Xxx

The garage has always been my quiet place, I can get work done and it usually calms me down, helps me focus on something else for a change. The Mustang was fine, it didn't need any work, so I kind of hunted around my bikes looking for a problem. I found one, the suspension on my Kawasaki Ninja needed some adjusting and I knew that would keep me occupied for a good while.

Throwing the football around with Emmett had killed some time, but we still had a while till it was all clear. Even if Jacob came in right this minute, it wasn't necessarily an okay to go, Leah, Seth, and Jacob still had to do a few more patrols before they could be sure that there was a clear path for us.

Jacob had been back and forth to the house a few times, but hadn't given us the go ahead just yet. I wasn't sure what was taking so long and in all reality I wasn't really sure I wanted to know, I've learned in my nearly eighty years on this planet that sometimes ignorance is bliss.

I was so focused on the bike that I only partly heard Carlisle come in and even then I was so deep in thought I didn't look up, not until he cleared his throat catching my attention.

"Oh, sorry dad," I said sitting up, Carlisle smiled and nodded, walking into the garage, he knelt down next to me and the bike. "Everything okay?"

"Jacob is on his way back from doing a patrol, Edward believes he's coming back to let us know it's clear."

I took a deep breath and wiped the grease off my hands.

"Oh," I replied, not really sure how to answer that. I had made a promise to Esme and a silent one to myself that when the time came I would go with my family and hunt, I needed to protect my family and in all honesty, I did need to hunt, I knew I was getting close and the thirst was reaching a painful point, but truth be told I was seriously debating my accompanying them, I was still torn, especially after the discussion Carlisle and Edward had only a few hours before, about Bella's due date.

It was of course impossible to really pin down when she would go into labor, this wasn't a normal pregnancy where Carlisle could run all sorts of tests and get an exact time and date, but at the rate Bella was going, he was sure the baby would be born in a few days, four to be exact and I know Carlisle was anxious to go, get the supplies we needed, quench our own thirst, and be back in time for the delivery.

This brought with it, its own set of problems. Emmett and Jasper and me on occasion when I felt Bella was well off enough, were all hard at work researching this whole thing. Not an easy task even for someone who loves history and loves mythology. From what we could figure out, most of the myths regarding a human carrying a vampire baby was pretty much localized in South American lore, not entirely sure why, but again…ignorance is bliss.

The problem was, the legends all pretty much had the same outcome, at least for the mothers'. According to the stories, when the babies would come to full term and was ready to make their grand exit, they did so not in the traditional way, but by literally ripping through the mother.

Of course in all of the legends the mothers died, I mean who wouldn't, as for the babies, they typically didn't last long either because midwives or whoever was present to help the mother had a plan B to destroy the infant before it could pose a problem to the rest of the village or what have you.

Legends are rarely pleasant, you want happy ending stories read a comic book or watch a Disney movie. Legends are the basis for stories that followed them and boiled down to their original state they are not happy. They inspire more familiar stories of today, take Fairy Tales for example, there are two versions of them, the watered down, politically correct, Disney like versions and the real versions.

Legends, stories, mythologies, things of that nature are told and retold so that people can learn from them, long before anything was written down they were passed down orally from generation to generation so that the incoming generation could take the lessons from them and not make the same mistakes.

These South American legends about human mother's carrying vampire fetuses are no different, they're still continuing to provide lessons, but I can guarantee those that first started telling the legends, had no idea that the stories would be used to try and predict and alter this particular pregnancy, to change how the legend is written and hopefully save both mother and baby.

I wasn't really sure how much help I would be with the whole thing, I'm pretty sure my ability will be useless in that particular situation, but I still felt like I should be there with Bella and Edward for at least emotional support. Rose too, because I knew for a fact that there was no way in hell she would leave Bella's side, even to sate her own thirst.

"Chris," Carlisle started to say

"Look dad, what if…what if Bella goes into labor while we're gone, I know Edward and Rose both think they know what to do, but I mean…this is way different."

