AN: Happy Holidays to all the people who continue to read, favorite, alert and review even though they're in the middle of holiday shopping. Thanks for all the birthday wishes that made my day special. As always, special thanks to Lita of Jupiter the best beta in the world ("Mini-Fangs" was her idea.) Happy Birthday to TheRYU and Jessie! First chapter review shout out to FantasyLover74. Thanks to all my reviewers: hgmsnoopy, Inosolan, Scented Hairpin, Jada91, Babaksmiles, Sweet Lovely Lies, and the tree was happy, MissGracieKathy, WestAnimeBrigade, Angel of Darkness Forever, the original bitch, PeggyMarie, PopcornGirl-Eva, brankel1, nakala, Stampiej, Stargazer1364 & LyssaLoo62. Remember, reviews are love, and love makes the world go round.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Twilight, I just like to play in the dark :)

Demetri raised a questioning brow and Carlisle sighed impatiently.

"I'm about to give Leah some information about the baby and she suggested that you should be there."

Bella snorted and Demetri glared at her before walking silently into the room.

Inside, Demetri found that Leah was again laying on the bed, hooked up to machines with Seth standing protectively at her side even though she was glaring at him. The kid snarled at him and he bit back the urge to growl back, smiling when Leah smacked her brother's arm.

"Behave Seth! He has a right to be here."

Carlisle closed the door behind him.

"Okay, for Demetri's benefit I will backtrack. As I was telling you before Demetri, the reason I know the child is a hybrid is the presence of vampire venom in Leah's system. The pregnancy has been somewhat normal up to the point that Leah began ingesting blood. This made the fetus stronger and allowed him to begin producing venom and start growing at an expedited rate..."

Leah interrupted.

"When you say "expedited," do you mean what I think you mean?"

Carlisle nodded.

"You've probably noticed that you're a lot bigger today than you were yesterday. I'll have a better idea when I do the ultrasound but, judging from your size, I'd say the baby is about the size of a five month old fetus. Unfortunately, vampire venom is lethal to wolves. A small dose causes nausea and vomiting, a larger one can cause seizures and ... death."

Seth held up a hand.

"Wait a minute Doc, slow down. So you're saying, the more blood she drinks, the sicker she becomes?"

The doctor nodded.

Demetri spoke for the first time.

"So she shall refrain from drinking blood."

It was a statement not a question but Carlisle shook his head,

"It's actually a little more complicated than that. Leah's humanity is allowing the child to gestate which would have been impossible in a vampire body. Her werewolf nature is keeping her alive as it ...weakens, if you will, the child's vampire nature and therefore the production of the venom. Unfortunately the baby needs blood and it's causing her body to crave blood and reject any other form of nourishment."

"But you just said..."

Carlisle held up a hand to cut Seth off.

"I know what I said, Seth. Her body may crave blood but a human, or werewolf body for that matter, is not designed to digest it. Leah gets no energy from the blood she consumes."

Seth was shaking his head.

"So she's not getting anything from the blood but...she can't keep food or normal drink down. She throws up everything she eats!"

Leah put a calming hand on her brother's shoulder.

"Relax, Seth."

Seth pulled away from her and got to his feet to glare at Demetri.

"Don't tell me to relax, Leah! Don't you understand what he is saying? This baby...this thing is as much a parasite as its father and it's killing you!"

She gasped at Seth's words and her hand almost protectively covered her belly.

"Seth! How could you..."

"Wake up, Leah! Do you think anyone wants to go through another pregnancy like Bella's? The only difference here is, vampire venom won't save you like it saved Bella because the monster inside you is slowly poisoning you with it!"

No one saw the silent tracker move but, suddenly he had Seth by the throat and off the floor.

"Be silent! Can you not see how upset you're making her?"

Seth glanced at his sister and sure enough her eyes were bright with tears that she refused to shed. He silently cursed his idiocy as Demetri released him. Not five minutes ago he had promised Leah that he wouldn't let the vampire hurt her, now he was the one making her cry with insults to her baby.

"Leelah... I ..."

