Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with The Twilight Saga belong to Stephanie Meyers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Set during New Moon. After Edward leaves, Bella is miserable and Jacob is there for her until things go too far between them, leaving Bella in an unexpected condition. When Edward returns how will Bella explain her situation to him? B/E B/J pairings

Chapter 9

The Cullen's had been sitting in their living room for hours, waiting for Edward to return, and yet there was no sign of him. Alice was frantic, searching for Edward's future, but it was all an obscure blur to her now.

"This is getting stupid." Rosalie commented as she paced the room. "What if he doesn't come back?"

"He will." Carlisle sounded calmer then he was. "For all we know, Edward is having a nice conversation with Bella."

"Then why can't Alice see it?" Rosalie snapped.

"Bella's future is blocked out by Jacob's child and Jacob's prescience in her life." Esme reminded Rosalie. "We all know that."

"Right." Carlisle agreed with his wife. "So if Edward is with Bella, then Alice wouldn't be able to see past the block on Bella's future."

"I can see him." Alice spoke up suddenly, from her seat on the couch next to Jasper. Her eyes were blank, as if starring off into space.

"What do you see?" Jasper asked immediately.

Alice's face was straight, her brow rigid. "I just see him. He is upset, and angry…and hurt. Really hurt."

"Where is he, Alice?" Carlisle pressed.

Alice shook her head, looking up at Carlisle as the vision of Edward faded from her mind. "I can't tell. All I could see was his face, and all the feelings he had were overwhelming. He was angry about something, and upset about something else."

"So we have no idea where he could be?" Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"There are only two options." Emmett said, giving his side smile. "I mean, think about it? He is either with Bella, and upset she is pregnant, or he is ripping Jacob apart."

"Why would you say that?" Esme asked.

"Because, Edward loves Bella. I mean, knowing someone else touched your girl has got to set you off, right?" Emmett looked around. Sometimes, his simple thoughts made the most sense.

"Well then we need to get to him." Rosalie said. "We can't let him do anything stupid."

"Just give him some time…" Esme started.

"I hate to do this, but I think Rosalie is right." Carlisle said with a sigh. "We can't risk anyone's safety if Edward is as upset as we all know he will be when he finds out about Bella's condition."

Alice stood. "We should split up and look for him."

Carlisle nodded in agreement. "I think it's best if Alice and Esme go to the Swan residence. We need to keep Bella safe right now. She could be in real danger, so if it comes down to it, bring her back here, we can keep her safe."

"Okay." Esme nodded.

"Edward would never hurt her." Rosalie defended her brother.

"Not from Edward, but if Edward has done anything to any of the wolves, they will trace the problem back to Bella. They don't take kindly to outsiders when they bring pain to the pack, even if it is someone like Bella who is having one of their offspring." Carlisle explained.

"So, does that mean what I think it does…" Emmett questioned.

Carlisle nodded. "Jasper and I will go to the reservation, hopefully Edward has not been there already and we will not need to smooth anything out."

"What about us?" Emmett asked. He had wanted to go to the reservation and, if need be, take a few wolves out.

"I think it is best if you and Rosalie stay here, in case Edward does come back. Make sure he stays put." Carlisle said.

Emmett nodded, he did not like the plan but he would not argue with Carlisle.

"Good. Then let's do this." Carlisle shook his hands together as he watched Esme and Alice take off out the door and Rosalie and Emmett sit down on the couch. He knew Rosalie did not want to wait around at the house, but he also knew she would be the most lethal if he had allowed her to go to Bella's home or to the reservation. Rosalie's interests were only in keeping Edward safe, which would normally be okay, but this was an un-normal circumstance. Carlisle just prayed they would get to Edward before he did anything he would regret.


Esme and Alice made it to the Swan residence as fast as the jeep would take them. They pulled up and Alice hoped out of the car, noticing that both Bella's truck and Charlie's car were not parked in their usual spots.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Alice sighed.

"What?" Esme asked.

"Bella's truck isn't here." Alice inhaled the air. "But Edward was. I can smell him."