"Chris, I understand your concerns, believe me I share them with you. We need to hunt, that is undeniable, we also need some supplies that will help Bella when the time comes, all of which we need to leave the property to acquire. Now, hopefully Jacob returns soon, the earlier we leave the sooner we can be back."

"I don't like it…there's way to many what-ifs and possibilities here, I can't sort through it all."

"It will all work out Chris," Carlisle said, even though his voice was assuring, his eyes were not. My father was just as worried, just as concerned about this whole thing as me, and what scared me the most, he was just as uncertain.

"How can you-" I started to say when we both heard Bella gasping in pain, we looked at each other and winced. This bone breaking thing was becoming more frequent as the baby tried to stretch and adjust to it's tight quarters and I could only imagine what the baby had broken this time around "Do you need me?" I asked putting my tools down, Carlisle gave me a weak smile and patted my shoulder

"only if you're up for it."

I nodded

"Always," I replied, following my father out of the garage. Edward had already brought Bella up to the exam room up on the third floor, it had literally been turned into a full scale ER up there, complete with a radiograph machine. Bella was laying on the table, wincing in pain, but clearly trying to mask it. She smiled when she saw Carlisle and I.

"I...I'm fine," she managed to say, as whatever was injured shifted wrong causing her to wince again.

"Liar," I said coming up to her, she held out her hand and I let her take mine, while Edward held the other one, giving Carlisle and Rose the chance to set up the radiograph and take the x-ray.

The layer protecting the baby is amazing, in a creepy sort of way, nothing we've been able to throw at it has been able to penetrate the thing, it's like Fort Knox or the Tower of London in all honesty. Needles, sonograms, even radiographs have had no luck.

We're really lucky with the fact that still get fairly accurate images of Bella's bones, which when Carlisle was able to check on them. Thankfully this time around, nothing had been broken, but I could see by the way Bella was wincing and the angle she was laying, the baby had taken a shot at her pelvis.

Rose looked at Edward smugly, gesturing to the image of Bella's weakened, but unbroken hip.

"See, I told you I didn't hear a crack. You need to get your ears checked, Edward." She hissed and I rolled my eyes.

"Better to be safe than sorry," I reminded my sister, Bella gave my hand a squeeze, as if she expected me to instigate an argument with Rose.

Edward was ignoring the two of us as he gathered Bella up in his arms gently and started carrying her back downstairs, Rose followed and I helped Carlisle straighten up the equipment before we headed down ourselves.

The second my foot hit the stairs I could smell wolf and knew Jacob was back, here to give us the okay to leave. Now, more than before I was hesitating to leave and it wasn't just over Bella. Concern for Edward, Rose, Jacob, Seth, and Leah came into my mind as well.

We leave the property, perhaps Sam and the pack let us just waltz out, after all their real target isnt us, it's Bella. We would be leaving them here, unprotected, at least with all of us here we stand a chance against the pack…but two vampires, three werewolves, and a very weak human was not exactly a world class army.

Jacob was at the bottom of the stairs, he moved to the side to allow Edward and Bella to pass as Edward put Bella back on the couch as gently as possible

"Carlisle," Jacob said. "We went halfway to Seattle. There's no sign of the pack. You're good to go."

Carlisle and I exchanged a look, then the pair of us looked at Edward who was sitting on the floor next to the couch, listening intently to the conversation.

"Thank you Jacob. This is good timing. There's much that we need." Carlisle replied, patting my shoulders, we both kind of eyed the cup in Bella's hand, her blood cup. We needed more blood for Bella and the baby, that was most important, secondly was hunting for us as well as some other medical supplies we would need as the due date crept closer.

"Honestly I think you're safe to take more than three. I'm pretty positive that Sam is concentrating on La Push."

Or on coming here once the majority of us are gone, I thought, I didn't mean for that thought to enter my mind and once it did I tried to get it to go away before Edward heard it, but he did unfortunately. He looked at me and shook his head carefully, silently telling me not to worry, that things would be okay.

