Disclaimer. All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc., are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. I only do this for fun.

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A/N: This story is written as a collaboration by both Xo Bella Italiana oX and VampSaxAngel. If you have any questions or comments, post them in my reviews and I will answer them in my next Author's Note! We hope that you enjoy the story and look forward to reading your reviews! – Bella'Xo

Chapter 13
(Jacob's POV)

Now that the Cullen's were back from their hunt and had brought something back for the rest of them, Seth and I escaped out the front door to go and relieve Leah.

"Jacob?" Esme stopped me now that Bella was sleeping on the couch lying across Jasper and Edward, I wanted to get out of there. It was hard enough seeing Bella all lovey with one vamp, but two was drawing the line and I still haven't found out what the whole deal with her and that scary bloodsucker was.

I backed toward the door as Esme continued; she took a few steps after me. "I left a basket of clothes on the porch. They're for Leah. They're freshly washed – I tried to touch them as little as possible." she frowned. "Do you mind taking them to her?"

"On it," I muttered, and then I ducked out the door before anyone could guilt me into anything else.

Seth looped back toward the main perimeter.

It was easier to run with him as it was to do the same with Leah. Though she was trying – trying hard – there was always an edge to her thoughts. She didn't want to be here and definitely didn't want any chance of giving into the imprinting instincts. She didn't want to feel the softening towards the pixie-like vampire - or any of the vampires that was going on in my head. She didn't want to deal with Seth's cozy friendship with them either, a friendship that was only getting stronger and binding her to the Cullen's against her will.

Funny, though, I'd've thought one of her issues would just be me. We'd always gotten on each other's nerves when we were in Sam's pack. But there was no antagonism toward me now at all, just the Cullen's, Bella and most definitely Alice. I wondered why. Maybe it was because I understood her hostility better now. Whichever, running with Leah wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected.

Of course, she hadn't eased up that much. The food and clothes Esme had sent for her were all taking a trip downriver right now. Even after I'd eaten my share – not because it smelled nearly irresistible away from vampire burn, but to set a good example of self-sacrificing tolerance for Leah – she'd refused. The small elk she'd taken down around noon had not totally satisfied her appetite. It did make her mood worse, though. Leah hated eating raw.

'Maybe we should run a sweep east?' Seth suggested. 'Go deep, see if they're out there waiting?'

'I was thinking about that,' I agreed. 'But let's do it soon when we're all awake. I don't want to let down our guard.'

'Right.'

That got me thinking.

If the Cullen's were able to get out of the immediate area safely as they did earlier, they really ought to keep going if we can manage another way out. They probably should have taken off the second we'd come to warn them. They had to be able to afford other digs. And they had friends up north, right? Take Bella and run. It seemed like an obvious answer to their problems.

I probably ought to suggest that, but I was afraid they would listen to me. And I didn't want to have Bella disappear – to never know whether she'd made it or not.

No, that was stupid. I would let them go. It made no sense for them to stay, and it would be better – not less painful, but healthier – for me, if Bella left.

Easy to say now, when Bella wasn't right there, looking at me with her beautiful brown eyes and also clinging to life by her fingernails at the same time. I thought to myself. Not to mention, Leah would probably rather it that way, though, I'd never seen what happens when an Imprint disappeared from an Imprintee's life before. Oh well, Leah can do what she wants. If she would want to follow after them, that's her problem, not mine.

'Oh, I already asked Edward about that,' Seth thought.

'What?'

'I asked them why they hadn't taken off yet. Gone up to Tanya's place or something. Somewhere too far for Sam to come after them.'

I had to remind myself that I'd just decided to give the Cullen's that exact advice. That it was best. So, I shouldn't be mad at Seth for taking the chore out of my hands. Not mad at all.

'So, what did he say? Are they waiting for a window?' I pressed.

'No, they're not leaving.' Seth admitted.

'Why not? That's just stupid.'

