WARNING: This skipped a lot. Jasper left Paris and the final week has passed. Alice is now in the Hamptons with her parents. I made it clear in the next few paragraphs, but sometimes I skim fanfics and I don't know if you do the same. So there's a quick key point you need to understand the rest.

Disclaimer: Everything recognizable belongs to its rightful owner.

I woke up in a large king sized memory-foam-mattress bed with brilliant vintage wallpaper and my mother's unique décor. The last few days had passed by in a blur. Demetri and I had brought Jasper to the airport on Friday and soon enough Demetri was saying goodbye to me. My business trip had come to an end and when I contacted my lovely, talented boss, I was assured that I was merely a paid intern just to take over the job of her ill employee and she had no job to offer me when I returned to New York. Under any other circumstances, I would be devastated, but with a family waiting for me in Portland, I was thrilled.

Earlier today, I had landed in New York and my mother had picked me up from the airport to bring me back to her place in the Hamptons. Too exhausted to really converse, I collapsed in the refurbished guest room. She assured me she would bring me to Manhattan to gather my belongings for my flight on Sunday. She also mentioned Edward and Bella would stop by for dinner, but I fell asleep as she continued to gab and here I lay four hours later, awoken by a sickening feeling.

My stomach lurched and I darted into the adjacent bathroom, collapsing in front of the toilet to empty the contents of my stomach. Along with the quick passing week, I had a bad case of food poisoning. Demetri wanted to make my last week in France memorable, so he took me to all the greatest restaurants. I tried escargot and a few unmentionables that had me falling over the toilet.

I felt someone smooth my hair back and vaguely heard my mother speaking in the hallway. I took the tissue from whoever had aided me in my predicament. When I looked up, I saw Edward had been the one to help and I took his extended hand to help me to my feet.

"Is she all right?" my mother burst in from the doorway.

"I told you, it's food poisoning," I grumbled, leaning against Edward, who wrapped an arm around my shoulders to keep me steady in my queasy haze.

"It could be all the traveling," he added. "After dad and I went backpacking around Europe, I was in bed for a week." I remembered that. Maybe it was hereditary; we weren't good travelers. Well if I knew that, I wouldn't have gone to Paris.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, looking up at Edward, who shrugged. "I come home and you have to see me like this," I groaned as my stomach curdled once again. This was hell.

"I ran to the store and got you some ginger ale and crackers," my mother said, hesitantly moving aside as Edward guided me back to the guest room to sit on the bed. "Your father and I both think it isn't wise to be traveling when you are so ill," she continued, sitting on the bed beside me as I tucked my legs under the covers.

"I already have a flight for Sunday," I protested. "I'm going, I'll be fine," I assured them, looking toward Edward, who was standing beside our mother. His face was hard, perhaps he agreed as well knowing he didn't approve of Jasper—yet.

My mother sighed at my stubbornness and looked in her lap before turning her head to her eldest. "Edward, can I speak to Alice privately?" she asked and he nodded once before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. I looked at my mother, confused. Was she trying to get me to stay home for Christmas? She already agreed that New Year's would be a fine compromise. "Honey, you say this is food poisoning, but I'm a bit worried," she began cautiously, her eyes avoiding me and staring at her lap.

"Demetri had me try a bunch of French cuisines last week—ugh, don't make me explain," I grumbled, my stomach going sour at the thought of food.

"Yes, well, your father and I are a bit worried and please don't take this the wrong way," that was never a good start. "But you are getting married so soon and well, we love Jasper, but he obviously wasn't careful once before and—"

"Mom…" I trailed off, unsure. She definitely didn't think I was… But maybe she did… Did she think I was—?

"You're my daughter and I have come to terms with you being… sexually active," that's it. I've heard this before and it was the safe sex talk. She definitely thought I was…

"You think I'm pregnant?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.

"I'm thinking it is a possibility that I don't want you to rule out unless you're certain," she amended, finally meeting my gaze.

"Mom, I don't think you need to worry about that," I dismissed. I wasn't pregnant; it was food poisoning. Plus, we were always careful—except a few times in Paris and maybe a few back in Portland—okay, we weren't that careful—but it was too early to tell, right? No, I wasn't pregnant. That would ruin everything. Not only are we getting married so quickly, but we'd also have a child before our wedding? So much for making up with Rosalie…

"I don't want you to be stubborn about this, Alice," she said. "I don't want you to be in denial, I think you should leave it as a possibility and I don't want you traveling this ill regardless of the cause." She stood up and left the room with no other word. I leaned back against the headboard and let out a heavy sigh, struggling to keep some sanity.

I glanced over at the nightstand and absentmindedly picked up my cell phone before instinctively dialing his number. I glanced at the clock: eleven. He'd be putting Annabelle asleep… Still, I didn't care what time it was, I needed to talk to him.

"Hi," he greeted with a heavy sigh, but a perfect ghost of a smile in his voice.

"I'm not sure I can be there Friday," I hadn't realized I had been crying until I heard my voice break and felt my throat constrict. I sighed, closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the headboard.

"Whoa, what's wrong?" he immediately knew it was bad, whatever it was. "Are you still sick?" he asked. I shuddered, opening my eyes and looking down to see a bit of the invisible bump that may've formed in the last few minutes: nothing except my imagination. Patiently, Jasper waited for me to recollect my thoughts before pressing any more questions.

"Aren't you putting Annabelle to bed?" I changed the subject, pathetically running away from reality.

"She fell asleep on the couch, I already put her in bed," he dismissed and then grunted, knowing he was taken off task. "You didn't call me to ask me about Annabelle. What happened?" I hesitated, knowing I would summarize. I wouldn't tell him about my mom's assumption until I was certain I could rule it out and I was certain—or hopeful.