Leah closed her eyes, at the childhood nickname and fought to remain calm. She wasn't angry at Seth. How could she be? He was just worried about her and reacting to the harsh reality of her situation. Her little brother just wanted her to be okay. Unfortunately, he didn't understand that her life wasn't what really mattered anymore. Not when weighed against the life of her precious, miracle baby. She opened her eyes and smiled up at her brother, visibly calmer.

"I know Seth. I'm not angry but, I would like to speak to Demetri... alone."

Her brother looked like he was about to protest but Carlisle intervened.

"I think she has been upset enough today, Seth. I'm sure Demetri means her no harm. Let's give them a few minutes."

The doctor had to practically drag Seth from the room and even then he didn't leave without issuing a final warning.

"If you touch one hair on my sister's head, Imprint or not, I will destroy you."

The tracker didn't reply. He could see the young wolf was deadly serious, and responding for the sake of his pride would upset his Lupa.

In The Living Room

When Seth and Carlisle exited the room without Demetri, Jacob growled in displeasure. He had obviously been pacing the living room, circumnavigating the broken furniture where necessary, too worried to sit with the others.

"You left her alone with him? Are you crazy?"

Seth glared at Carlisle who just shook his head at Jacob.

"Leah requested a brief meeting with Demetri... alone. I didn't see the harm since we're right outside."

He looked around the room with a slight frown.

"Esme and Alice haven't returned? I asked them to bring Sue out here."

Bella spoke then from her seat on the surprisingly intact couch.

"Alice called a few minutes ago. Sue was in Forks, so they went to pick her up there. They should be here in another hour."

Carlisle nodded and the room fell silent. Both Seth and Jacob were staring fixedly at the door to Leah's room, clearly trying to hear every word of the conversation within.

"Okay can anyone tell me what the hell is going on? We take one short hunting trip and come back to find pregnant werewolves imprinted on Volturi bastards. WTF?"

Edward laughed. Trust Emmett to break the tension. He glanced from Carlisle to Seth to Jacob. Although he had read what had happened in their minds it wasn't his story to tell.

Seth didn't take his eyes off the door but started speaking softly.

"Apparently, Leah imprinted on that ... Leech scum when Aro brought his bloodsucker mafia to inspect Renesmee."

He paused, glared at the door, and then continued through gritted teeth.

"They ... got to know each other, before he left and voila! Here we are."

The room once again was silent until Jasper spoke.

"Does anyone else wonder why Demetri suddenly decided to reappear in Forks? He didn't know Leah was pregnant, so why is a Volturi guard back in Washington?"

In Leah's Room

When the door closed behind Seth the room was quiet until Leah spoke.

"I meant what I said. You have a right to know your son... but I'm not going to force you to remain here. I'm not a ball and chain to tie you here and I'm not going to put my child in a position to feel that he is either."

Demetri stared down at her, again marveling that she could be so forceful despite the fragility of her appearance.

"I apologize. My words a few minutes ago were unwarranted, ungentlemanly and untrue."

Leah's eyes widened in surprise. She had put his words out of her mind. Yes, they had hurt, but she tried to forget them. The thought that he would suspect her of such duplicity broke her heart, but the welfare of her baby would always supersede her feelings.

"It doesn't matter..."

Demetri, moving too fast to be seen, was suddenly seated at her side, interrupting the softly spoken words.

"It does. These last four months... I tried to forget you but I could not. Every time I closed my eyes you were there. When I returned and saw you so obviously carrying a child... I wanted to kill you, Leah, for betraying me, for forgetting us, forgetting me, when I've spent the last, endless months wanting nothing more than to have you in my arms once again. Yet I, who have slaughtered thousands in my lifetime, could not bring myself to harm you."

He raised his hand and gently cupped her cheek, which was only slightly warmer than his hand.

"When I left you, I knew it was for the best. I knew I that I should remain as far away from you as I could, but, when given the opportunity to see you again, I could not say no."

He leaned forward, his lips a hair's breadth from hers, his body flush against hers.

"My sweet Leah, you are my greatest temptation and most dangerous weakness."

His lips were soft and cool on hers as he kissed her lightly. Leah immediately brought her hand up tangling in his dark locks, and deepening the kiss for a few seconds before he pulled away from her, staring at her belly with a look of shock and wonder.