Esme took a deep breath, nodding in agreement as she listened closely. "But, I hear two hearts inside." She nodded toward the house. "A human one, and one beating entirely too fast to be human."

"The baby." Alice nodded with a slight sigh of relief; at least they knew Bella was inside. "So she is safe."

"Bella?" Esme shrugged, looking around. "If Edward was here and gone, I think Bella may be in danger. Like Carlisle said, if we didn't find Edward here, then he most likely went off to the reservation, which is going to make things ugly."

"We need to get Bella out of here." Alice realized.

Esme nodded, and motioned for Alice to go up the stairs first, after all, aside of Edward, Alice had been the closet of the Cullen's to Bella.

Alice complied and knocked on the door to the Swan's home, knowing Bella was moving as fast as she could to the door, but hating how long it took human's to perform such simple tasks. After a second the door swung open and a visibly pregnant and stunned Bella starred back at Alice and Esme.

"Bella!" Alice was relieved, pulling Bella in for a huge. "You're safe."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Bella was at a loss of words. Esme and Alice were the last two people she had expected to be on her front steps.

"We weren't sure how Edward would have reacted to…seeing you." Esme pointed to Bella's protruding Bella.

Bella immediately wrapped her arms around her stomach, as if to shield it from the Cullen's. "Well, Edward hasn't seen me so…"

"What are you talking about?" Alice was confused. She knew Edward had been there earlier that day.

"I mean, Edward hasn't seen me, he hasn't even tried to talk to me since…" Bella looked away; fighting back tears as the threatened her eyes. She had missed Esme and Alice and the rest of the Cullen's so much, but she was so angry that Edward had left her all alone. "Since he broke up with me."

"Bella, sweetie…" Esme realized what Bella's words meant. "May we come in? We need to talk to you. I know you're hurt and upset right now, but it is important. You…and your child may not be safe."

Bella looked up at Esme, a slight hint of shock in her eyes. She knew Esme would never lie to her, and the thought of her child's safety being threatened shook Bella to the core. Even if she was mad at Edward, she could not find the strength to push the rest of the Cullen's away.

"Uh…sure." Bella stepped aside to allow Alice and Esme into the living room.

Esme and Alice sat on the couch and Bella eased herself into Charlie's chair, wrapping a blanket around both herself and her growing hump of a stomach, as if the blanket would shield the unborn child from any danger.

"Bella, we know you probably don't understand why we are here…" Esme started.

"No. I don't." Bella felt her hormones rising, and couldn't help as all of her thoughts began spilling out of her mouth. "I don't understand any of this. I mean, it wasn't enough that Edward had to hurt me, but now you guys just keep popping back up, and I am trying…really trying to move on and its hard…"

"Bella…we know we aren't making it easy for you…" Esme reached out and stroked Bella's arm.

Esme's cold skin set a chain reaction off in Bella's body and she realized just how much she had missed Edward's icy touch. Immediately she began sobbing. It wasn't fair; Jacob was the one who deserved all of Bella's feelings and tears, not Edward. "I just want to be able to let go. Jacob has been so good to me, it isn't fair to him."

"Bella, listen…" Esme tried to calm the girl. "We aren't here to talk you into leaving Jacob; in fact it's the opposite of that. Jacob could be in danger here."

"What do you mean?" Bella looked up at Esme.

"Edward was here earlier, Bella." Alice told her friend "He left our house earlier today because he wanted to come see you. I tried to talk him out of it knowing…" She motioned to Bella's stomach to indicate Bella's pregnant state. "But I couldn't tell him you were pregnant, so I had no valid reason to make him stay home."

Bella shook her head sadly. How she had wished Alice spoke the truth and that Edward had seen her. "You're wrong. Edward was never here."

"He was." Esme corrected Bella. "His scent is strong, especially by your bedroom window. He was here."

"Well, then I didn't see him." Bella shrugged.

"But if he saw you…" Alice started. "If he saw that you were pregnant…"

"He couldn't have." Bella said, refusing to believe the vampire's in front of her. "Because he was never here."

