Reckoning
"I've examined her twice since we brought her here," Carlisle began with a frown. "Anna is indeed pregnant," he said looking at Marcus sympathetically. "Bella's experience taught us a lot, we have a better idea of what to expect with Anna," Carlisle continued as Marcus sat across from him with his face buried in his hands. "However there are some significant differences between Bella's pregnancy and Anna's. For example, the fetus seems to be developing at twice the rate that Renesemee did but that might be on account of how much older you are than Edward," Carlisle continued.
"How much time to you need to prepare? " Marcus said quietly. "I want the …fetus terminated as quickly and as painlessly as possible," he explained when Carlisle gave him a quizzical look. "I will not endanger her again," he said firmly.
"And I will not perform an abortion on a woman who is unwilling," Carlisle declared just as firmly. "Anna has already been made aware of her condition and has expressed a desire to continue the pregnancy. I will monitor her, care for her and at the earliest viable opportunity deliver the child by C-section before it has time to do try and break free," he said before Marcus could express his incredulous outrage.
"Bella died during the delivery did she not? She suffered greatly during the pregnancy as well, I believe," Marcus spat. "I have already lost one wife, I will not risk losing another; especially because of my actions," he said narrowing his eyes. "I will speak to her and make her see reason. Anna has always been very practical by nature. Once she has been persuaded will you then perform the procedure or will I have to take her to Italy and give this…thing more time to cause her harm?" Marcus demanded standing up to pace around the living room like a caged animal.
"I will abide by Anna's decision," Carlisle declared rising up from his seat. "If she wants sanctuary with us for the duration of her pregnancy; she will have it. We will protect her and the child if we must," he added with a grimace. "This is a great opportunity. Not just for her but for you both. We were able to revive Bella and make her a vampire. We won't let Anna go as far as she did because now we can guess with far more accuracy about what to expect. If you love her so much would you really deny her this one chance at motherhood? Especially since you know how much it means to her. Just take some time to think before you do anything rash," Carlisle said gently leaving Marcus time to think.
"I know what you are thinking and just because I'm telepathic," Edward said coming into the room a few minutes later with his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. "Carlisle isn't threatening you by the way. Or at least he's not trying to," Edward said in amusement. "He already knows how this is going to play out if things get bad. There is no way that my sister is going to stay out of this," he said with a dark chuckle. "My father's just trying to protect his family. Rosalie is already hovering over your beloved," he informed him.
"How set is she on this course? You have read her mind I'm sure," Marcus said in a strangled whisper. "Do I have any hope in succeeding?" he asked.
"No, you don't;" Edward said simply. "She's going to do it whether you're on board with it or not. All you can do at this point is back her up and try not to make the same mistakes I made. We should start stockpiling venom for the delivery, now. Carlisle has a plan, believe it or not. He doesn't like the idea of losing a patient any more than you like the idea of losing a lover. He's just trying to do damage control," he added looking lost in thought.
"I have done this," Marcus said in horror. "I have destroyed her," he hissed looking at his hands as if he expected them to be covered in blood.
"No you haven't," Edward said in exasperation. "You were going to change her anyway. Think about it this way, at least you have managed to give her something she would never have been able to have otherwise. You can be a family, you'll be surprised at how much that changes you. She's not doing it to spite you, she's doing it because she loves you. She views the child as a part of each of you; and that's what she's fighting for," Edward said snickering slightly at how he sounded. "It will be fine. She'll be monitored every step of the way;" he assured Marcus patting the stricken vampire on his broad shoulder.
"Is he mad at me?" Anna asked weakly as Rosalie came to sit beside her. Rosalie tossed her long blond hair over her shoulder with a sneer.
"He'll adjust," she said with a shrug. "I wish I had gotten to know you before this. I think I might actually like you," Rosalie said with a chuckle. "You're not throwing away your humanity; you can see its value. Your humanity is being taken from you but you're doing the right thing. Don't let them guilt you," she commanded so firmly that Anna couldn't help laughing.
