CHAPTER 13

It was like getting punched in the gut. I couldn't breathe. After everything we'd done, the Volturi were coming anyway.

"How many did Alice see?" Edward's face was a mask as he stood to face Carlisle.

"Three. Demetri, Jane, and one she didn't recognize."

"Not Aro?" Edward mused over this. "Why wouldn't he come, Carlisle? Then again, why should he get his hands dirty?" His face twisted with contempt for the ancient vampire.

"Maybe this isn't an attack party," countered Carlisle. From his pained expression, it was clear he still didn't want to believe ill of the being who had once been his friend. "Maybe they are just curious."

"Curious doesn't send a tracker and a torturer. Who knows what the third one is," growled Edward. "Where are they? What else did Alice see?"

Carlisle rubbed his face. "As far as she can see, they haven't left the continent yet. We have a day, maybe a little more." Carlisle looked down, avoiding Edward's eyes.

Edward's eyes widened and he sucked in his breath.

"Edward?" I asked tentatively.

"We're going," he stated flatly. He turned on his heel and scanned the room. "Bella, grab what you need. We're leaving in ten minutes."

I gaped. Where could we be going now?

Carlisle's voice cracked. "Edward, we're as safe here as we are anywhere. And it's risky to move Bella. You saw what happened last night. Any more stress and she could…"

"You don't think waiting here like a sitting duck is going to be stressful for Bella?" He practically roared at Carlisle, but his eyes were pleading. "You know what Alice saw. I can't…. I can't, Carlisle. I can't." He collapsed on a chair, his head in his hands.

"She can't see the babies, can she?" I whispered.

No one spoke. It was all the confirmation I needed. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and slid down to the smooth wood floor.

"Let's go."

My legs were still shaky, whether from disuse or from last night's pacing I wasn't sure. I felt my way cautiously, keeping one hand on the mattress for guidance. I cleared the distance to Edward and gently touched his shoulder.

"Edward, let's go."

"You don't have to do this, Bella." Carlisle's voice was calmer now. "As your doctor, I have to advise against it."

Edward lifted his eyes to mine. The butterscotch had deepened to a tawny brown. They looked desperate.

I kept my eyes steady on his as I answered Carlisle. "I have to, Carlisle."

Edward leapt to his feet and encircled me in his arms. "Ten minutes," he whispered into my hair. Then he left me to gather up supplies for the road.

Carlisle's body sagged with disappointment. "At least sit down until he's ready to leave."

I shook my head. "I should help get ready."

I was overwhelmed with indecision. What is the right thing to pack when you're fleeing for your life? I needed to change out of pajamas, that much was clear. I ignored the twinges of pain and waddled to the makeshift dresser Esme had made out of an old file cabinet.

The first drawer didn't have what I wanted. I bent low, reaching for the bottom drawer, and felt something give way in my body.

I stood back up and stepped away from the cabinet. Something wet trickled down my leg. I froze, afraid of what might happen if I moved.

"Bella? What are you doing?" Edward's voice was strained. He was normally very patient with my human slowness, but he was clearly eager to get out of here. "Bella?"

I turned to face him. He took in my face and mirrored back my shock.

"I think my water broke." I barely whispered the words.

He was with me, running his hands over my body, panic in his voice. "No. No. Not now." He followed my eyes down and saw the wet stain spreading across my pajamas. His beautiful face crumpled. "Oh, Bella," he whispered, folding me in his arms.

I drank in his sweetness, waiting for my intoxication to take the edge off my fear, waiting for him to make it all better. He inhaled deeply and gave a great sigh.

"How do you feel?" he asked, stepping back to search my face.

"Scared," I admitted, burying my face in his cold, comforting shoulder.

He swept me up and walked to the stairs. "Carlisle," he said calmly, "you were right. We're staying."

Carlisle appeared at the foot of the stairs, his face full of concern.

"Yes," Edward answered Carlisle's thoughts. "And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way."

Carlisle rested a hand on Edward's shoulder. "It's understandable." He turned his attention to me. "Let's see about these babies."

I was stretched out on the hospital bed. Carlisle measured my belly with his tape measure and held it up to read the numbers. His face was still. "They measure like full term. Amazing." He wrapped a cuff with a heart monitor as far as it would go around me and turned the switch on a little box. The steady swishes of two tiny hearts pumping filled the room. "No fetal stress, that's good. How are her contractions, Edward?"