'Not really,' Seth said, defensive now. 'It takes some time to build up the kind of medical access that Carlisle has here. He's got all the stuff he needs to take care of Bella, and the credentials to get more. That's one of the reasons they wanted to make a hunting run earlier. Carlisle thought that they'd need more blood for Bella. She was using up all the O negative they stored for her. He doesn't like depleting the stockpile. He went and ordered some from the hospital while they were out, so he bought some. They're just waiting for it to come in. Hey! Did you know you can buy blood? Well, if you're a doctor.'

I wasn't ready to be logical yet. 'Still seems stupid. They could bring most of it with them, right? And steal what they need wherever they go. Who cares about legal crap when you're the undead?'

'Edward doesn't want to take any risks moving her. She's better than she was.'

'Seriously.'

Seth agreed. In his head, he was comparing my memories of Bella hooked up to the tubes with the last time he'd seen her as he'd left the house. She'd smiled at him and waved. 'But she can't move around much, you know. That thing is kicking the hell out of her.'

I swallowed back the stomach acid in my throat. 'Yeah, I know.'

'Broke another of her ribs' he told me somberly. My stride faltered, and I staggered a step before I regained my rhythm. 'Carlisle taped her up again. "Just another crack," he said. Jasper's been doing his best to help with her pain by using his emotional mojo, thingy. Then Rosalie said something about how even normal human babies have been known to crack ribs. Edward looked like he was gonna rip her head off.'

'Too bad he didn't.'

Seth was in full report mode now – knowing it was all vitally interesting to me, though I'd never've asked to hear it. 'Bella's been running a fever off and on today. Just low grade – sweats and then chills. Carlisle's not sure what to make of it – she might just be sick. Her immune system can't be in peak form right now.'

'Yeah, I'm sure it's just a coincidence.'

'She's in a good mood, though. She was sitting against Jasper, chatting with Charlie, laughing and all -'

'Charlie! What?! What do you mean, she was talking to Charlie?!' I interrupted him, cutting him off.

Now Seth's pace stuttered; my fury surprised him. 'Guess he calls every day to talk to her. Sometimes her mom calls, too. Bella sounds so much better now, so she was reassuring him that she was on the mend -'

'On the mend?' I cut him off again. 'What the hell are they thinking?! Get Charlie's hopes up just so that he can be destroyed even worse when she dies? I thought they were getting him ready for that! Trying to prepare him! Why would she set him up like this?'

'She might not die,' Seth thought quietly.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. 'Seth. Even if she pulls through this, she's not doing it human. She knows that, and so do the rest of them. If she doesn't die, she's going to have to do a pretty convincing impersonation of a corpse, kid. Either that, or disappear. I thought they were trying to make this easier on Charlie. Why...?'

'I think it's Bella's idea. No one said anything, but Edward's face kinda went right along with what you're thinking now.'

On the same wavelength with the bloodsucker, yet again.

Seth continued on. 'Jasper's been doing his best with keeping everybody calm and not fighting, for Bella's sake. He seems to really care about her – won't leave her side.'

'Yeah, by the way, what is it with those two? I thought that she was supposed to be happily married and now she's codling up with the scarred up blonde leech? It's like he's taken Edward's position as the proud papa, always rubbing her stomach and playing with her hair.' The thought made me sick. It was like I had another leech to compete with for Bella's love, even if she was married, that's only a piece of paper in the human world.

'I don't know, man. That whole thing has me warped too. Any time someone tried to get near Bella without the right kind of emotions, he goes all cave man on them. It's weird, almost like how we act with our imprints but to a higher degree.' Seth mentally shrugged.

I sighed. 'I guess we'll find out.'

We ran in silence for a few minutes. I started off a new line, probing south.

'Don't get too far.' Seth called out.

'Why?'

'Bella wanted you to stop back ,remember?' He reminded me as my teeth locked together. 'Alice wants you, too. She says she's tired of hanging out in the attic like the vampire bat in the belfry!' Seth snorted a laugh. 'She didn't have anywhere else to really go since going outside on the lawn while Leah's there just stirs up tension.' He paused. 'I was switching off with Edward before since Jasper refuses to drift far from her. We're trying to keep Bella's temperature stable; cold to hot, as needed. I guess, if you don't want to do it, I could go back -'

'No. I got it!' I snapped.