Carlisle however didn't notice the exchange between Edward and I and nodded at Jacob carefully.

"If you think so. Alice, Esme, Jasper, and I will go. Then Chris can take Emmett and Rosa-"

"Not a chance," Rosalie hissed, oh gee, who saw that coming?… I thought and to my surprise I saw the corner of Edward's mouth give a twitch, as he fought a small smile "Emmett and Chris can go with you now."

"You should hunt," Carlisle reminded her gently

"I'll hunt when he does," Rose replied shortly, gesturing at Edward

Carlisle sighed, he had to have expected this kind of resistance, so I wasn't really sure why he was so surprised. I hated to add to it all, but the words came out before I really knew what I was saying

"If Rosalie is staying and Emmett is going with you I'll stay as well." I spoke up, positioning myself on the back the couch where I could see pretty much everyone perfectly. Carlisle rounded on me quickly, he wasn't angry nor was he disappointed, but he was going pull rank here.

"Out of the question Chris, you are going hunting."

"I'm fine Carlisle," I argued looking at Rosalie then Edward, hoping one of my siblings would back me up, I was really counting on Edward, since he could see why I was so reluctant to go "It isn't safe to leave Bella here with just two to protect her..."

"Hey what am I kid? Chopped liver?" Jacob interjected, I winced and gave him a shrug as an apology.

"That's not what I meant Jacob and I apologize if that's how it sounded. It isn't pertinent that I go it is, that I say here." I paused, trying to add merit to my pretty pathetic argument, I didn't get the chance however, because I heard Bella calling my name.

"Chris…" Bella called softly, I looked down at her curious, she reached up and stroked my cheek motherly. It was still a strange gesture, it was one thing for Bella to hug me and stuff, but she had moved way past that. "Chris,"

"Bella, come on," I said, shaking my head. I knew what she was going to say and I was so torn. I wanted to go with my family and protect them if need be, but half of my family would be here and I could protect them as well.

"Chris, I will be fine for a little while, I appreciate all you have done for us." She added resting her hand on her stomach "but I need you to take care of yourself right now. Go hunt, it will not help me any if you are so thirsty you can't concentrate. Please? For me?"

I sighed, she was applying the guilt…man she was getting good at that. I looked over her at Edward and he nodded, telling me to go.

"All right I'll go." I finally accepted, this was literally the saying stuck between a rock and a hard place, neither decision felt right and I hoped that by giving into this one, I hadn't made the wrong decision. Esme held out her arm for me join her and I slowly did so, as she put her arm around my shoulders, hugging me close.

In literal seconds Emmett and Jasper were down the stairs with us, followed quickly by Alice. Esme and I moved to Alice's side and waited for Carlisle by the door.

Carlisle walked over to Jacob and put a hand on his arm, I could see the tension in Jacob's expression, he wanted to pull away, uncomfortable with a vampire, even Carlisle touching him. But he didn't, clearly he didn't want to hurt Carlisle's feelings so he didn't flinch.

"Thank you," Carlisle said, he looked at us and gave the nod we needed. Esme reluctantly let go of my shoulders and let me join Jasper and Emmett up front, just because Jacob had given us the all clear did not mean we were going to let our guard down until we were far from Forks, just in case the pack was waiting for us.

Xxx

I guess you really don't know how desperate you are for something until it is placed right in front of you. I may have been hesitant leaving the house, worried about Bella's wellbeing. But the minute I was in hunting mode all that changed. I was extremely thirsty and needed to hunt, even if I had been reluctant to admit it.

We didn't stop running, not until we were far from Forks. At least a day's run from home. Jacob had been right there was no sign of the pack, not even a whisper of one member. Still, I didn't let my guard down until we were beyond the realm of them following us…hunting us, and even then, I was still cautious, still on guard.