"Did you feel... Was that the ..."

Leah nodded and took his hand placing it over her belly. The baby obligingly kicked again and she laughed, delighted at his words, his reaction, his very proximity.

"I don't know who gets a bigger reaction out of him, you or Seth. He's always more active when you guys are near."

When Leah moved her hand from atop his, Demetri's hand stayed on her belly giving it a light caress through the gown and sending shivers down her spine.

"You always refer to the child as a boy, how can you be so sure?"

She shrugged.

"Call it a mother's intuition. I just know."

The vampire was silent. The baby kicked again and he gave her belly the tiniest smile.

"He is strong."

Leah nodded, marveling at how such a small thing could make her heart soar.

"You will not drink any more blood."

Leah sighed and kissed her minute of happiness goodbye at his matter of fact tone.

"Carlisle said the baby needs blood. Before I ... uh ... imbibed he was smaller, less active. You said yourself, he's strong now."

Demetri reluctantly tore his gaze away from where his son ... his son rested to look her in the eyes, but his hand remained. Perhaps she had not been paying attention when Carlisle spoke before.

"Leah, the doctor was quite clear that blood was detrimental to your health..."

"But good for the baby. Even Carlisle admits that he gets stronger every time I..."

Another strong kick caused her to gasp and the vampire's eyes to narrow in concern.

"He is clearly strong enough while you can barely stand without assistance. The blood drinking will cease."

Leah forced herself to remain calm. If Carlisle was correct, losing her temper would upset the baby who would then produce venom and she'd probably end up passing out in his arms, again. Not a very compelling argument for continuing her current diet. She smiled.

"I am flattered by your concern, Demetri..."

"It is not concern. It is common sense. I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the child. You will not drink blood again."

Leah's eyes narrowed and she counted to ten, telling herself that he was worried about her, and her health. She decided to count to twenty because she was sure, contrary to what her temper was saying, not just being an ass.

"I am an adult, Demetri. You cannot tell me what to do."

"When you act like an adult I shall treat you as one. You are not thinking clearly, perhaps it is a side effect of the seizure. I must ask Carlisle."

She was now staring at her Imprint in open mouthed shock. He had to be either joking or out of his damn mind. She shoved his hand away from her and growled.

"You're crazy! Not fifteen minutes ago you were having a Maury moment, accusing me of trying to pawn another man's baby off on you and now you're trying to stop me from doing everything I can to make sure our son is healthy? Who the hell do you think you are? Well, let me tell you right now, you can go f..."

As gently as he could, Demetri pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The light kiss they had shared before had done nothing to satisfy the hunger he had been feeling for the last four months. Seeing her like this, so passionate in her desire to protect his child, the offspring of something she should despise enflamed his craving for her. He worried that in her weakened state he might hurt her but he couldn't resist the lure of those sweet lips.

The moment he touched her Leah was lost. She forgot what she had been saying, and why she had been angry. The only thing that mattered was being back in her Imprint's arms again. The emptiness, loneliness and despair she had felt from the moment he turned away in the forest were gone, replaced by desire. She brought one hand up to the back of his head, burying her fingers in his silky hair, as she pulled him down to deepen the kiss. When they finally separated, Leah was breathless. Demetri wound a tendril of her hair around his wrist deciding that he preferred the longer style. It masked her strength, made her look younger and would encourage her foes to underestimate her.

"Foolish girl, who do I think I am?"

He paused to drop a light kiss on her parted lips.

"I think I am the man who has dreamt of you for the last month."

Another kiss was delivered.

"The man who hasn't been able to get you out of his mind for the last four months."

The kiss was longer this time, la Lupa was a drug but he was discovering that he was quite happy with this addiction. Forget her blood, which he had never sampled, each taste of her delectable lips, each touch of her satin skin, made him crave her more and more.

"I am the man who wants to spend the rest of the night reminding you how I made you scream my name."

He dropped one more, light kiss on her lips before getting to his feet and moving towards the door where he stopped and glanced back.

"I do not know what this is between us but, like it or not, cuore mio, you are mine. And I will keep you safe in spite of yourself."

Without another word he left the room.