softly, "I think you do."

A few minutes later, I was sitting on the counter, twisting my fingers over and over each other. Alice was in the corner, watching the pregnancy test apprehensively. "Bella?" she said tentatively, "What will you do? If it's…positive?"

I glared at her, "It won't be! I'm careful!"

"Bella, accidents happen…"

"No. It can't happen."

Her watch beeped, and I gulped, "You look at it. I can't."

She snorted, "Well, since you're so careful, you must have nothing to worry about."

Who was she kidding? If that test was positive, I had a lot to worry about. Alice was holding it like it was an atomic bomb. I waved my hand at her, "Go on. Look at it." She nodded and slowly turned it over in her hands. I watched her expression carefully, and as she looked back up at me, her expression a mixture of pity and shock, I knew what it said.

Funny how a stick can ruin your life.


Ok, i'm expecting ALOT of flames for this, because i know a lot of people hate Bella-pregnant stories. Just please, trust me on this, but if you really hate it, i'm sorry!

I know where I'm going with this, so please don't hate me!

At the moment i'm really debating between two plotlines, and I do really want to stick to the one I thought of, but I don't want to make you all want to kill me either! I do really depend on what you guys think, so that's why I'm so worried.

So if I get a lot of people saying that they really really really don't want Bella pregnant, I won't do it, but I would really like to xx

Tell me what you think!

Love, ATO xxxx