'Okay.' Seth didn't make any more comments. He concentrated very hard on the empty forest.

I kept my southern course, searching for anything new. I turned around when I got close to the first signs of habitation. Not near the town yet, but I didn't want to get any wolf rumors going again. We'd been nice and invisible for a long while now.

I passed right through the perimeter on my way back, heading for the house. As much as I knew it was a stupid thing to do, I couldn't stop myself. I must be some kind of masochist.

'There's nothing wrong with you, Jake. This isn't the most normal situation.'

'Shut up, please, Seth.'

'Shutting!'

I didn't hesitate at the door this time; I just walked in like I owned the place. I figured it would piss Rosalie off, but it was a wasted effort. Neither Rosalie nor Bella were anywhere in sight.

I looked around wildly, hoping I'd missed them somewhere, my heart squeezing against my ribs in a weird uncomfortable way.

"She's all right," Edward whispered. "Or, the same, I should say."

Edward was on the couch next to Jasper with his face in his hands; he hadn't looked up to speak. Esme was on his other side, her arm wrapped tight around his shoulders.

"Hello, Jacob," she said. "I'm so glad you came back."

"Me, too," Alice said with a deep sigh. She came prancing down the stairs, making a face, like I was late for an appointment.

"Uh, hey," I said. It felt weird to try to be polite. "Where's Bella?"

"Bathroom," Alice told me. "Mostly fluid diet, you know. Plus, the whole pregnancy thing does that to you, I hear."

"Ah."

(Bella's POV)

When Rosalie and I emerged from the hallway that led to the bathroom, I spotted Jacob standing in the middle of the room awkwardly, rocking back and forth on his heels.

"Oh wonderful," Rose grumbled. He whipped his head around and saw us coming from a hall half-hidden behind the stairway. She had me cradled gently in her arms with a harsh sneer on her beautiful face at the sight of him. "I knew I smelled something nasty."

I smiled widely at the sight of my best friend. "Jacob," I breathed. "You came." I was hoping that he would return. I cared deeply for my best friend and it always felt complete with him here with the rest of my vampire family.

"Hi Bells." He smiled awkwardly.

Esme, Jasper and Edward all got up as Rosalie carefully laid me out on the couch. I held my breath through the pain, determined not to make any noise, no matter how much it hurt. Jasper was the only one to know the true depths of my pain as he tried to skim off as much as he could with his gift, but I hated that he would have to then feel that as well, but I didn't like Edward – or anyone else, for that matter – to know how much pain that I was really going through. However, it was all worth it for my little one who was still growing inside me.

Edward brushed his hand across my forehead and then along my neck. He tried to make it look as if he was just sweeping my hair back, but I knew that he was really examining me.

"Are you cold?" he murmured.

"I'm fine." I smiled reassuringly as I reached for Jasper hand as he took a seat on the couch and placed my feet in his lap and began to soothingly massage my aching feet. "Thank you, Jas." I sighed in contentment.

"Bella, you know what Carlisle told you," Rosalie said, bringing my attention back towards her. "Don't downplay anything. It doesn't help us take care of either of you."

I sighed, but this time in defeat. "Okay, I'm a little cold. Edward, can you hand me that blanket?" I pointed to the shay in the basket near the corner.

I noticed Jake drastically roll his eyes. "Isn't that sort of the point of me being here?"

"You just walked in," I said. "After running all day, I'd bet. Put your feet up for a minute. I'll probably warm up again in no time."

He ignored me, going to sit on the floor next to the sofa while I was still telling him what to do. He looked like he was afraid to even put his arms around me as he shifted unsure of himself, so he just leaned carefully against my side, letting his arm rest along the length of mine, and held my hand. Then, he put his other hand against my face.

I couldn't help the shiver that went down my spine at the change in temperature. "Thanks Jake."

"Yeah," He said as Edward sat on the arm of the sofa next to where Jasper sat, his eyes never moving from my face.

The sound of Jacob's stomach growling loudly brought all of our attention towards him.

