Chapter 9: Something Is Wrong

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight


The chatterbox was unusually quiet this day. Bella was getting worried. Had he changed his mind about her? He'd always been so forgiving, but maybe the last two weeks was just too much for him. His heart was running on empty; there was nothing left but resignation. Her actions had beaten him down, and he could no longer bounce back again.

"Jake ...?" Did he hear her? That was the second time she uttered his name. He'd been staring at that socket wrench now for several seconds. "Jake ...? He was on his back, lying on his trolley; Bella knelt down beside him. She touched his arm and he jumped in surprise. It was like he forgot she was even there.

"Huh? What did you say?"

She dreaded to tell him what she was thinking, but it had to be said. "I said, is there something wrong? You can tell me if you think we shouldn't be together anymore. I'd understand if you're having second thoughts."

"What? No, far from it. I'm just worried about you, and what our future holds for us. I'm sorry I was so distracted."

Jacob slid under the Rabbit, away from the questions in her eyes. The council was still on his mind, but he couldn't tell her. Sharing his concern with Bella would only cause more problems.


Another couple of weeks came and went on by. One particular day, after school, Bella was outside trimming some bushes. It wasn't too strenuous an activity but when she went to the bathroom, she noticed some spotting on her panties. She figured she'd been doing too much, so she lay down for a while.

She made supper and after eating and clearing away all the dishes and utensils, she went to her room. While in the shower, she saw some bright red blood dripping down her legs. Rinsing away the blood, she then toweled off. She tried to remain calm and yelled down to her father.

"Dad, can you call Carlisle? Something's wrong. I'm bleeding."

Oh god! "I'll call him right now, Bells."

Bella got out a pad, placed it in her underwear and finished dressing for bed. When she climbed onto the mattress, she began experiencing heavy cramping. She felt the pad getting soaked and walked to the bathroom, to change it. This was really starting to scare her. Sitting on the toilet, she felt more blood oozing out, then some big clots followed, sliding into the water. She placed another pad, and grabbed a folded towel to put under herself. She was doubled over as she walked toward the bed.

"Daddy?"

Charlie entered the room. "I'm here, and Dr. Cullen will be on his way as soon as he finishes with his patient at the hospital."

"I'm ... Gosh, I'm cramping so bad."

"I know, just hang in there. He'll be here soon."

"I want Jacob to come too. Will you call him for me?"

"Sure, sweetheart. I'll be right back."


The voice on the phone was Charlie's. "Jacob, can you get here as soon as possible. Bella's calling for you. I think she's having a miscarriage."

"Tell her not to worry; I'll be right there."

Jacob sped to the Swan's residence. Charlie sounded panicked, so he didn't question him about any details.

A miscarriage? He had to search his heart. There were so many emotions rushing through it. It would be a great relief to him. The council wouldn't have to doom her or the baby to death. At least that concern was lifted. At the same time, he wondered how Bella would feel about it. After all, this child was part of her own flesh and blood no matter who the father was. None of this had to do with Jacob, but he felt guilty nonetheless for being happy about this outcome. That complication was now history.


Jacob arrived in record time, and Bella heard the clamor below as he raced through their front room and bounded up the stairs. He nearly blasted through the door, his long legs carrying him to the other side of the room in three quick strides. He took her hand and held it to his cheek. "I'm here, honey, I'm here. I drove as fast as I could. You okay?"

She felt a little calmer just knowing he was with her. "I don't know. Carlisle hasn't come yet. Jacob, I'm scared." She grabbed her abdomen, grunting with pain.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "It'll be okay. He'll be here soon."

Just then, her dad called up to Bella's room. "Dr. Cullen just pulled in the driveway." Thank god, she was cramping worse than ever.

Charlie led the doctor to his daughter's bedroom.

Carlisle stepped through the door, walked immediately to her, and sat on the edge of her bed. Jacob stepped aside, letting Carlisle have more room to work. He patted her hand and said, "I'm glad you called for me. Now can you describe what's happening?"

Bella recited everything—from the spotting this afternoon, the issue of blood in the shower, the large clots in the toilet, and up to the unrelenting cramps that were even now wracking through her without mercy.

A frown overshadowed his handsome features as he explained, "It's as I suspected. I'm afraid you're having a miscarriage. This is the way the body rids itself of an abnormal fetus."