"Bella, this is not a game. We could all be in real danger." Alice was getting frustrated.

"Bella, are you sure you don't remember any sign that Edward was near you, or your room or…" Esme tried.

Suddenly, the thoughts of the tree cracking outside her window caused the blood to drain from Bella's face. She immediately realized that Esme and Alice were right; Edward must have been there. "I…he was." She looked up blankly at the vampires.

"Did he see you?" Esme asked.

Bella shrugged. "He could have." She was angry now. Why would Edward have any right to judge her or her pregnancy; he had walked out on her. "But who cares? Why would it be his business what condition I am in?"

"Bella, Edward loves you." Alice said. 'If he knows Jacob got you pregnant…"

"What?" Bella pressed. "Would he run off again?"

"No." Alice shook her head sadly. "I know him. He is my brother, and I know what he felt for you. Bella, if he knew Jacob did this to you he would go after Jacob. I know it."

"He wouldn't." Bella shook her head. "It would violate the treaty. Edward would never be that stupid."

"For you, he would be." Alice told her.

"And that's why we are here, in case he was that stupid." Esme told Bella. "Because if Edward went after Jacob and did anything the treaty is violated; and if Jacob is hurt, the pack is going to look at you as the link. Bella, you and your baby are not safe."

"The pack would never hurt this baby." Bella rubbed her three month pregnant stomach. "They love this baby."

"You're not one of them, Bella." Alice reminded her. "If Jacob isn't there to protect you, and the pack feels threatened, they will take you out to make things easier for them."

"Why wouldn't Jacob be around?" Bella raised an eyebrow. In the back of her mind, she had an idea why Jacob wouldn't be around, and she also knew that Alice was right about the pack, they took care of their own first and she was not one of them, even if she was carrying one of their children.

"You have no idea just how much Edward loves you, do you?" Alice shook her head. "He would move planets for you, killing one werewolf is nothing."

"Edward would never!" Bella stood as quickly as the extra weight she was carrying would allow. "He can't hurt Jacob! I need Jacob!"

"What you need is to come with us!" Alice stood. "We need to protect you."

"No." Bella shook her head. "I need to find Jacob." The truth was, Bella knew she loved Edward more than life, but he had cut her so deeply, and hurt her so much that she was unsure she would ever forgive him. Now, if he hurt Jacob, the father of her unborn child, the one who never walked away from her, she knew she could never forgive Edward. She needed Jacob, because Jacob would never leave her, not like Edward had.

"Bella, you need to keep this baby safe." Esme reminded her. "If something already happened to Jacob, then neither you or your baby or any of us are safe. You need to trust us, and sweetie, you have no reason not to. I know how much Edward hurt you, but you have to believe he did it out of love, and what we are doing now is out of love for you. Please, trust us."

Bella took a deep breath; it was all too much for her to process at that moment. She knew that if Esme and Alice said she was in danger, there was a good chance she was, but she also knew going with the Cullen's would hurt Jacob, assuming Edward had not already done that. The weird part was, thinking of Edward and Jacob fighting or hurting each other tore Bella up. She knew she would be mad if Edward had hurt Jacob, but she also knew she would be angry at Jacob if he laid a hand on Edward. Truthfully, she was concerned with her baby's safety, and then Edwards, above everyone else's. She knew that was wrong but it was a feeling she could not deny. "Fine. Let's go."

Alice sighed in relief. "Come on, let's get you in the car and I will pack up some of your stuff."

"Stuff?" Bella was confused. "Why would I need stuff?"

"In case you can't come back here, Bella." Alice told her.

"Why wouldn't I be able to?" Bella was panicking now.

"Bella, just trust us, sweetie. We will do whatever it takes to keep you safe." Esme assured the pregnant teenage girl as she helped her out the door and into the jeep outside.


Carlisle pulled his car up onto the reservation and Jasper immediately tensed up in the passenger seat. Carlisle took that as a bad sign.

"What is it, Jasper?" Carlisle asked.

"The anger…" Jasper seemed to shiver from it. "Everyone is so angry here."