The woods have always felt safe to me, no matter where we are, I see forests and they automatically gives off the aura of protection. Of course the ocean is always first off, followed by pretty much any body of water, lakes, rivers, what have you those come right behind the ocean and it's calming effect on me. But the woods, forests, surrounded by all the trees and just untouched nature it has it's own security effect.

Now however I was on edge, every crack, every sound that I wouldn't have given a second though to before, now caught my attention, even when we had put so much distance between us and the pack.

After all, they had been willing to attack me just for running to the market, who was to say that they wouldn't attack us for 'escaping' and who also wasn't to say that they wouldn't follow us just to take us out, just for the fun of it, just to finally be rid of us.

I hate to dwell on this kind of thing, but it was in the back of my mind. Another branch cracked deep in the woods and I put the brakes on to scan the forest. Of course this came with it's own problem because Emmett who was also on edge and not paying attention to the path in front of him, barreled me over.

"Ow!" I exclaimed as Emmett tried to get off me and kept falling back down.

"Kid I am so sorry, dude you need brake lights or something," Emmett said quickly, he finally managed to get up and pulled me to my feet. I dusted off the dirt from my jeans and looked at my brother "are you okay?"

"Yeah…just feel like I got hit by a Mack Truck," I explained, I had literally gotten the wind knocked out of me that time

"What did you stop for?"

"I heard something," I replied nodding towards the path as Jasper, Alice, Carlisle, and Esme joined us.

"Something like what?" Jasper asked as Alice brushed off some of the dirt and leaves from my back.

"I don't know," I admitted "it came from over there and it was loud, like something big was crashing through."

"I don't hear anything now sweetie," Esme said gently, putting a hand on my arm, but just like that it came again, louder, something was definitely out there and coming this way.

"See, not crazy," I said to Emmett as we all braced ourselves for whatever was coming. The trees gave another rustle, I could hear sticks cracking, branches breaking…

Revealing a small doe who stopped and stared at us in shock as if she hadn't expected visitors, she was stunned we were stunned. We all stared at each other for about thirty seconds before the deer bolted back into the woods.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I think we all breathed a sigh of relief that it was only a deer. We were all so on edge, so worried about an attack that we were paranoid. I should've been able to profile that it was only a deer, but my mind had become hardwired for danger lately that's all I had come to expect.

Slowly we all exchanged a look, Esme let go of my arm, she had been gripping it tightly and hadn't even realized it.

Emmett started it first…he began snorting back laughter, which in turn got Alice going. Esme and Carlisle held it in as long as they could, but they gave in as well and started laughing. Jasper and I exchanged a look, he kind of grinned at me a little and we both joined our family, we burst out laughing

"Bloody hell," I breathed between laughs, I winced the second those words came out of my mouth and glanced at Esme, but she smiled and shook her head at me.

"I'll let it go for now Christian, only because I believe it was warranted this once, but mark my words young man I don't want to hear it again today got it?" She said sternly, but I could see the smile on her face and in her eyes so I knew she was only half serious.

"Got it mum," I replied, she hugged my shoulders and returned to Carlisle's side, he hugged her tight reassuring.

"Well I guess that means there's a herd nearby," Emmett pointed out and Jasper elbowed him grinning

"What was your first clue Em?" Jasper asked

"Bambi's appearance?" Em suggested "hey Dr. Doolittle go scouting will ya? Find the rest of the herd, bring them here so we don't have to go looking for them."

"Do I look like I'm in tune with all the critters in the world and can magically summon them like the Pied Piper?"

"On occasion," he replied and gave me a gentle shove "come on kid lets go find us some venison." He started walking towards the brush that the doe had emerged from, but something stopped me.

I gave the air a sniff and grinned at my brother

"Hey Em, hold up for a second, take a deep breath," he looked at me funny "just do it,"

Emmett rolled his eyes at me and gave the air a sniff, his eyes went wide and his face broke out in this monster grin.

"No," he said in surprise "no way,"

Now Jasper gave the air a sniff and he nodded, a smile appearing on his face as well.