"Still ten minutes apart," Edward answered tersely.

"Edward?" I looked down at my hand. He was gripping it so tightly that it was turning blue.

"Sorry," he muttered, relaxing, but not letting go.

"Let me check this. We can't stop it, right?"

Carlisle nodded. Edward just eyed me suspiciously.

"And you think the signs are all positive?" I raised my eyebrows toward Carlisle.

He shrugged, wrapping up his tape measure and adjusting the cuff. "Beside the fact that you are in labor ridiculously early, yes."

"And the Volturi are coming to look for us. They may not find us right away, but they are coming." I looked around at father and son, who both nodded glumly.

"So why am I lying in bed, when as I understand it, walking around will actually speed up this process and help get this show on the road?"

They stared at me dumbly. Carlisle started to chuckle, then guffawed. Edward narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, come on, Edward. She has a point." Carlisle smiled.

Edward's lips narrowed to a grim line. "I don't like it."

"It will help her with the pain," Carlisle gently countered, trying to hide his smile.

Edward eyed Carlisle. "Really?"

"Really," Carlisle said. "You can hold her steady while she walks."

Edward rose and helped me to my feet. He arm wrapped around me, his hand like a vice on my shoulder.

"It's okay, I won't fall." He looked more nervous than I felt. We began to walk. "Talk to me please? I think I could use the distraction."

He drew his eyebrows together. "What would you like me to talk about?"

"What are the others doing?"

He steered me around the sofa before he spoke, being careful to not look at me while he answered. "They didn't want the Volturi to be able to track you through them."

The memory of Edward writhing on the floor under Jane's malevolent stare flashed through my mind. I cringed. That was one way of finding my whereabouts.

"So they left?"

"They split up," he said quietly. "Decoys."

"Oh." My voice was flat to my own ears.

He squeezed my shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll have good odds, no matter who they follow."

"What if they come here?" My voice quavered. A terrible pain rolled through me. Edward saw me wince and stopped to rub my back as I bent over, holding me upright until the contraction passed.

"Eight minutes," he muttered.

"You didn't answer my question," I reminded him. He started pacing me again. We both were avoiding the obvious. "They have to find us, if Alice can't see the babies."

"Things can change."

"Edward, how?" I stopped where I stood and waited for him to look at me. "Why can't she see them?" He didn't answer. He just dropped his eyes to the floor.

"Can she see us?"

His eyes were haunted. "Yes."

"Then why can't she see them?"

His mouth twisted in anguish. "She sees them taking the babies, Bella. That's what she sees."

I dropped to my knees, clutching at my belly. Hot tears blinded me.

"Why? Why?" I moaned. He held me, rocking me back and forth, trying to soothe me even in the midst of his own pain.

"I don't know." He whispered the words fiercely. "But I won't let them. I swear to you."

"We can run," I whispered frantically, unable to fight the rising tide of fear. "I can make it, I know I can." I struggled to stand up, scrambling against his body for leverage.

Edward's lips turned up in a sad smile as he rose to my side and steadied me on my feet. "Always my brave Bella." He brushed the hair out of my face. "We can't run now. After the babies come, we can run. But not now. We need you in a safe place. We need all this--" his arm swept the room and the myriad machines and supplies that Carlisle had strewn around it --"in case we have trouble. I need Carlisle here with you."

"But you're a doctor," I argued.

"I can't do what Carlisle can do," he said gently, brushing my cheek with his fingertips.

"Carlisle can come with us," I countered, pulling on his arm. "There's still time." I couldn't let them fight three Volturi. And I couldn't lose Masen and Elizabeth.

"It's too late, Bella." His mouth twisted bitterly. "We waited too long and I've put you at risk. Again."

A wave of remorse swept through me. It wasn't his fault. How could I make him see that? I clung to his arm. My fingernails dug into him as another contraction rose.

The pain was getting more intense.

"Breathe, Bella." His velvety voice broke through my panic and helped me focus. "Keep walking."

I paced the floor, my breaths coming more rapidly as the pain crested.

"Five minutes. Carlisle, it's getting close."

Carlisle came noiselessly into the room, startling me when he spoke. "How are you doing, Bella?"