Carlisle looked ahead to see Sam and Paul making their way down the hill from the Black's house and toward their car. Carlisle quickly got out of the car, motioning for Jasper to do the same.

"Cullen, you are not welcome here!" Paul spat.

Carlisle put his hands up in defense. "We did not come here to fight."

"Well one of you had no problem knocking Jacob around." Sam said, more calmly then Paul. "I can imagine which of you it was."

"Edward was here then." Carlisle assumed.

"He put Jacob threw a window!" Paul growled, his temper flaring.

Carlisle eyed Jasper, and Jasper knew immediately what to do. He began to calm Paul's rage down, hoping it would allow the werewolf to think straight.

"Is Jacob alright?" Carlisle asked, calmly.

"He is out cold right now." Sam said.

"Would you like me to take a look at him?" Carlisle offered.

"No thanks, doc." Paul sneered. "We can take care of our own just fine." Even with Jasper's calming sensation, Paul was still a lose canon.

"Paul, go back to the house." Sam ordered.

Paul clenched his jaw at Sam, indicating he did not want to leave but knew Sam's orders would be obeyed, so he turned on his heel and ran back up to the Black's home.

"We are sorry for any problems Edward has caused." Carlisle apologized. "You have to understand why he did it…"

"I do." Sam told Carlisle, surprising the vampire. "I understand he had feelings for Bella and it is clear as day that she did and maybe still does for him. But a woman is no excuse for a vampire to come here and hurt one of us."

"We understand that." Jasper spoke up.

"And I understand why Edward came, but it doesn't excuse the behavior. The treaty…" Sam started. "Edward attacked on our lands."

"He loves Bella, he was defending her." Carlisle tried to reason.

"She does not need defending from Jacob." Sam said quickly. "Jacob would never hurt that girl, even after all of the pain she has brought to his life. He only sees her, and no one can reason with him any other way."

"Well, that is how Edward is with her as well." Carlisle explained.

"Bella seems to be causing trouble for everyone." Sam almost laughed.

Carlisle didn't like the ton in Sam's voice as he said that, but chose to ignore it. "About the treaty…"

"It will be up to Jacob what is to happen when he wakes up. Between you and I, I would like to let this whole thing blow over and get rid of Bella. She is a lovely girl but a liability to all involved. Your family and our tribe will never get along as long as she is in the picture. But I leave the decision up to Jacob. You will know what he has decided when he wakes up, trust me." Sam clenched his jaw, knowing that Paul and Jared were talking down the hill behind him without even needing to turn around. "I suggest you leave now."

Carlisle nodded, uncertain and motioned for Jasper to get in the car. Once inside, he started it quickly and sped off, away from the reservation.

"What was all of that about?" Jasper asked, after a moment.

"It is what I feared. The pack sees Bella as the problem, the only reason we are fighting with them. She has caused the rivalry, and they don't want to deal with it anymore." Carlisle explained.

"But she is having Jacob's child." Jasper reasoned.

"But I don't think Jacob imprinted on her, so the pack feels no real reason to protect that child, even if Jacob doesn't know that, I could see it in Sam's eyes." Carlisle explained.

"But Jacob won't hurt Bella, he will come for Edward." Jasper said.

Carlisle nodded. "Either way, Bella is in great danger."

"Hopefully Alice and Esme got to her, then." Jasper said, partly blaming himself for this mess; if only he had not tired to bite Bella in the first place, months earlier.


Edward found his way to the meadow easily. He just needed to get away from everything to some place where he could think, and immediately he knew that place was the meadow, their meadow, the one he had shared with Bella.

He arrived to find the meadow barren, not a single flower had grown. He sighed, collapsing to his knees and digging at the dirt.

Edward was trying to wrap his mind around everything that had just happened. He knew he had made a mistake attacking Jacob, but he had been so angry, so blind with jealousy, it seemed like the only logical thing at the time. But now he knew he would probably have to pay for the attack later.

