Carlisle_POV:

Edward left Bella, Jasper, and I alone for my examination. I had never heard about anything like this, maybe it was possible for male vampires to impregnate human women because their sperm would be warmed up enough to move again inside a human female. It was remarkable, I would need to do more research, surely this couldn't be the first time something like this had happened... maybe it was because Jasper cared about Bella or he could feel her emotions and knew when to hold back so he wouldn't hurt or damage her during their mating...

"So Bella, if you would just lay back I was able to bring an ultrasound machine so we might be able to look at the fetus."

Bella looks frustrated and barks at me a bit, "It's Annabel, or perhaps I should have you call me Dr. Higginbotham maybe that would force a bit more respect out of you."

"Doctor?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, AB has her doctorate in Psychology." Jasper informed me.

"I am very impressed, are you practicing in the field?"

Bella rolled her eyes a bit, I wasn't sure what I was doing to annoy her so much, perhaps it was hormones.

"Yes I had my own practice in Boston, but I had to close it and find alternative clinicians for my patients so we could come up here." She informed me.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"I would have had to do it anyway, can't exactly keep treating people when I am about to give birth to a half vampire child and most likely become a vampire myself." Bella surprisingly didn't seem that enthused about becoming one of us.

"I thought that was something you wanted, to become like us?" I placed the gel on her stomach and started moving the wand around.

"Maybe when I was a idealistic teenager who wasn't capable or grasping the magnitude of such a decision." She replied disparagingly. I paused my examination,

"Bella, I am sensing some hostility... are you angry with me?" I asked earnestly.

"It's no officially Dr. Higginbotham to you, you have lost the privilege of calling my Annabel or AB. And yes I am angry with you. You and Esme welcomed me into your family, you made me believe you cared and then you vanished, how could I not be angry with you?"

"It was Edwards decision." I tried explaining but she cut me off.

"You are the head of this household, you should have had the decency to at least face me and say goodbye... wouldn't that have been the polite thing to do, the upstanding thing to do? Don't blame your insensitivity on Edward, you've been alive far longer you should have known better." I had never been chastised so in my vampire life. I didn't know what to say I swallowed down any bubbling emotions of guilt and continued on with my examination.

"Unfortunately I am not able to see through the outer layers to the fetus, it seems your body has started to adapt become more hardened and crystallized at least around the uterus." I informed her.

"Why not try using the wand then?" She asked, it was more invasive but it might have a better chance of working... why hadn't I thought of it. Being dressed down like I had just been had shaken my confidence and I belive authority.

"Yes, I suppose we can try that." I moved down to lift the sheet covering her lower body by Jasper growled and stopped me, he took the wand and demanding I instruct him on what to do. I think I was seeing signs of the Major so reluctantly I went along.

All of a sudden a swooshing sound came over the speakers. It was the heartbeat, I was amazed. It was far slower than it should have been for a normal fetus, but there it was... incredible.

AB_POV:

I was loosing my patience for being around Cullens when all of a sudden I heard my child's heartbeat, it was amazing. I couldn't deny it any longer, there was a baby inside me... a little Jasper and suddenly I felt so guilty.

"Carlisle will you give us the room please?" Jasper asked, but it was clear it wasn't a request that was up for debate. After we were alone.

"Darlin' what's wrong, why are you feeling so conflicted?" I started crying and Jasper rushed over to me.

"I don't know, I think maybe I was hoping something was wrong... that I would have an excuse to get out of this... that sounds so horrible, I am so horrible aren't I? I just, I never wanted to be a mother... its not that I think I won't love it... I mean her, I already do I swear I do but..."

"But what?" Jasper asked. How could I tell him this, what if he didn't love me anymore after he found out what I really thought?

"Darlin' whatever your thinking, its okay. I could never think you horrible, please just tell me."

Here goes...

"Staying home all day everyday, changing diapers, having my whole world focused around a little person so dependent on me... It feels like a prison, I don't want to be trapped in a life I never planned for." I admitted to him.

"Don't feel ashamed, please don't. What if we found a way so you wouldn't feel so trapped?" Jasper suggested, God could he be more wonderful, I didn't deserve him I know I didn't.

"How?"

"This is something I've wanted my entire existence, there is no reason for you to be some 50's housewife trapped at home the whole day. I will gladly take on the more traditional stay at home role. Just be home every night to read her a bedtime story so she knows you love her, that's all. We can do this, I promise you we will find a balance so both of us are happy."

"How did I ever get so lucky to end up with someone as amazing as you?" I wondered out loud.

"Easy, you stole him from me!" Alice burst in through the door and interrupted our happy moment.