"Okay," I said through gritted teeth, waiting for the pain to fade away. "I think I'm ready for one of those epidurals."

Carlisle looked sharply at Edward. A moment of silent conversation passed between them. Then Carlisle turned to me, a look of profound regret in his eyes.

"Bella, I thought you knew. I'm not certified as an anesthesiologist."

I was confused. "So?"

"I can't give you an epidural."

That was not an acceptable answer. "Yes, you can. You know how, I know you do."

"But I don't, Bella. I've never done that procedure." He was holding his palms against me in protest now.

"Edward, tell him. I give you permission, Carlisle. I trust you." I was begging him. I didn't think I could handle this kind of pain.

Edward tried to reason with me. "Bella, he could paralyze you if he made a mistake. It's not safe, love."

"I thought I would have drugs!" I cried, throwing myself at Edward. His cold body seemed to draw the pain out from me so I burrowed closer.

"Can't you do anything for her, Carlisle?" Edward's voice sounded anxious as he rubbed my back.

Carlisle's calm reasoning quieted me. "Anything I could give her will render her immobile. I don't think we can afford that -- we may need to move quickly."

I gave a little whimper. It made sense. Juggling three bodies, all completely helpless, would be too much. I needed to be alert and able to move if I was going to be any help at all.

"Can you stand it, Bella?" Edward's voice was tender as he held me close. I nodded against his broad, sculpted chest, screwing my eyes tight and sucking in my breath as I felt another contraction rising.

I felt his muscles tense in sympathy as pain wracked my body. I sagged against him, unable to bear my own weight anymore. He swept me into his arms, whispering softly to me until the contraction passed.

"The pain seems so strong, Carlisle." He let his unspoken question hang in the air as he moved to a chair, arranging me in his lap. When I opened my eyes his cold fingers held an offering of ice for me, which I eagerly accepted. My throat was beginning to feel sore.

"Her contractions are moving quickly. These last two were only four minutes apart." Carlisle still seemed calm. "She's just progressing rapidly. It's bound to be more painful." He looked across the room, appraising me with the cool clinician's eye. "You need to remember to breathe, Bella."

I nodded numbly. I was already exhausted. "How much longer, Carlisle?"

He examined me on the hospital bed, checking my progress and the babies' heart rates. He then pulled the sheet across me, carefully avoiding my eyes. I scanned Edward's face. His jaw was tense, his eyes worried.

"Are they okay?" I could barely say the words.

Edward gracefully climbed next to me and held me close. "They're fine," he said, his smooth voice calming me. "You're very close, Bella. Not too long now. Would you like me to massage your back?" He produced the yellow tennis ball, holding it in his palm for me to see. "I came prepared," he joked, the corners of mouth lifting slightly as he tried to distract me.

I rolled to my side and let him work his magic. The ball rolled out my clenched muscles like kneaded dough. I started melting into the mattress, my tension disappearing as the next, dreaded contraction failed to materialize. I let my eyelids flutter shut. Just a few minutes of rest…

Carlisle's phone rang but I didn't care. I couldn't hear any conversation. The only thing my mind could register was the circular pattern Edward was working on my lower back. My mind was drifting away.

Then everything went wrong at once. A low growl erupted from Edward's throat as his cold fist collided with my back. At the same moment, a weird "pop" filled the air and Carlisle swore under his breath. My eyes flew open in shock.

Edward gasped. "Bella, I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?"

His icy fingers probed my back. I winced -- it felt bruised already.

"What happened?" I demanded, pushing his hands away with annoyance and rolling over. Both Carlisle and Edward looked shocked. Edward held the remains of the tennis ball in his hand. He had crushed it in his fist, unintentionally jabbing my spine as the ball imploded.

"What?" I repeated, my anxiety rising.

Edward groaned. "How could she get it wrong again, Carlisle? Now, of all times? And how could she tell them?" His eyes were bitter.

Carlisle's face was a mixture of apology and defensiveness. "She's doing her best, Edward. You know how she feels."

A lump grew in my throat. "Alice?" I asked. Their faces were crumpled with worry. Carlisle gave a slight nod.

"She's fine, Bella." He sighed deeply. "She called to let us know that her sight was off. The Volturi are already here in Washington. Somehow the time zones confused Alice and she got their travel schedules wrong. They found Alice before she had even left the area."