However, the idea of werewolves hunting his family down was not what truly bothered Edward at that particular moment. What really cut Edward up was what Jacob had said of Bella. Edward could not imagine that Jacob was telling the truth, there was no way Bella was pregnant, and especially not with Jacob's child. Edward knew Bella had loved him as much as he loved her, and he knew she would not move on so quickly. Edward regretting leaving Bella at first, but ultimately felt it had been the right thing. Now, he was not as sure.

If Jacob was telling the truth, however, Edward knew that would change everything. He knew it meant that Bella, whether in a moment of weakness or as a way to get back at him for leaving her earlier in the year, had indeed slept with Jacob and was now carrying the wolf's child. That changed how Edward could handle seeing Bella, how he could be a part of her life, and how he would handle Jacob. Edward knew he would always love Bella and always want to keep her safe, but could he be so accepting if she had allowed Jacob to get her pregnant? Edward was unsure, and gave a silent prayer to the God he did not know he would ever get to meet, that Jacob was just trying to anger him and that Bella was in fact not pregnant at all.

Then Edward stood, turning away from the meadow and taking off into the woods. He needed to get home and let his family know he had created somewhat of a mess at the reservation. He assumed it was nothing Carlisle could not fix.


Emmett and Rosalie were in the living room of the Cullen's home. Emmett was sitting on the floor, playing video games, but Rosalie was pacing by the window, glancing out periodically for any site of anyone from her family.

"Rose, baby, relax." Emmett said from his seat on the floor.

"Relax?" Rosalie snapped, turning quickly to Emmett. "Do you understand the ramifications of all of this? If anything happens to Edward I swear Bella is…"

"Bella is what?" Emmett looked at Rosalie. "This isn't really Bella's fault. I mean, Edward left her."

"So she had the right to go off and get pregnant?" Rosalie looked out the window.

Emmett sighed, standing. He knew what this was really about. "Does this actual have anything to do with the fact that Edward might have violated a major treaty, or that he is really upset or is it about the simple fact that Bella is pregnant?"

Rosalie continued to stare out the window. "She gets everything."

Emmett nodded, wrapping his strong arms around Rosalie. "Babe, I know you always wanted kids, and I am sorry I can't give them to you, but you can't get mad at Bella, because as angry as you are, she is probably equally as scared."

"I…I don't hate her." Rosalie looked at Emmett. "Despite what everyone thinks. I think it was just stupid for her to get involved in any of this, whether it is with us or the wolves, humans don't belong in our world."

Emmett nodded. He had to agree there. He loved Bella, but he did recall their lives being a lot easier when she was not around. Still, he knew she made Edward happy, or used to anyway, and that was enough for him. "The thing is, she is involved, and if need be we are going to protect her."

"I worry about Edward first." Rosalie glanced at Emmett and then nodded out the window as Esme pulled the jeep up the driveway. "Looks like they are back."

Rosalie watched as Esme and Alice got out of the jeep, and then as Alice moved to the backseat, opening the door and helping a rather visibly pregnant Bella get out of the car.

"She looks more pregnant then three months." Rosalie scoffed at Bella from the window.

Emmett didn't respond. He wasn't really sure how pregnant women were supposed to look at any time during their pregnancy. Instead he moved to open the front door, as Esme, Alice, and Bella walked in.

"Bella." Emmett smiled, pulling the fragile human in for a big hug. "We missed you."

"You too, Emmett." Bella seemed unsure of herself.

"Where is Edward?" Rosalie ignored Bella's presence completely.

"Rose, manners?" Esme eyed Bella, indicating Rosalie should greet the human.

Instead, Rosalie stuck her nose higher in the air and crossed her arms. "Where is Edward?"

Alice rolled her eyes and pushed Bella passed Rosalie into the living room. "He wasn't there."

"So does that mean…?" Emmett trailed off his sentence, unsure of how much Bella knew.

"He probably headed up to the reservation." Alice told Emmett.

"Great." Emmett cracked his knuckles. "Let's hope we don't have to bash any dogs skulls in."

"Hey." Bella eyed Emmett quickly, rubbing a hand over her hump of a belly.

