A/N: No Lemons in this chapter, but something even better!

My song choice for this chapter is:
"Bring Me To Life" – by Evanescence
A link to the video is on my profile.

Thank you to every one who reviewed the last chapter. I tried to answer everybody. If I missed you, I'm so sorry. I appreciate every one of my reviewers. Also, thanks to all my new readers and all those that have added Lioness to your favorites and alerts. I love you all.

Many thanks to my beta and muse, Melolabel, who fixes my 3am ramblings and makes my characters stay true to themselves. We write "The Marksman" together and if you aren't reading it, just one question… Why not? Westward is so hot, he makes the desert look like Antarctica.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, and all the characters. I just borrow them from time to time and make them do my bidding…

Now, without further adieu …

Enough of this crazy stuff! Just shut up and post the chapter already…

** BM **

BetaNote: Just want to wish my girl BellaMadonna a super happy birthday! Give her lots of love for this chapter because it's awesome!

Chapter 36 – Changes in Our Lives

Carlisle's POV

I was just escorting Elizabeth and Ed toward the clinic when I heard Isabella's anguished cries fill the air.

"Nooooo!!!! Oh, God, please, no!... Edward!!!!"

I trained my hearing on the patient and knew immediately what had happened. Edward's heart had stopped.

Rushing as fast as I could in front of the Masens, I was soon by Edward's side. Isabella was pleading with Edward to hang on as she and Jasper continued to administer CPR. I cringed slightly when I heard a few of Edward's ribs crack as she frantically thrust down on his sternum. She was becoming more and more hysterical by the moment despite the calming waves Jasper was flooding throughout the room.

"Please, darling, hang on! You've got to hang on, just a little bit longer," her voice was broken by sobs of grief. Her eyes cut to me the moment I stepped into the room. "Carlisle, do something! We've got to get him back," she continued to plead, completely disregarding the room quickly filling with people. "His heart has to be beating, otherwise I can't change him! I won't let him die! Don't let him die, Carlisle, please!"

Alice had entered the room and I quickly motioned her to come to Isabella's side as I saw Esme move swiftly to stand by Elizabeth and Ed. Thankfully, Charlie had hung back outside to speak to Jake, so that was one less witness.

I had already anticipated the need for intervention and had prepared the portable defibrillator and the adrenaline. All I could hope for, as I quickly placed the discs for the heart monitor on his chest, was that Edward was still strong enough to be resuscitated. The heart monitor was more for Edward's parent's benefit than my own. I could hear the beating of his heart, or in this case, the lack of a beat, just fine without it. My hearing was better than any machine in determining all the minute nuances of each beat. But they might think it strange if I didn't use one. Plus it filled the time until the defibrillator was charged.

Isabella grabbed Alice's arm with one hand like it was a life preserver, clinging to her tightly while still keeping one hand firmly planted on Edward's chest, manually pushing the blood though the chambers of his heart. "He can't die!" she sobbed to the room in general. "I can save him! We can save him! You know we can save him. His heart just has to keep beating." She glanced up at me, seeking my reassurance so I nodded softly, continuing to set up the monitor before turning to prepare the adrenaline injection.

"I know, Sweetie, I know," Alice crooned as I watched her put her arm around Isabella's shoulder and hug her tightly.

Isabella turned her anguished eyes to Alice, but never stopping the motion of her hand. "I was waiting. I was waiting to speak to his parents. I didn't want to change him without telling them first." She hung her head, shaking it from side to side. "Why did I wait? I shouldn't have waited! I should have changed him on the beach! I knew he had only an hour or two at best. Why did I wait? Why, why, why!"

I heard the soft intake of breath from Elizabeth when they heard Isabella's words. I glanced at Esme and saw that she had distracted the Masens for a moment as she spoke gentle, reassuring words to them.

"Bella, please, stop torturing yourself. You did the right thing in waiting. You did." Alice glanced up, moving her eyes between me and Jasper, silently pleading with the latter to do something. Jasper just shrugged his helplessness and I heard him whisper low and fast, letting Alice know that short of rendering the entire room comatose, there wasn't much else he could do.

The machine finally beeped, indicating it was fully charged. I knew the shock wouldn't hurt Isabella or Jasper, but we had onlookers, so for appearances, I prepared the paddles, placed them on Edward's chest and said, "Clear".