He turned to look at Jacob and her father. "Chief Swan, can you and Jacob give us a minute alone, so I can examine Bella?"

"Sure, we'll be downstairs if you need us."

After the duo left her bedside, Carlisle said, "I'm going to see how much blood you're losing."

He removed the bedding, and carefully pulled aside the pad. There, lying halfway off the Kotex was a small clear bubble with the fetus encased within. Its miniature body was a shiny white, like alabaster, and the sack surrounding it, transparent and pliable, but tough like the plastic they use in grocery bags.

He picked up the tiny thing with a gloved hand. "I'm sorry, Bella. I'm holding your child here in my palm. It's a little girl. Since she's not entirely human, she was not compatible with your body. You understand though, this isn't due to anything you did. It's just nature's way of preventing an aberration from entering the world.

"Would you like to see her?"

Did she want to? It couldn't hurt. Maybe it would give her some closure. "Yes."

Bella looked in awe at the tiny creature, but there was no sorrow in her heart. It wasn't that long ago, that she found out about the pregnancy. That didn't leave her enough time to bond with the child, and now she had to deal with this disturbing event. Not to appear callous with Carlisle nearby, she uttered, "My first child. I'm so sorry I couldn't keep you, little one." She felt like an uncaring hipocrite.

"Do you want to give her a name?"

"Renesmee," she whispered.

Carlisle placed the baby in a ziplock bag, and put it in the bathroom. He returned to Bella and gave her an injection, stating, "This will help slow down the bleeding. You'll still have some cramping for a while. That's normal."

He left to speak to Charlie, and Jacob was at her side immediately.

Looking helpless, he stammered, "So … is it over?"

Bella hesitated. "It was a girl—if you want to look, she's in the bathroom, on the counter by the sink."

Morbid curiosity led him to the bathroom. As he stared at Edward's offspring, he actually felt sadness, and something else. This was a life, or would have been. A funny feeling swept over him for a second, passing as swiftly as it came. It was as if a possible future had popped up and then suddenly vanished. He shook it off and returned to Bella, his love for her greater than ever.

He took up his spot again as her personal sentry. "Is there anything I can get you?"

She licked her dry lips. "Can you bring me something to drink? I'm going to clean up a bit. You can leave it on my nightstand."

"Sure, sure. I think I'll get me something too."

He was halfway down the stairs when he heard a loud thud. He ran back and found Bella pale and clammy, lying on the floor. Charlie and Carlisle raced into the room just as Jacob had her swept up into his arms, carrying her to the bed.

He got a wet wash cloth from the bathroom and applied it to her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered open. "Scared the sh** outta me, honey," Jacob exclaimed. "Uh, sorry, guys."

"No offence taken, Jacob. I know how you feel. Now, I don't want her out of bed for a couple of hours. She's lost a lot of blood. I need her feet elevated on some pillows too. And … Charlie? Do you have any juice in the house?"

"Will OJ do?"

"That'll do just fine."

While Charlie was gone, Carlisle told them in confidence, "I need to tell you, if you and Jacob have been intimate, it's imperative that you abstain from intercourse for at least five weeks."

Jacob looked at Bella and shrugged. Bella on the other hand, averted her eyes and turned two shades of crimson. Then in all seriousness, the love besotted boy said, "Doc, I gotta ask you something. Will Bella be able to have more children?"

"No reason, why not. I don't foresee any future problems. By the way, Bella would you mind if I bring the fetus home with me? I'd like to bury her behind our house. You can visit the gravesite anytime you like. I think that will bring some finality to Edward as well."

Bella nodded. "Sure, I understand. That's fine."


Even after seeing and naming her first child, Bella didn't really feel any connection to her. Was that normal? How was she supposed to feel? She was just so tired, and glad it was over. She only wanted to be alone with Jacob and forget all about this ordeal. It was probably going to remain with her throughout the rest of her life, though. Something that traumatic could never be totally erased from one's memory.


Carlisle left after talking to her dad once more. Charlie entered the room with her juice and found Jacob, on the foot of the bed, leaning back on his haunches. The blankets were pulled up, exposing Bella's calves. Her feet were propped on two pillows that Jacob had spread over his thighs. Her sweetheart was massaging her feet and talking quietly to her. It was late, but Charlie was not going to insist that Jacob go home. He was just what she needed right now. He placed the glass beside her bed, and left the two alone.