"How many do you suppose?" He asked me

"At least three," I paused "and there's definite one big guy, and" I closed my eyes and tried to sort through the animal emotions I could feel around us, it took a few seconds, but I was able to zero in on our target "he is not in a good mood."

"Oh hell yeah!" Emmett exclaimed louder than he meant to as he slapped his hands over his mouth.

Carlisle came over to us, followed by Alice and Esme, he looked at us confused, looking at each one of us for a quick moment.

"Boys, what's the matter?"

"Dr. Doolittle is on the hunt," Emmett explained and Carlisle looked at me, clearly Emmett's explanation did not really help explain anything.

"On the hunt?" Carlisle asked me

"Bears dad," I explained, hoping I was doing a better job than Emmett "there's a small group over there,"

"Ah, that certainly explains your brother's excitement." Carlisle replied rubbing his chin, Emmett looked like a little kid at a fair waiting to be given permission to go on a certain ride and believe me, I've seen that look on my brother before, for that exact situation.

It was a year after the Japanese surrendered, finally ending the Second World War. At the time we were living in Maine and a carnival came to town. Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward were ecstatic and made plans to go. Even though we were going on five years since Carlisle changed me, my parents still erred on the side of caution, sort of, we all went. Truth be told I think Carlisle and Esme were looking forward to it as much as my siblings.

I had a little tougher time getting excited, mainly because I wasn't sure what to expect. Sure I had been to festivals of sorts in Scotland, the Highland Games and harvest festivals, I had been to the circus before as well, but I had never been to what my siblings were describing, especially the ride aspect.

Then of course there was the game aspect, which my brothers seemed especially eager for. Apparently they created their own game to go along with the different midways that were scattered throughout the carnivals. Edward would use his ability to pinpoint an operator who was using some kind of trick in the game to cheat people, making it impossible for them to beat his game. Then Emmett would come in and beat the game based on Edward's instructions.

Carlisle has some moral issue with it, but in the end, my brothers never keep their winnings. Sure Rose gets a stuffed animal or two, but for the most part anything Emmett and Edward win from the vendor is donated, which helps sooth over Carlisle.

Anyways, the carnival up in Maine was no different and my brothers dragged me to different midway games. Some were based on brute strength, like a strongman thing with a hammer, the guy was using counter weights in the machine to make it nearly impossible to beat. Edward figured it out, clued Emmett in, and bam he won himself a stuffed bear thing.

Some of the games however were not about strength and were definitely up my alley. There was one game that was all about profiling. The carnie bet a certain amount that he could guess someone's exact age and birthday just by 'Profiling' them.

To make it supposedly fair so that the person just didn't lie about their birthday and age, the carnie guy insisted that the person whisper the information to a total stranger, who would in turn hold onto that information to confirm or refute the age.

What most people weren't realizing, mainly because he was drawing such a large crowd, is the guy had someone walking through the crowd, pretending to be a casual observer. This person however was listening very carefully to the age and birthdays that were whispered and managed to give the carnie a signal that clued him into the information. I watched the duo do it twice, just to be sure. Before I knew I could outsmart him.

I had to put down a certain amount of money to participate and I put down a good amount, so the guy automatically thought I was a stupid kid, especially when he heard my accent, so I was a stupid British kid who was about to lose his money. When my turn came, I whispered how old I was to the person furthest away from the carnies buddy and so softly that the person almost didn't hear it. I could see the frustrated look on both the carnies face and his accomplice, realizing they actually had to guess my age.

Of course, the carnie figured it was easy enough, I couldn't be more than ten or eleven so that was what he guessed. He also guessed that my birthday was in July.

Needless to say, the crowd dispersed when my confidant relieved that I was actually thirteen and born in December, the carnie was not very happy about the whole thing, but Emmett, Edward, and I walked away with thirty bucks from him. Other games were suited for my ability as well, there was a game of Yes and No, which was a game I loved playing with my family.