"You really don't like the Volturi do you?" Anna mused. "Are they going to force me to…?" she began unable to finish her sentence because of the urge to cry.
"No. No way. No how," Rosalie said icily. "I fought my brother over Renesemee and I love him. I'll have no problem fighting Marcus and Alec, I don't love them," Rosalie said with a scowl.
"You're being really nice to me. You don't even know me," Anna said frowning in confusion.
"I'm being nice to you because that's what I would want if I were ever in your shoes. Not that I ever could be," Rosalie said bitterly. "The one thing I want more than anything in the world is permanently out of my reach. I would never let that happen to another person if I could help it," she vowed fiercely.
"I'm sorry," Anna said softly before brightening. "I just thought of the perfect name if it's a girl. If it's a boy I'm still at a loss but I'm hoping that Marcus will come around soon and help me with that," she said grinning.
"What name is that?" Rosalie said both eager and envious at the same time. She may not be able to experience pregnancy for herself but at least she could participate in some way.
"Emily Rose," Anna said sounding very pleased with herself. The more she said the name the more she liked it. She only hoped that Marcus would be happy about it. "What do you think? Do you mind?" she asked suddenly worried that she offended her. After all, Anna had only recently met Rosalie and was considering naming her child after her. It might seem forward and rude, but she really liked the name…
"I don't mind and I don't think Emmett would either," Rosalie whispered clearly touched. "If you're sure," she added with an uncertain smile.
"Of course I am," Anna assured her with a wide grin. "You didn't even know me but you and your family came to my rescue. I can't think of a better way to thank you. Besides, I can't explain why Emily Rose just feels right," she added pulling up her shirt to look at her already growing belly. "It's going to get really bad, isn't it?" she asked in a thoughtful tone.
"Yes," said Rosalie with a shrug. "Bella had a really rough pregnancy but then again none of us knew how to handle it. We were learning as we went. Yours should be a bit easier, now that we have a better idea about what we're dealing with," she said with a winning smile.
"I wish I could go out baby shopping," Anna said with a laugh. "I don't think I'll be up to it though," she admitted with a sad sigh. "I hope Marcus comes around soon," she said thinking out loud.
"He will. Edward is probably going to talk to him. None of us want another show-down with the Volturi which is where this is heading otherwise. If Marcus doesn't have a problem, then the others can hardly complain. Well, they'll complain but there won't be too much to do about it. Renesemee is half-human and they let her live so that excuse is out, and besides;" Rosalie said with a sly grin. "This child is going to be half theirs. A little prince or princess, a little rank should help protect them. Aro's always been very curious by nature; even if he's a manipulative and ruthless ….you know. This would be his chance to observe a half-vampire up close, instead of through the minds of others. He may not want to pass up that opportunity," she said patting Anna's hand. "Just keep an eye out for them and everything should be fine," Rosalie promised her, trying her best to sound sincere. "If anything happens, let me know," she said softly. "I'll help you think of something," she said gritting her teeth.
"Are you awake?" Marcus said coming into her room, several hours later. Anna blinked rapidly and began to sit up before he hurried over to her side. "No, stay as you are," he said hastily, sitting beside her on the bed. "You are determined to go through this?" he asked sounding resigned.
"Yes," Anna said softly. "Please, understand;" she pleaded grabbing onto his icy hand and staring into his eyes. "Don't let this tear us apart," she whispered closing her eyes and kissing his palm.
"You're going to be the death of me," Marcus groaned, resigning himself to his fate. "I will speak to Aro. Caius will be strenuously opposed but easily ignored," he said obviously thinking out loud. Until that moment, Anna would never have guessed that Marcus thought so little of his co-king, but then again; the feeling was obviously mutual. "Aro is the only one we would really have to convince," he said grimly. "I don't understand why this is so important to you but as you know, I can deny you nothing," he said gruffly, as if part of him resented this. "I will support your insane wishes," he said somewhat bitterly.