"Sorry." Emmett apologized. "I forgot what it was." He motioned to her stomach. "And congrats…I think."

"Please." Rosalie snorted. "Let's not pretend to be happy the human and her mutt of a baby haven't just destroyed our family."

Bella, upon hearing Rosalie's comment quickly looked away. The words cut her like a knife, and she realized that was because she really did care what the Cullen's thought of her. She had always wanted to be perfect for Edward. Edward. Her thoughts drifted to him, despite the complicated mess her life was at that moment. Immediately, she felt guilty for thinking of the vampire, knowing she should have been more concerned for Jacob's safety, rather than Edward's wellbeing.

"Rosalie, that language will not be tolerated in this house." Esme defended Bella. "You apologize."

"I will not!" Rosalie said quickly.

Before Esme could argue more, Bella found her voice.

"It's okay." Bella glanced at the vampires in the room. "I deserve whatever you have for me. But the thing is, I made a mistake, I am trying to deal with it the best I can. I love Edward, but he left me, and Jacob never has."

"We know." Alice patted Bella's back, and then shot a glance at Rosalie. "Don't we?"

Rosalie just rolled her eyes at Alice as Alice helped Bella take a seat on the couch and continued to rub the pregnant girls back.

Suddenly, before the tension in the room could grow any more, Carlisle and Jasper rushed in from the garage.

"Carlisle?" Esme questioned, seeing the frantic look on her husband's face.

Carlisle immediately relaxed when he saw Bella. "Bella? Thank God you're here."

"Yeah." Bella nodded, slightly confused.

"What happened?" Alice's voice was now alarmed, causing Bella to take a deep breath, concerned as to why her vampire friend was so concerned.

"Edward went to the reservation." Carlisle said.

"And?" Bella suddenly felt panicked, wondering now if Jacob were okay. All thoughts of Edward were now in the back of her mind, confusing her even more. She glanced at her stomach. Jacob needed to be okay, she couldn't have his child alone.

"He got to Jacob." Carlisle said.

"Did he…did he kill him?" Emmett would not look at Bella as he asked the question.

"No." Carlisle shook his head. "But Jacob is in bad shape. Edward threw him through a window and knocked him out cold. His head was cut pretty badly."

"Oh God…" Bella felt as if she were going to faint as the panic grew. Now, instead of worrying about Edward, she was angry at him for trying to kill the father of her child, and the one man who had loved her unconditionally through everything.

"Jasper?" Alice eyed him, sensing Bella's panic.

Jasper immediately sat in front of Bella, taking her hands in his and glad that the baby inside of her was giving off the scent of a werewolf, making Bella's smell unappetizing to him. "Bella, calm down…"

After a second Bella did calm down, and looked up at Carlisle. "Is Jacob going to be okay?"

"I expect he will." Carlisle nodded, hoping Bella could not tell he was lying. Truthfully, he had no idea if Jacob would be okay.

"Great, the mutt will live." Rosalie rolled her eyes sarcastically. "What about Edward?"

"Edward's fate is being left up to Jacob. The pack won't do anything until he wakes." Carlisle explained.

"Well, we know they are going to come after us." Emmett said. "Or at least Edward, and Edward's fight is my fight."

Carlisle nodded. "I know."

"No." Bella was much calmer now. "No I will talk to Jacob, tell him it was a misunderstanding. He will listen." She nodded in Carlisle's direction. "He will listen to me." The truth was, Bella knew her feelings for Edward and Jacob were confusing, but with the way things seemed to be going, she needed to stand by Jacob, because he would never leave her, or their child. Edward, as much as she loved him, would never love her, she decided. Still, she did not want to see him or the Cullen's hurt. If she could do nothing else for Edward, she would ensure his safety.

"I don't know if that will work, Bella." Carlisle said truthfully. "I was talking to Sam and…the pack sees you as the source of controversy in all of this. I am not sure how far they are willing to protect you any longer."

"Rightly so." Rosalie mumbled.

"And…" Carlisle passed a sharp glance in Rosalie's direction. "I fear for your safety around them."