Jasper turned slightly, blocking the view of his hands from the humans in the room, as he braced them on either side of Edward's neck, giving rigid support to prevent further damage. Alice blocked their view of Isabella, who I knew would refuse to remove her hand from Edward's chest. I turned my head to look at the monitor, but didn't really need it. Edward's body jerked and I could hear his heart thump once and then fall silent again. Again, I charged the machine, and once again applied a shock to Edward's heart.

And again… nothing.

I heard Elizabeth softly sobbing in her husband's arms.

I reached for the adrenaline and, without preamble, pushed Isabella's hands aside to plunge the needle directly into Edward's heart. Once again Alice blocked the view from the room and I sent a third electric impulse through Edward's body.

I heard a stuttering beat, then another, then a weak but steady rhythm.

"Oh, thank God!" Isabella and Elizabeth spoke together. Then Isabella fell into Alice's waiting arms, her body wracked with tearless sobs, while Esme and Ed helped an equally distraught Elizabeth into a chair.

I quickly checked Edward's blood pressure and, while still low, it was adequate considering the situation. As I finished, I saw Ed leave his wife's side and walk toward me.

"Carlisle, what's going on? Is he going to be alright?" Ed's voice shook a little and I could tell he was close to breaking down himself. After all, Edward was his only child.

I motioned for him to precede me to where Elizabeth was sitting. Esme was doing her best to soothe the mother's fears. I knew there was no time to waste, so I told them bluntly the situation. Edward had, at most, a couple of hours left. There was no way he would survive being moved to another medical facility. Elizabeth broke down completely upon hearing those words. Ed knelt at her side, enclosing her in his arms as he cried too.

I felt Isabella approach and stand at my side.

"Carlisle, we need to tell them. We have to tell them now. There's no time to waste." Isabella's voice was shaky but she spoke with conviction. I could see the determination in her countenance as she turned to the Masens.

Elizabeth pushed away from her husband and turned to face Isabella. Wiping her tears away with the tissue Esme had pressed into her hand, she spoke. "You said you could save him. Before; I heard you. You said you could change him. What did you mean? How can you change him?"

Ed Masen had now turned to watch Isabella, too, keeping his arm around his wife as they waited for a reply. Esme moved to quietly close the door, assuring us a small amount of privacy.

Isabella glanced nervously at me, before gathering her resolve and beginning to speak. "There are some things you don't know about me and my family. Edward knows; he's known since his snakebite." Isabella's voice faltered as her nerves got the better of her for a moment. Then she swallowed thickly, straightened her shoulders and continued. "We're not like normal people. We're different and we have the ability to make Edward better." She paused once again, before forging ahead. "We can change him into one of us." Again, Isabella's voice came to a shuddering halt and I could see she was trying to figure out the best way to tell them the truth about us, without completely endangering them to the Volturi.

Elizabeth pulled away from her husband, stood and reached for Isabella's hands, peering into her eyes with a searing intensity. "So it's true then? The things you said? You can save Edward? You can make him better?"

Isabella nodded her head and answered simply, "Yes."

Elizabeth took a deep breath, as her next words caught the attention of the entire room as she spoke them with a voice filled with wonder. "So, my grandfather was right. His letter wasn't just the ramblings of a senile old man."

Isabella was the most curious of all. "What? Your grandfather? What letter?"

Elizabeth smiled softly as she released one of Isabella's hands to clasp the hand of her husband that had suddenly appeared on her shoulder. "My grandfather, Robert Pattinson, left his journals and a painting to my son; however, he also left a letter for me. It was to be delivered to me two weeks before Edward turned eighteen. I received it last week." I watched as apprehension filled Isabella's face as she waited for Elizabeth to continue. "He explained that he had set my son on a task, a journey if you will, to find his Marie; the same Marie that he had painted so lovingly in the portrait that now hangs in his old study. The painting he left for Edward. He explained things to us and asked that we, as Edward's parents, support him in his quest. He was most adamant; insisting that Edward would be compelled to find her – Marie." Tears filled her eyes as I saw her hand squeeze Isabella's tightly. "You are Marie, aren't you? My grandfather was right, wasn't he? You are a… vampire." She didn't ask, instead she stated it as a fact.

I could see that Isabella was struck dumb at her words. I knew it was time for me to intercede. I stepped to Isabella's side and spoke softly to the Masens.

"Yes, it's true."

"And you, too? You're all vampires?" Ed Masen asked, his eyes sweeping the room, taking in all our family.

I paused for a moment; the only sound in the room was the steady metronome-sound of the heart monitor measuring Edward's heartbeat.