"Rosalie, why don't you get Jacob something from the kitchen?" Alice said. She was nearly invisible now, sitting quietly behind the back of the sofa.

Rosalie stared at the place Alice's voice had come from in disbelief.

"Thanks, anyway, Alice, but I don't think I'd want to eat something Blondie's spit in. I'd bet my system wouldn't take too kindly to venom." Jake retorted causing Jasper to not so subtly smirk at me before turning his attention back to the show on the television.

"Rosalie would never embarrass Esme by displaying such a lack of hospitality." Alice huffed.

"Of course not," Rose said in a sugar-sweet voice that was immediately distrustful. She got up and breezed out of the room.

Edward sighed.

"You'd tell me if she poisoned it, right?" Jake asked flatly.

"Yes," Edward promised and I knew that he was honest in his admission.

There was a lot of banging in the kitchen, bringing all of our attention towards the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room and – weirdly – the sound of metal protesting as it was abused echoed throughout the house. Edward sighed again, but smiled just a little, too, causing me to smile in return at one of the rarer sights to see these days. Then, Rosalie was back before any of us could think much more about the clambering in the kitchen.

With a pleased smirk, she set a silver bowl on the floor next to Jake. "Enjoy, mongrel."

It had once probably been a big mixing bowl, but she'd bent the bowl back in on itself until it was shaped almost exactly like a dog dish. It was cleaver and even Jacob looked to be impressed with her quick craftsmanship - and her attention to detail. She'd scratched the word 'Fido' into the side in her elegant, excellent handwriting.

The food looked pretty good – steak, no less, and a big baked potato with all the fixings like the one that Seth had for dinner the night before.

I bit my lip to hide my amusement as Jasper gently squeezed my leg in good humor to the whole situation as he projected his own emotions towards me, letting me know that he was just as entertained by the scenario as I was.

Jake picked up a fork and nodded pleasantly towards Rosalie. "Thanks Blondie," he nodded. She snorted. "Hey, what do you call a blonde with a brain?" He asked, and then continued on the same breath, "a golden retriever."

"I've heard that one, too," she said, no longer smiling.

"I'll keep trying," he promised, and then dug in.

When he was finished – though, it looked as though he was considering licking the bowl, just to give Rose something to complain about – I began to run my cold fingers through his hair, pulling softly before patting it down against the back of his neck.

"Time for a haircut, huh?" He looked up at me.

"You're getting a little shaggy," I said. "Maybe -"

"Let me guess, someone around here used to cut hair in a salon in Paris?"

I began to giggle and nodded. "Probably."

"No thanks," he said before I could really offer. "I'm good for a few more weeks." He suddenly got a serious look on his face that had figments of pain hidden behind his concentration. "So... um... what's the, er, date? You know, the due date for the little monster."

I smacked the back of his head with probably about as much force as a drifting feather to him, but refused to answer.

"I'm serious," he told me, his playful expression somewhat gone as he kept a small smile on his lips. "I want to know how long I'm gonna have to be here." He clarified, but I knew what he really was thinking. He didn't believe that I could pull through this and that everything would be OK like I was determined for it to be.

"I don't know," I murmured. "Erm, not exactly," I fumbled, trying to procrastinate a bit. "Obviously, we're not going with the nine-month model here, and we can't get an ultrasound, so Carlisle is guesstimating on how big I am. Normal people are supposed to be about forty centimeters here" - I ran my finger right down the middle of my bulging stomach - "when the baby is fully grown. One centimeter for every week. I was thirty this morning, and I've been gaining about two centimeters a day, sometimes more..."

His had begun to pale, causing me to drift off mid sentence.

"You okay?" I asked.

He nodded, though, I had a feeling that if he tried to speak, it would only come out a croaking noise. It killed me to see my best friend like this as silent tears filled his eyes. I looked towards Jasper anxiously. He obliged as he sent calming reassurance into the room as I ran my finger across his cheekbone, tracing over the tear streak.

"It's going to be okay," I tried to croon, but I could tell that the words didn't mean anything to him when he didn't believe them.

"Right," he muttered.