"I'm still sick and my mom doesn't want me traveling like this," I explained, sniffling a bit, but I could hear him breathe a sigh of relief. I made the right decision in not telling him. He didn't need more stress. With Annabelle and Rosalie constantly on his back—Plus with school and work, I was glad I decided to stay away from the subject. "I'm just frustrated. I mean, I get home to leave right away and now I can't."

"Well I can't blame your mom," he agreed, which hadn't made me feel better. "You shouldn't be traveling when you feel so sick. It's probably all the traveling that's getting to you plus foreign food; I'm shocked it's just hitting you now." I sighed to calm myself, feeling as if every nerve ending was shaking with anticipation and anxiety. My limbs were trembling as if I had a fever and yet I felt freezing. I curled further under the blankets, clutching the phone to my ear. This was definitely food poisoning—I don't think you get hot flashes in pregnancy… Do you?

"I wish I could help," I heard him whine and I sighed, shuddering again as I tried to still my shaking hands. "The fact that your father is a doctor makes me feel a bit better," he tried to lighten the mood and I felt grateful for that, smiling a bit myself. "You could never fake sick when you were little, could you?" he asked, obviously aware of how he was calming me.

"He would let us have a few mental health days, but no, we would never get away with fake outs," I said with a small laugh. "I do not want to be cooped up here," I complained, imagining him smiling as he cleaned up a few misplaced toys that were scattered around his once pristine bachelor pad. Poor Jasper was ruled by a four year old.

"I know," he sympathized. "I have my flight for the day before New Year's Eve. If you are staying there for Christmas—" my groan of protest cut him off and he chuckled. "If you are still not well and staying in New York for Christmas, you can just come back with Annabelle and I on New Year's Day. I want you to be healthy. I have never seen a 'Zombie Alice' and I do not want to during the holidays." I rolled my eyes, imagining myself in Portland under the same health as today. Ugh.

"Yeah, I guess I should get better before I go on another plane," I reluctantly agreed. I grabbed the remote and huddled further under the covers as I maneuvered to turn the television on and flip channels without exposing my arm to the crisp air in the room. "Casablanca's on," I noted with a weak smile and I heard him chuckle his honey-sweet bass laughter warming me up just a bit.

"Well your night is set," he replied. "I have to go, but feel better, Alice." I nodded, not entirely aware that he couldn't exactly see me. "I love you."

"Love you, too," I said easily. It still surprised me when those three words left his prefect lips. Once a huge step, now a mere endearment and given when we ended any phone call. Still, I missed his presence—his smell, his face, his laugh, his hair, his smile, and his warmth… When I hung up and stared at the black and white screen, I absently thought of the night I had left his house, standing on his porch and imagining a life with him. The raven-haired green-eyed baby boy bouncing in my arms as Jasper and I greeted each other with a kiss and Annabelle latched onto my leg.

It would be complicated, but perhaps a pregnancy wouldn't be too horrible. Obviously Rosalie would be furious with me, although I have a feeling it would take a bit more than one conversation to prove to her that I was sticking around. Maybe she would think I would leave another baby for the unfortunate single father. I couldn't imagine leaving him with another child—but Rosalie didn't know that.

Then I imagined my parents' disappointment. Sure, my mother said she approved of Jasper and my father gave us his blessing, but still. Every parent would like their child to be in a steady marriage and commitment before they watch them have children and they become grandparents. My mother was stern on this notion. She wanted me to make sure and to be upfront in the situation. If I were pregnant, then I'd need to go to the doctor, find one in Portland, get the proper vitamins, and make sure I hadn't done anything wrong to upset the baby. She was looking out for me—tough love.

What if I was pregnant? What would Jasper say? Would I tell him when he came to New York or before, so he could change his plans and stay in Oregon if he wanted to. I couldn't imagine him turning the other cheek when I told him I was having his baby, but then again, it would be a stretch for both of us. Jasper would be a father again, supporting another child, a new wife, and I would be moving across the country to not only marry a man I've known for two months, but to become a mother… whoa.

I groaned and jumped up at my stomach lurched and I ran to the bathroom, making it just in time. Staggering to my feet, I took a tissue to wipe my mouth and clean up a bit. I splashed some cold water on my face and the back of my neck to now cool my feverish skin. I jumped when I heard someone clear his throat and I turned to see Edward in the doorway again. He was holding a brown paper bag from the pharmacy.

"There's ginger ale, crackers, and some things to clean up," he offered, putting it on the large counter beside the sink. I nodded, thanking him quietly before an uncomfortable silence fell over us for a minute or so. "I'm sorry I was rude to him," he blurted out. "I apologized to everyone already and I wasn't sure if he told you what I had said to him, but it was rude and uncalled for and I apologize." I looked up in the mirror to see my brother staring back at me with a sincere gaze.

"It's all right," I nodded, turning around to give him a weak, tight hug. He returned the gesture and sighed, relieved that I forgave him.

"Do you need anything else?" he asked, pulling back and I shook my head. "Feel better, little sis. I want to hear about Paris when you're up for it." I nodded eagerly, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek before shutting the bathroom door behind him.

I carefully unpacked the ginger ale and moved aside the crackers, seeing a few shampoos and soaps before laying my eyes on a pregnancy test nestled at the bottom of the bag. Great…


Do you think Alice is pregnant or do you think it is food poisoning? By the way, August 17th (which is technically yesterday) was my birthday! I wrote this chapter on my birthday after a three hour nap and lots of junk food. Yeah, that's how I spend my Tuesday nights. Now, I sleep.

Thanks for reading, as always. Keep reviewing! We're ten away from 100 reviews! Whoa, that's awesome! Thanks again.