"No!" I said, not believing my ears. "How could they find her?"

Edward answered for Carlisle, who had begun closing all the blinds around the room. "Dmitri is a good tracker. He has gifts of the mind that help him. He was able to track Alice from his memory of her in Volterra."

"Jasper?"

Edward clenched his jaw as he spoke. "He'd gone off with Esme to hunt. They left her alone. She was vulnerable."

My mind reeled in horror. Three Volturi against Alice?

I felt panic and pain rising in me and desperately willed them both away. "Did they…"

I couldn't finish my sentence; the searing wave of agony took my breath away. Edward held me in his arms, his thumbs working circles in my palms. The pain climbed and crested, taking over my whole being. I heard him whispering to me, urging me to breathe, but I was too far gone to listen; it was almost as if I was outside of my own body. When I came back to my senses, I was whimpering.

Edward kissed my temple, never letting go of my hands.

"You didn't tell me. What did they do to Alice?" I forced the words out in between pants.

He hesitated. I leaned back to look at his face. His brows were drawn sharply together and his eyes had dark shadows. He dropped his head and closed his eyes tightly.

"Jane tortured her. It was like the electroshock in the asylum, Bella. She could remember it. It was horrible." I could see him fighting off the mental images. "She couldn't help it. She tried not to."

My confusion slowly turned to terror as I realized what Alice had done. She had told them where we were. Jane had broken her down, forcing Alice to give away the one secret that had guaranteed our safety. So now it had come to this. All our careful plans, scattered like so many leaves on the wind. They were coming for us, and there was nothing we could do.

A fresh wave of pain gripped me, and I felt Edward's cold arms clutch me tighter.

"Breathe, Bella, love. Breathe."

Hysteria gripped me – when would it ever stop? My breathing became shallower and, against my will, a moan of pain escaped my lips.

I saw him shoot a worried glance across my body, toward a figure I could no longer see.

"Carlisle, we've got to get her out of here before they find us."

"It's too late, Edward. We can't move her now. Once it starts, there's no stopping it. It would just endanger her if we tried to run."

"But surely there is time? I can carry her, you know I can!"

"Alice says they are almost here. They outnumber us; we could never outrun them. It's too dangerous. We'll have to try to talk our way out of it."

The searing pain seemed to fade – or was that my consciousness? I was really losing my grip. I clung to Edward's hand and willed him to look me in the eye.

"You didn't tell me it would be like this…" I gasped, trying to catch my breath.

"Poor Bella," he sighed. "I am so sorry I did this to you." He bent to wipe my brow, adding a kiss for good measure.

"Carlisle?" I squinted at the blurry figure, just outside the range of my vision.

"Yes, Bella?"

"I want you to leave." I panted. "Now, before the Volturi get here."

"There is no question of that, Bella. I am here for the duration." The blur moved, as if to look over his shoulder. "They are almost here."

"Edward?" The panic in my voice was unmistakable.

"Right here, love."

"Don't leave me," I managed to choke out as another wave of pain rose and spread through my body.

"Not ever," he promised, holding on tight as I squeezed his stony hand ever tighter.

And then, blissfully, it all faded to black.

My escape only lasted a minute, though. A terrifying wail and a rush of pain jolted me awake. It took my brain a few moments to process the fact that the wail was mine.

My entire body was wet with sweat, every muscle ached. "Edward," I pleaded, unable to focus my eyes.

"I'm here, Bella." His voice was close. I desperately sucked in the smell of him, hoping it would ease my pangs.

"Push, Bella," urged Carlisle's voice. "Push until I tell you to stop."

I grabbed my knees and bore down as hard as I could. A cry erupted from my throat as I collapsed, exhausted.

"That was good, sweetheart. We need you to try again. Keep going." Edward's cold body was behind me, propping me back up to give me leverage. "Lean against me."

Carlisle's efficient voice cut in. "On three, Bella: One…two…three."

I pushed again, every vein in my head throbbing, my eyes bulging with pressure. There was no respite from the pain; it was just one, continuous throbbing nightmare. I couldn't do it anymore; I was completely depleted. My body crumbled and hot tears streamed down my face. Everything was a blur. I was leaning against pillows; I realized with alarm that Edward had moved away from me.