I curled against his arm, resting my head on his shoulder and decided to change the subject. "I didn't think you would come. You left so suddenly, but Seth said you would, and so did Jasper and Edward, but I didn't believe them."

"Why not?" He asked gruffly.

"You're not happy here. But you came anyway."

"You wanted me here."

"I know. But you didn't have to come, because it's not fair for me to want you here and to be my best friend and have to face this. I would have understood."

It was quiet for a minute. Jasper rubbed soothing circles on my ankle and Edward looked at the TV as Rosalie went on flipping through the channels. She was into the six hundreds. I briefly wondered how long it would take to get back to the beginning.

"Thank you for coming," I whispered.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked.

"Of course."

Edward didn't look like he was paying attention to us at all, but I knew that he knew what Jake's question was and I knew by Jasper's expression that it was causing Jake pain.

"Why do you want me here? Seth could keep you warm, and he's probably easier to be around, happy little punk. But when I walk in the door, you look at me with the same look you always have, even before." I knew what he meant; before when Edward had left. "You act like I'm you're favorite person in the world."

"You're one of them." I confirmed. Why wouldn't I smile at him when I see him? He'll always be my sun.

"That sucks, you know."

"Yeah," I sighed. "Sorry."

"Why, though? You didn't answer that."

I noticed Edward look away and Jasper shift slightly.

"It feels complete when you're here, Jacob. It always does. It's like all my family is together. I mean, I guess that's what it's like – I've never had a big family before now. It's nice." I smiled for half a second. "You could have been my soul mate in another life time and you have always been my rock. My very best friend."

"I'll never be part of your family, Bella."

I shook my head. "You've always been a part of my family," I disagreed as I remembered making mud pies when we were children and the fond memories of us down at La Push when I came back to live with Charlie.

"That's a crap answer." He whirled on me, causing Jasper to growl warningly at him and shift closer to me as if to get to him faster.

I put my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him as I turned back to look at Jacob. "What's a good one?"

"How about 'Jacob, I get a kick out of your pain.'"

I flinched as Jasper let out another warning growl and I did my best to send some calm through to him even though it felt like I had just been hit in the gut by someone I cared about. God, he was my best friend and I wished that I could return the feelings that he had for me, but I just wasn't meant for him. He'll find his true other half for this life time, but I'm not it and I hated to hurt him in any way.

I swallowed thickly and I could feel the vibration from Jasper's low growls that were too low for me to hear with my human ears. Alice, knowing what would already happen, stayed hidden behind the couch . Rosalie looked worried, but kept to herself. Edward seemed like he was also on the edge of his seat but he was letting everything play out, knowing everyone's thoughts and if something would happen because of Alice's visions. But the room of conflicting emotions made a difficult cocktail for Jasper to deal with.

"You'd like that better?" I whispered.

"It's easier, at least. I could wrap my head around it. I could deal with it."

I closed my eyes, frowning, but I could still feel him looking at me. "We got off track, Jake. Out of balance. You're supposed to be part of my life – I can feel that, and so can you." I paused for a second without opening my eyes, waiting for him to deny it. When he didn't say anything, I went on. "But not like this. We did something wrong. No. I did. I did something wrong, and we got off track..." My voice trailed off and the frown on my face relaxed until it was just a little pucker at the corner of my lips and lethargy began to overtake me from everything that had been happening around me.

(Edward's POV)

"She's exhausted," Jasper murmured with an edge to his tender tone and I watched his fingertips ghost along the skin on her arm in a tender fashion.

"It's been a long day." I agreed, but then rephrased. "A hard day. I think she would have gone to sleep earlier, but she wanted to see you."

He didn't look at me as he kept his curious eyes on Jasper as he affectionately tended to Bella.

"Seth said it broke another of her ribs."

"Yes. It's making it hard for her to breathe."

"Great." He mumbled. "Let me know when she get's hot again."

"Yeah." Jasper nodded, still not looking at him. I could hear in his thoughts that he was angry for the way that he had just treated Bella and I couldn't say that I disagreed.