"Jacob would never let them hurt me." Bella said immediately, for some reason feeling defensive.

"Well…in case Jacob can't make the decision." Carlisle said slowly.

"Why wouldn't he be able to?" Bella retorted quickly. "You just said he would be fine. Look, Esme and Alice kind of explained why you think I am in danger, but Jacob would never let anyone hurt me. He would never hurt me. As long as he is okay then I will be safe."

"I know…but I…" Carlisle was unsure how to tell Bella he did not know what Jacob's condition would be like.

"He will be fine." Edward's voice filled the room as he sulked in. He stood in the door frame, his eyes penetrating Bella. She looked beautiful sitting there on his couch, and he could feel every part of him ache for her. He had missed her so much, unaware at first of just how much he needed her in his life. He had always tried to protect her, but he realized now, that she had protected him from himself. He had been so lost without her.

Upon seeing him, Bella lost her breath. He was more beautiful then she could have ever remembered. Every feature on his face called to her, and the instinct to jump up and rush into his cold arms overwhelmed her. She had missed him, her soul mate. She realized in that split second she never wanted to be apart from him again. All thoughts of Jacob banished, and then, suddenly, she felt her unborn child kick and Jacob's face came flooding through her memory. She quickly looked away from Edward, knowing, regardless of how much she wanted that vampire a few feet from her' she could never have him, not now. Besides, even if she could, he would not want her.

"Thank God you're back." Carlisle nodded to Edward. "Although I can't say your behavior was acceptable."

"I never intended on hurting Jacob." Edward's eyes did not leave Bella's. He watched her frame hunched over on the couch. He could not see her hidden stomach, the way she sat and immediately realized, to his relief, that Jacob must have been lying. "Jacob just…" Edward started to laugh a bit, causing everyone to raise an eyebrow. "He made up the most ridiculous story, probably to get a reaction out of me, and…well…he got it."

"Still…the treaty…" Jasper started.

"If they call this a violation of the treaty then they are ludicrous." Edward moved into the room. More relaxed now, knowing Bella was safe in his home, and, as far as he knew, not pregnant. "I mean…Jacob should be able to take a harder hit than that."

"Well, apparently you knocked him out." Emmett laughed with Edward.

"That's not funny." Bella glanced up at Edward and Emmett. She loved Edward, she felt it with every fiber of her being, but at the same time, she was so angry with him. Angry that he had left her, and angry that he had beaten up the father of her unborn child. "You could have killed him."

Edward's laugh faded as he looked seriously at Bella. "I would never take your precious little boy from you, even if he is a liar."

"He is not." Bella defended Jacob as she watched Edward's beautiful eyes stare back at her. She blamed her hormones for the overprotective feeling she had for Jacob.

"If you only knew." Edward shook his head. "Do you know what he said to get me so angry? The lie he made up about you?"

"Jacob doesn't lie." Bella stood by her statement.

"He told me you were pregnant!" Edward laughed as the words rolled off his tongue, and then he glanced around the room to the rest of his family. "He tells me such an outrageous lie, and then expects me not to get angry."

No one else was laughing with Edward; all of the Cullen's realized that Edward had no clue Bella was pregnant now.

"Maybe he wasn't lying." Bella said, grabbing the hand Alice had thrown out in support, and slowly standing. She could not make contact with Edward's eyes as she revealed her pregnant form. "I'm three months pregnant."

When Bella got no response from Edward, she looked up at him, trying to read his expression. She had expected to see anger or disappointed or sadness when she glanced at him, but she saw nothing in Edward's beautiful face.

Edward's face was like a stone. His mouth hung slightly opened, as the shock of his tiny Bella's stomach being ballooned out fully entered his undead body. He did not move, he did not breathe, he could barely think straight. He felt as though his entire world had just crashed down around him and nothing made any sense anymore. Bella was supposed to be his, forever. He was supposed to come back to Forks and apologize and never leave her side again. Instead she was standing in front of him, pregnant by a werewolf. Edward had wanted forever with Bella, and now he realized he was too late.