Oh my goodness, yes. It's another chapter. I really really hope that you enjoy it. I am pretty sure that you will, but you'll have to let me know. ;)

Any comments, criticism would be wonderful. If you have any suggestions, I'll be glad to take them too. I do have an actual plan for the entire thing, and for where it's all headed, but I do try to include suggestions. (Katie... I think you're "suggestion" will be in the following chapter, if not the one after that lol. I'm sure everyone "Will LOVE it"

Enjoy!

Chapter 14

Esme was worried.

It seemed like the only emotion that had stayed constant with her for days. It was making her tired, or as close to tired as she could ever remember being. She was completely on edge during a time that she should technically be happy, if the situation were "normal." Her children were going to have a baby... something she had never allowed herself to think about past her very first son's death. All of those wishes and dreams had flown out the window the moment he had taken his last small breath.

Her six children from this lifetime were beyond anything she had hoped for as well... along with such a wonderful husband. She thought that her life was complete. She was able to follow her passion, in architecture and gardening, being an independent woman in a completely new time was something she never dreamed possible either.

The thought of having a grandchild should have made her the happiest person in the world.

But not at the expense of her daughter. Or her son.

Esme dipped the washcloth back into the bowl of now lukewarm water on the night table next to the bed. She wrung it out, letting the excess water drip slowly into the bowl, and then moved it to gently wipe over Bella's forehead. Bella, even though deeply asleep, winced and hissed out of clenched teeth.

Esme winced right along with her.

Carlisle entered the room, sighing as he flipped the cellphone closed. Shaking his head, he redeposited it into the back pocket of his khacki's and moved towards them, taking a spot next to Esme on the bed and lifting his hand to massage her shoulder.

"Edward?" Esme asked, still patting Bella's head.

Nodding, Carlisle's hand stilled. "He's bothered that there's been no change."

Esme turned towards him. "You haven't told him?"

Carlisle shook his head. "We'll discuss it when he gets home. He has to hunt, and if I tell him what's going on here, then he'll forgo that and head straight back here." He moved the blanket covering Bella's shivering body and lifted her sweatshirt to expose her heavily bruised and swollen belly. He noted the three extra growing bruises from the last time he checked about half an hour before. "I'm not sure if I should keep up with the transfusions. The baby is getting stronger...too strong for her to handle."

"But you can't stop the transfusion! She's become too anemic, you know she won't last long without it..." Her voice drifted, unable to continue. There was nothing more that she needed to say. She knew that he was aware of everything she was saying anyway, after all, he was the doctor.

Carlisle stood up and moved to the other side of the bed where the bag of blood hung. He switched the tubing from the blood to a bag of insulin. "There's nothing we can do about that right now Esme. I'm positive that if he keeps getting more blood that he'll break something worse than a rib next time. He's had enough for now, I think. We need to come up with some other plan. This isn't helping the situation at all. If I can only save one of them..." Nothing else was left to be said. They both knew who they needed to save.

Esme nodded in agreement. "You're right. I suppose I'm just a little bias." She said, taking the washcloth and flopping it down in the bowl, frustrated. She looked back up at her husband, torn. "Is there anything at all that I can do to help?" She practically begged.

Carlisle took a breath to respond but was interrupted as Bella's eyes flew open suddenly, and she began to choke. Although she was weak, she tried to push herself up. Esme was quick, leaning over and pulling her off of the bed. Bella's choking turned into a hacking cough, and although none spilt from her mouth, both Carlisle and Esme could smell the blood. It continued on, Esme gently patting her back and looking frantically at her husband.

When the coughing finally subsided, Bella let herself relax into Esme's arms, her eyes half closed and somewhat glazed. Carlisle could tell that she was ready to slip back to unconsciousness, but he tried to coax her awake anyway. "Bella." He placed his cold hand under her chin and guided her head up to meet his gaze. "Bella, try to stay with us honey." He studied her skin and lips, which within the last few hours had taken on a slight blue tinge. He took more time to listen intently to her breathing for a moment, noting that the fluid that rattled in her lungs had gotten worse as well.

Edward would not be easy to handle when he came back to the house.

Not when he knew the truth. And he would know... the moment that he looked at her.

Her eyes were pleading with him to let her go back to sleep, but she looked a little more focused than she had been a moment before. "Carlisle..." She muttered. He was especially thankful for his wonderful hearing at the moment, otherwise he would not have the ability to hear her at all. "I don't feel very good." Her voice was pained.

It was Esme who responded to her instead. "We know sweetheart." She steadied her with one arm while grabbing a glass of water from the bedside table with her other hand. "Can you try to drink some of this? You're very dehydrated."

Bella weakly shook her head, her brows creased. She looked nauseous just looking at the water. "Where's.... where's Edward?" Her eyes slid closed further.