I read from Jasper's thoughts that she still had goosebumps, so before he could react, I snagged the blanket that was draped over the arm of the sofa and flung it out so that it settled over her.

'I guess that occasionally the mind-reading thing saves time' Jacob's thoughts echoed in my head. 'Maybe I won't have to make a big production out of the accusation about what was going on with Charlie. Ugh, that mess. Edward can probably hear exactly how furious -"

"Yes," I agreed. "It's not a good idea."

"Then why?" 'Why was Bella telling her father she was on the mend when it would only make him more miserable?

"She can't bear his anxiety." Jasper added, catching on to what we were talking about.

"So it's better -"

"No. It's not better." I shook my head. "But I'm not going to force her to do anything that makes her unhappy now. Whatever happens, this makes her feel better. I'll deal with the rest afterward."

He shook his head. "That doesn't sound right. Bella wouldn't just shuffle Charlie's pain off to some later date, for someone else to face. Even dying. That wasn't her. If I knew Bella, she has to have some other plan."

"She's very sure she's going to live," I said.

Jasper hissed. "She is going to live." He said as he tenderly continued to rub her stomach, my child, through it's womb.

"But not human," Jacob protested.

"No, not human. But she hope to see Charlie again, anyway."

'Oh, this just got better and better' Jacob thought to himself. "See. Charlie." He finally looked at me, hi eyes bugging. "Afterward. See Charlie when he's all sparkly white with bright red eyes. I'm not a bloodsucker, so maybe I'm missing something, but Charlie seems like kind of a strange choice for her first meal."

I sighed. "She knows she won't be able to be near him for at least a year. She thinks she can stall. Tell Charlie she has to go to a special hospital on the other side of the world. Keep in contact through phone calls..."

"That's insane!"

"Yes."

"Charlie's not stupid. Even if she doesn't kill him, he's going to notice a difference."

"She's sort of banking on that." Jasper supplied. Jacob continued to stare at him, waiting for him to explain. "She wouldn't be aging, of course, so that would set a time limit, even if Charlie accepted whatever excuse she comes up with for the changes." He smiled faintly.

He didn't seem to be getting it so I jumped in. "Do you remember when you tried to tell her about your transformation? How you made her guess?"

His free hand flexed into a fist. "She told you about that?"

"Yes. She was explaining her... idea. You see, she's not allowed to tell Charlie the truth – it would be very dangerous for him. But he's a smart, practical man. She thinks he'll come up with his own explanation. She assumes he'll get it wrong."

Jasper snorted. "After all, we hardly adhere to vampire canon. He'll make some wrong assumption about us, like she did in the beginning, and we'll go along with it."

"She thinks she'll be able to see him... from time to time." I finished.

"Insane," Jacob repeated.

"Yes," I agreed again.

Jacob internally snorted. 'He probably isn't expecting her to live to try out her crazy plan. Placating her, so that she could be happy for a little while longer... Like four more days...'

"I'll deal with whatever comes," I whispered and turned my face down and away so that he couldn't read my expression as grief took over me. Why did having this child have to be so difficult...so life threatening... I thought as grief overcame me. "I won't cause her pain now."

"Four days?" Jacob asked.

I didn't look up as Jasper answered. "Approximately."

"Then what?"

"What do you mean, exactly?" I asked.

Jacob began to think about what Bella had said about it being wrapped up nice and tight in something strong, something like vampire skin and explained that very thing out loud for Jasper's benefit. "So, how does that work? How does it get out?

"From what little research we've been able to find, it would appear the baby uses their own teeth to escape the womb," I whispered.

Jacob had to pause and it looked as though he had to swallow back bile. "Research?" He asked weakly.

"That's why you haven't seen Emmett around, though sometimes Edward, Carlisle and I will join him. He's good a that sort of thing. Actually, that's what Carlisle's doing now. We've been trying to decipher ancient stories and myths, as much as we can with what with what we have to work with here, looking for anything that might help us predict the baby's behavior." Jasper explained.

"Stories?" Jacob asked. "If there were myths, then..."