"I love you too," Anna said with a small giggle, sitting up and wrapping her arms around him. "It's going to be fine," she assured him. "Why dwell on the bad? Why not look at the good side to all of this?" she suggested giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Will you come lay with me? Just hold me," she asked biting down on her bottom lip with worry. Marcus shot her an amused glance and lay down beside her with an exasperated sigh.
"I heard you earlier," he said after a few moments of peaceful silence. He reached out and stroked the side of her face tenderly, as he struggled for words. "I do not wish for you to think that I do not care for your feelings but although I support you; I will not say that I am happy about your decision. I wish you would reconsider, even though I can see that you won't," he admitted despondently.
"I won't kill a part of us and that is what our child is," she declared firmly. "Children were something that I thought I would have to give up to be with you but now I don't. This is the best of both worlds. I wish I could make you understand," she admitted feeling her eyes burn with unshed tears. "I know this is off topic but what am I supposed to tell my parents about where I've run off to?" she inquired, frowning as the thought just occurred to her.
"Nothing," Marcus said with a grimace. "I am sorry, my love; but you see, I had to kill you," he explained sheepishly. Anna's breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened in alarm. "No, no, no;" he said with a husky chuckle. "Don't fret. When you were kidnapped and Nikki was bitten I had to come up with a cover story and the simplest one was to fake your death. As far as your family knows, you and Nikki died in a car crash. I've already seen to all the details. I'm sorry but its better this way," he said reluctantly. "I've taken so much from you the least I could do is give you this," he said almost as if he were chastising himself.
"I guess you're right," Anna agreed laying her head on his chest and fighting back sobs. Having her in their lives would only endanger her family, she realized with a painful stab. The only way they could be safe is if she put distance between herself and them….permanently. She didn't like it but then again she couldn't really see any other choice. "How's Nikki?" she finally managed to whisper.
"She is doing better. The transformation is almost complete," he assured her stroking her hair gently. "She will be a powerful vampire, I suspect;" he said with a chuckle. "Although the circumstances are terrible, I am grateful that you at least have someone from your old life in your new one. It should help make the transition go more smoothly for you," he murmured giving her a gentle kiss.
"I need to know something else," Anna said looking up into his crimson eyes with a frown. "You killed Jay didn't you?" she asked already knowing the answer but needing to see the confirmation that was now written on his face. "Why?" she asked frowning even more. "He didn't know anything," she added.
"He harmed you," Marcus said with a shrug. "I wasn't going to tolerate that. I am a vampire; killing is something I have gotten used to doing. He was a brute and a cad; his life meant nothing more than a meal to me," he said in a practical voice. "You are mine," he said, sending chills up her spine. She had never been afraid of Marcus before but she could see that she definitely didn't want to be on his bad side. "When you are changed you will understand better. It is in our nature to be territorial and protective of our treasures," he mused tracing her lips with the tip of his finger. "I have been so frightened," he whispered giving her a fervent kiss. "I am glad you are back safely," he said against her lips.
"I'm sorry I got so mad," she said pulling him closer. He may have killed her ex-boyfriend but in a weird twisted way he had meant well, she thought with a sigh. "The next time that something upsets me like that I promise to come and yell at you about it," she promised grinning against his lips, enjoying the way his body shook with quiet laughter.
"How did you find out, by the way?" Marcus asked running his hand down her side. Anna froze with a worried look on her face and he instantly knew. "I will speak to Alec and Aro about this," he said in a dark voice. "I do not know what Alec was playing at but he went too far," he hissed.
"Its past now," Anna said wrapping her arms around him and pulling him even closer to her. "Let's just move on from here," she pleaded, desperate to avoid another confrontation.
"Oh, woman;" he moaned as she kissed him again. "You really are trying to kill me aren't you?"