After placing the glass of water back on the night table, Esme gently lowered Bella back to the pillows. "He'll be home soon." She lifted her hand up and swept the wet strands of hair from Bella's face. "The others took him hunting. He didn't want to leave you."

A ghost of a smile lifted Bella's lips. "I'm glad..."

They both watched as she slipped back under, well aware that it might be the last time she would be awake. The fever was too extreme, Carlisle feared that there might be brain damage if it went on for much longer. The fact that she hadn't registered the pain of the three broken ribs that her unborn son had inflicted worried him to no end.

He was taken from his musings by the sound of ... galloping?

Esme's head snapped up in his direction, questioning him with her eyes. "What in the world..."

Despite the odd sound, Carlisle noticed that it came along with the scent and sounds of his children. He visibly relaxed, until he remembered that he needed to take Edward to the side and speak with him about Bella's condition. He guarded his thoughts abruptly, hoping that Edward had fed and would be at least a little more calm.

"I'm going to meet them outside. I'll send the others in." Carlisle told Esme, leaning over and placing a kiss on her lips. As he broke away, he leaned even further and pressed a cold gentle kiss to Bella's forehead as well. He was out the door in the next instant, making his way quickly downstairs.

When he reached the front door and pulled it opened, he was startled to see that a russet colored wolf, about the size of Emmett was standing directly in the center of his children. Puzzled, he looked from one to the other. Rosalie looked absolutely disgusted, edging as far away from the beast as possible and holding her breath. Emmett and Alice looked slightly amused, having no problem being close to it, while Jasper stood protectively between the animal and Alice, to protect her no doubt. When his eyes reached Edward, he looked at him questioningly. "He wants to see Bella." Edward said, his voice low. "We need to talk. But not before I see her for myself." He insisted.

Carlisle shook his head, intent on staying firm. "No Edward, lets go for a walk." His voice and gaze left nothing up for discussion. If possible, Edwards shoulders slumped even lower and he gave a tiny nod.

"We'll wait in the den." Alice stated, moving towards the front door as Carlisle stepped away from it. Rosalie shook her head and pointed at the wolf.

"You are not suggesting that he goes in there like THAT are you?" Carlisle watched as the wolf literally rolled his eyes and traipsed to the side of the house, out of view. No more than a moment later, a man emerged, clad only in shorts. He marched over towards them, no fear in his gaze and stood directly in front of Carlisle. His eyes held clear contempt, for all of them, Carlisle was sure, his fists were clenched at his sides and slightly shaking.

"Doctor Cullen, my name is Jacob Black. I helped your children" He said the word with sarcasm in his voice "fake Bella's death. They explained to me what's going on, what your bloodsucking son did to her. I may not be that close to her, but I do consider her a friend and it's my job to see that she's alright." His words came out, almost a complete growl.

Carlisle nodded in understanding. "Of course Jacob, you have every right do to so. Thank you for your help. All I'm asking is that you wait until I can speak to my son privately and then speak to you all before I bring you to see her. She's resting at the moment. Esme, my wife, is watching over her."

Jacob's nostrils flared, but he could not argue. "You have no more than twenty minutes before I march up there myself and take her away from here."

"That's all the time that I'll need." Carlisle promised, not waiting to hear if Jacob had anything else to add before walking towards his son. He could hear the others walking into the house behind him. "Edward, lets... take a walk."

With Edwards eyes trained on the ground, he let his father lead him towards the woods at the back of the house. They walked in silence for about a mile before Edward broke. "Carlisle, stop blocking me and just tell me what is going on." His voice was strained. He was literally going mad wondering what more could possibly go wrong. He heard Carlisle sigh before turning around.

"Edward, there is no easy way to tell you these things." He stepped closer and put his hands on Edward's shoulders, not knowing if it was for support, or to keep him from running. "Bella has been in and out of consciousness for hours now, her fever back to 106. I continued giving her more blood and her body kept taking it. She's getting weaker though, and the baby is getting stronger. Too strong for her." He stopped for a moment, to let it sink in for a moment. When Edward remained standing, he continued. "He's begun to move, and kick, as any child would do. However, while doing so, he's bruised her, and broken a few ribs." Edward sucked in a breath, his eyes burned with pain.

"What else?" He asked, gritting his teeth.

Carlisle tightened his grip on Edward's shoulders. This would break him.

"Just remember Edward, I had no idea that any of this was possible. If I had, I would have warned you immediately. I didn't know that there was anything that could be transfered from you to her, anything at all... especially sperm or anything that could possibly be within it..."

"Carlisle!" Edward growled.

"Edward...Bella's been infected." Stricken, Edward's body sagged. He looked confused and so lost.

He almost choked when asking. "What do you mean by infected?"

"She shows all of the signs of having Spanish influenza Edward. Even if the child wasn't a factor, she's dying."

good? bad? horrible?