"Then this is not the first of it's kind?" I asked, anticipating his question. "Maybe. It's all very sketchy. The myths could easily be the products of fear and imagination. Though..." - I hesitated - "your myths are true, are they not? Perhaps these are, too. They do seem to be localized, linked..."

"How did you find...?"

"There was a woman that Bella and I had encountered in South America. She'd been raised in the traditions of her people. She'd heard warnings about such 'creatures', old stories that had been passed down."

"What were the warnings?" He whispered.

"That the creature must be killed immediately. Before it could gain too much strength." I choked out causing Jasper to snarl protectively over Bella's bulging stomach. It's almost like he had already lay claim on the baby in some way.

'Just like Sam thought.' Jacob thought to himself interrupting my observations. 'Was he right?'

"Of course, their legends say the same of us. That we must be destroyed." Jasper supplied. "That we are soulless murderers."

"Two for two." Jacob mumbled causing Jasper and I to both let out a chuckle. "What did their stories say about the... mothers."

I felt agony rip through me and I knew that it showed across my face as Jasper flinched visibly from my pain as well as his own. Neither of us could speak.

It was Rosalie – who'd been so still and quiet since Bella'd fallen asleep that if it weren't for her thoughts, I'd have forgotten she was there – who answered.

She made a scornful noise in the back of her throat. "Of course there were no survivors," she said in a way that sounded blunt and uncaring. "Giving birth in the middle of a disease-infested swamp with a medicine man smearing sloth spit across your face to drive out the evil spirits was never the safest method. Even the normal births went badly half the time. None of them had what this baby has – caregivers with an idea of what the baby needs, who try to meet those needs. A doctor with a totally unique knowledge of vampire nature. A plan in place to deliver the baby as safely as possible. Venom that will repair anything that goes wrong. The baby will be fine. And those mothers would probably have survived if they'd had that – if they even existed in the first place – something I am not convinced of." She sniffed disdainfully.

(Jacob's POV)

'The baby, the baby.' Like that was all that mattered. Bella's life was a minor detail to her – easy to blow off.

Edward's face went white as snow. His hands curved into claws as his anger fueled Jasper's, turning his eyes pitched black, except for the whites.

Totally egotistical and indifferent, Rosalie twisted in her chair so that her back was to him. He leaned forward, shifting into a crouch.

'Allow me,' I suggested as Jasper crouched protectively over Bella's sleeping form, searching for the nearest threat of danger.

Edward paused, raising one eyebrow.

Silently, I lifted my doggy bowl off the floor. Then, with a quick, powerful flip of my wrist, I threw it into the back of Blondie's head so hard that – with an earsplitting bang – it smashed flat before it ricocheted across the room and snapped the round top piece off the thick newel post at the foot of the stairs.

Bella twitched under Jasper, but didn't wake up.

"Dumb blonde," I muttered.

Rosalie turned her head slowly, and her eyes were blazing. "You. Got. Food. In. My. Hair."

That did it.

I busted up. I pulled away from Bella so that I wouldn't shake her, and laughed so hard that tears ran down my face. From behind the couch, I heard Alice's tinkling laugh join in with Edward's grin. I guess the emotions were too much for Jasper, as well, because he too began to vibrate with sudden laughter as he carefully backed off of Bella.

I wondered why Rosalie didn't spring. I sort of expected it. But then I realized that our laughing had woken Bella up, though she'd slept right through the real noise.

"What's so funny?" She mumbled.

"I got food in her hair," I told her, chortling again.

"I'm not going to forget this, dog!" Rosalie hissed.

"S'not so hard to erase a blonde's memory," I countered. "Just blow in her ear."

"Get some new jokes!" She snapped.

"C'mon, Jake. Leave Rose alo-" Bella broke off mid-sentence and sucked in a sharp breath. In the same second, Edward was leaning over top of me, ripping the blanket out of the way as Jasper began to examine her from the other side. She seemed to convulse, her back arching off the sofa.

"He's just," she panted, "stretching." Her lips were white, and she had her teeth locked together like she was trying to hold back a scream.