As much fun as I had righting wrongs with my brothers, my main reason for agreeing to the carnival was the rides, one ride in particular, the Ferris wheel. I don't understand it, when I was a kid I hated heights of any kind, I wouldn't even climb a tree, that's how terrified I was…but since becoming a vampire that's changed, there are two places that really calm me down, being in or under the water and being up high. Not in a plane mind you, I still don't like flying, but I'll climb to the top of any tree, cliff, what have you and be very happy.

I had been just about to head towards the rides when a sniffing noise had caught my attention. Near one of the games was a girl a few years younger than my physical age. She was crying quietly and I could see the worry and annoyance on her face as well as the satisfaction and overall smugness of the vendor. His game was as simple and un-riggable as you could get, it was literally a matter of skill.

You're given three small rings and the goal is to toss the rings into a fish bowl, you get even one of the rings in the bowl, you get the fish, as simple as one could get and at first I wasn't sure why the girl was so upset. No one could have that bad of aim that they couldn't get the ring in the bowl. Then I realized what the deal was, she had been trying for one particular goldfish. It wasn't the point that all the fish looked alike, this one's bowl was tied with a yellow ribbon.

The girl had literally wasted all of her money trying to win that one stupid fish. She was worried that her older sister who she had come to the carnival with, was going to be mad that she had wasted all of her money, had none left, and would tell their parents.

Against my better judgment I intervened. I simply asked the girl which fish she was after, tried not to roll my eyes when she confirmed that she was after just one particular goldfish, and with my family watching walked over to the vendor.

Like the age guessing carnie, the minute this guy heard my accent he smirked, especially when I asked for only one ring. I only needed one, it was an easy enough toss. He complied, gave me the ring and without any fuss I nailed the yellow ribbon bowl with the ring and won the girl her goldfish.

The girl was pretty stunned, she went on and on saying she'd repay me, she kept asking my name and where I lived, promising me she would return the favor, but I told her not to worry about it as I rejoined my family Esme and Rose were ecstatic with my behavior since it went against how I had usually been back then, Carlisle mentioned how proud he was of me, and Edward and Emmett were teasing me relentlessly.

All and all it was pretty typical, but it gave me the chance to head towards the Ferris wheel, Carlisle reiterating that I had most certainly earned as many rides on it as I wanted.

"Chris?" I heard my name being called "earth to Chris, come in Chris?" I blinked and looked around, Jasper was waving his hand in front of my face, with everyone looking at me expectantly "kid where did you go?" he asked and I shrugged

"Just thinking," I replied, Esme reached over, taking my hand to give it a squeeze, just to make sure I was okay "I'm fine mum, I promise, just got lost in thought for a moment." I grinned at Emmett "come on, let's go annoy the bear for you,"

"Chris, Emmett, Jasper stay together okay, I think Alice, Esme, and I are going to follow that deer herd," Carlisle explained, we nodded "we'll meet you boys back here in a few hours."

We nodded again, the six of us splitting up, Carlisle, Esme, and Alice went one direction, towards where the deer had run to and I followed my brothers towards the bear scent. All of us were eager to just relieve our burning thirst, maybe have a little bit of fun, and just for a brief moment forget everything that was going on around us.

As we headed towards the bears, who were scattered around a very small area, none of us, not even me and I'm sure not even Alice, had any idea that in a few short hours the phones would start ringing…that we would be needed back home, but would not be back in time.

xxxx

A/N: Okay, hopefully and I really mean that, hopefully this is it of the slow, filler chapters. We have made it to the top of the mountain and hopefully it is all smooth sailing from here with limited snags. This chapter took a long time to come together and I apologize for that. You guys are such amazing people to stick by me and and put up with the delay. Hopefully the next chapter will be up the week after next, I will honestly do my best with that one and I think it will be a lot easier now.

So thank you guys as always for you understanding, your patience, and your support.

Happy New Year everyone!