Carlisle sounded anxious. "You can't give up, Bella. You have to keep going. These babies need to come out."

"I can't." It was a whimper. I closed my eyes and shook my head, refusing to listen any more.

Edward's encouraging voice cut through my pain. "I can see a head, Bella. You can do it with one more push, love. Just one more." I opened my eyes to see him right beside me, his golden eyes sparkling, pressing me on. "I know you can do this," he whispered. "You're the girl who runs with werewolves; the girl who wants to be a vampire. You're not going to let a little pain keep you from your babies, are you?" His voice was gentle as he goaded me. "Just one more."

I wiped my tears and scooted myself up.

"There's my girl," he smiled. "Do it with me, okay?"

I nodded and waited for his signal.

"Now," he said, squeezing my hand in his.

I bore down, a howl growing from deep inside me filling the air. My body shook with the effort; bone scraped bone and agony stabbed me through. I shuddered and panted and screamed until something inside me slipped and gave way.

"It's Masen," Carlisle said quietly. A tiny warble pierced the silence. Masen. I began to cry.

"One more baby, Bella. One more push." Edward squeezed my hand even tighter. "Can you do that for me?"

"Now," ordered Carlisle. I clenched my teeth and pushed again. This time was easier and she slid out of me.

"And here's Elizabeth," marveled Carlisle as she began to wail.

Edward kissed my hand, his eyes shining. "Thank you," he said simply, enfolding me in his arms. I smiled weakly, finally allowing myself to collapse back into the pillows and close my eyes. A few more contractions shook my body until everything was done. I could hear Carlisle busying himself cleaning and examining the babies. Edward stayed close to me, clutching my hand and stroking my hair, only moving when Carlisle finally brought the babies to us.

"They're perfect," Carlisle announced. "No problems breathing, no signs of distress. Almost perfect on the Apgar scale. Big, too. Six pounds even, each, on the kitchen scale."

I opened my eyes and reached out for them. Edward awkwardly maneuvered to hand me Masen, then Elizabeth, helping me hold them steady, one in each arm. They peeped out from their swaddling blankets with big, blue, alert eyes. They looked too wise to be infants. Little tufts of red hair topped their heads. They were beautiful. I leaned in to smell their sweet little bodies, letting my cheek rest against the tops of their heads, wondering at their soft, translucent skin.

"They should have hats to keep in their body heat," Edward said, his voice rough with emotion. Carlisle swiftly produced tiny pink and blue caps and nestled them onto their heads. Edward wrapped an arm tightly around me. As I gazed into the babies' serene eyes, a sense of peace flooded me. I could almost forget the danger we were in.

"Carlisle, the blood," Edward said flatly. I looked down the bed and saw the soaked sheets, the streaked towels strewn about haphazardly. "We have to get ready," he said apologetically as he slid away from my side. He propped some pillows to help me hold the babies and then both Edward and Carlisle began cleaning the room rapidly. Edward deposited the bloody linens in the fire, which flickered and jumped around its new fuel. Carlisle rinsed his instruments in the kitchen, using so much bleach that it stung my nose as I breathed.

I couldn't drag my eyes away from the babies. Masen worked his little mouth into an "o" and stared silently at me. Elizabeth wriggled one tiny hand out of her swaddle. I offered her my pinky and she instinctively wrapped her fingers around it. She had a kung fu grip.

Carlisle interrupted my reverie. "You'll need to clean up now." He had brought a basin of hot water and a clean washcloth.

"I'll take them," Edward said, walking swiftly to my bedside. Carlisle reached down to lift the babies one by one to Edward. Edward cradled them in the crooks of his arms. For a split second, he let loose with a dazzling, full-faced smile, but just as quickly his face was shadowed with worry. He walked away, placing them in the bassinette that had somehow appeared in the room, fussing over their blankets. My gaze followed them anxiously. Other than their cries at birth, they remained silent.

When I tore my eyes away, I saw Carlisle looking at his watch.

"Minutes to spare," he said dryly.

"Not really," said an eerie, childlike voice. Its sickening, sing-songy tone sent shivers down my spine. Carlisle and Edward snapped their heads around toward the staircase. I turned to follow their gaze. Out of the shadows stepped Jane, Demetri, and an Emmett-sized vampire in a long cloak.

We all tensed, prepared for the fights of our lives.