Edward put both hands on either side of her face as Jasper rubbed her stomach and sent relaxing emotions to the creature – as I learned he'd done before. "Carlisle?" he called in a tense, low voice.

"Right here," the doctor said. I hadn't heard him come in.

"Okay," Bella said, still breathing hard and shallow. "Think it's over. Poor kid doesn't have enough room, that's all. He's getting so big."

It was really hard to take that adoring tone she used to describe the thing that was tearing her up. Especially after Rosalie's callousness. Made me wish I could throw something at Bella, too.

She didn't pick up my mood. "You know, he reminds me of you, Jake," she said – affectionate tone – still gasping.

"Do not compare me to that thing," I spit out through my teeth causing Jasper to snarl at me once again.

"I just meant your growth spurt," she said, looking like I'd hurt her feelings. Good. "You shot right up. I could watch you getting taller by the minute. He's like that, too. Growing so fast."

I bit my tongue to keep from saying what I wanted to say – hard enough that I tasted blood in my mouth. Of course, it would heal before I could swallow. That's what Bella needed. To be strong like me, to be able to heal...

"Hmm," Carlisle murmured.

I looked up and his eyes were on me. "What?" I demanded.

Edward's head leaned to one side as he reflected on whatever was in Carlisle's head.

"You know that I was wondering about the fetus's genetic makeup, Jacob. About his chromosomes."

"What of it?"

"Well, taking your similarities into consideration -"

"Similarities?" I growled, not appreciating the plural.

"The accelerated growth, and the fact that Alice cannot see either of you." I felt my face go blank. I'd forgotten about that other one. "Well, I wonder if that means that we have an answer. If the similarities are gene-deep."

"Twenty-four pairs," Edward muttered under his breath.

"You don't know that."

"No. But it's interesting to speculate," Carlisle said in a soothing voice.

"Yeah, just fascinating."

Bella's light snore started up again, accenting my sarcasm nicely.

They got into it then, quickly taking the genetics conversation to a point where the only words I could understand were the the's and the and's. And my own name, of course.

Alice joined in, commenting now and then in her chirpy bird voice.

Even though they were talking about me, I didn't try to figure out the conclusions they were drawing. I had other things on my mind, a few facts I was trying to reconcile.

Fact one, Bella'd said that the creature was protected by something as strong as vampire skin, something that was too impenetrable for ultrasounds, too tough for needles.

Fact two, Rosalie'd said they had a plan to deliver the creature safely.

Fact three, Edward'd said that – in myths – other monsters like this one would chew their way out of their own mothers.

I shuddered. And that made a sick kind of sense, because, fact four, not many things could cut through something as strong as vampire skin. The half-creature's teeth – according to myth – were strong enough. My teeth were strong enough.

And vampire teeth were strong enough.

It was hard to miss the obvious, but I sure wished I could. Because I had a pretty good idea exactly how Rosalie planned to get that thing 'safely' out.

And finally, fact five, something was up with Jasper, Bella and the creature and I was just full of befuddlement as I tried to figure out what it was.

A/N: So, what did everyone think? The research you learned in this chapter is only some of it. They still are working on a birthing plan. And what of Alice and Leah? What about the wolves? And what about Jasper and Bella? Any ideas what will happen next? Review!

If you have any questions or comments, post them in my reviews and I will answer them in my next Author's note!

To see more, go to either of our pages: Xo BellaItalia oX or VampSaxAngel

If you enjoyed this story so far, check out some of my other stories on my FanFiction page! Also, I am still accepting Twilight stories that involve Jasper/any female leads or Bella/selected male leads if anyone is looking for a Beta Reader. I will make exceptions on the characters depending on the plot. I am also now accepting Phantom of the Opera FanFictions that include Erik! I will also be accepting Bones featuring Agent Seeley Booth, Dawson's Creek, Titanic FanFictions featuring Jack, Snow White and the Huntsman featuring Snow White or Eric (the huntsman), The Ghost Whisperer that feature Melinda and Law and Order SVU that feature Elliot. I will accept OC characters as well depending on the other lead character. PM me for details!
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Xo Bella Italiana oX