"Yes," I spoke quietly.

"And that's how you want to save our son? You want to turn him into a vampire?" I listened for the suspicion; the doubt; the anger. But almost unbelievably, I heard none of those things. Instead, I heard acceptance and hope.

I knew now was the time to tell them the absolute truth. "If Edward is to stay alive, in any form, it is the only way. His injuries are so severe, he's lucky to have survived this long."

Tears were running freely down Elizabeth Masen's cheeks as she raised her eyes to her husband. They exchanged a silent look, a look that spoke volumes even though no words were said aloud. Ed's eyes were tear filled too as they turned back to face us.

Elizabeth spoke first, directly to Isabella. "Grampy told me in his letter not to be afraid of you; that you and your family would not hurt Edward. He explained that you had a pure soul, Bella, regardless of your circumstances. He explained that one day our son would have to make a choice." A wan smile graced her lips as she continued. "It seems that day is upon us…" She couldn't go on because tears overtook her once more. Ed finished for her.

"Do it. Save our son…" his voice broke on a sob. "He's all we've got and we love him. Please, save him."

Isabella's body was shaking with tearless sobs as she said, "If there was any other way, please believe me, we would do it. But I love him, too. I can't bear to see him die."

And with that, Ed and Elizabeth pulled her into their embrace, the three of them seeking comfort from each other.

Suddenly the air was split with a deep and resounding – "No! We won't permit this!"

On the heels of the outburst, the clinic door was wrenched open to reveal a furious Sam Uley followed closely by Jake and two members of the wolf pack, along with a somewhat confused Charlie Swan.

It seemed that werewolf hearing was nearly as acute as vampire hearing, because Sam had apparently overheard our conversation.

"What's going on here," Chief Swan asked as his eyes took in the scene. There was an obviously distraught Ed and Elizabeth, who were still holding an equally distraught Isabella; the apprehensive and somewhat menacing looks on my family's faces; the fiercely rabid look on the faces of the Quileutes; all with the backdrop of the blinking, beeping, monitor signaling Edward's condition.

I knew I had to diffuse the situation quickly, so speaking calmly, I addressed Charlie's concerns. "It's just a difference of opinion about Edward's treatment, Chief Swan. Everything will be fine."

I could see that Charlie wasn't buying my explanation, as he would have had to be blind not to see the tension rising between Sam, my family, and the Masens. I cast a glance at Jasper and felt an almost immediate calm settle over the room. I then cut a look at Alice who walked swiftly to Charlie's side, taking him by the arm to lead him from the room. Her optimistic chatter over Edward's condition serving to further put him at ease. She glanced over her shoulder at me, giving me a nod. I knew she would keep the Chief out of the way for a while.

The moment the door closed, Sam began again, "We won't permit this, Cullen! This is a direct violation of the treaty."

"Sam," I spoke slowly, trying to reason with him. "I've told you, there is no other way to save Edward. He will die if we don't act soon."

"And I'm telling you that you need to find some other way; get him to a hospital where regular doctors can evaluate his situation." Sam wasn't budging an inch in his stubborn stance.

"He will never survive being moved from this room, let alone to a hospital. Those are the facts; I can't change them just to suit you." I very seldom lost my temper, but I was close to throwing him and his wolf pack buddies out of my house.

Then I heard a soft clearing of a throat before I heard the quiet steel in the voice of Elizabeth Masen. "Might I ask who you are?" She stepped forward to stand in front of Sam.

For the first time, Sam focused on the Masens. He had the decency to look slightly chagrined, but he still had a touch of arrogance in his voice as he answered, "I'm Sam Uley, of the Quileutes."

Elizabeth drew herself up, straightened her shoulders and looked him straight in the eye and spoke slowly and clearly. "Who the hell asked you for your opinion in this matter? You have no say in what we choose for our son."

Sam took a step back in surprise at the venom in her voice. It was apparent that he hadn't expected such vehemence to come out of such an elegant-looking woman. I felt my admiration for her increase ten-fold. It would seem that Sam had forgotten about the ferocity of a mother when it came to protecting her child, because he had to audacity to answer her with that touch of disdain still in his voice.

"The Cullens have a treaty with the Quileutes. They have agreed to never harm a human while they live in this territory. There is no exception."

If Elizabeth Masen had been blessed with laser vision, then Sam Uley would have been transformed into a pile of ashes instantly from the fire that sprang from her eyes.

"I don't give a tinker's damn about any treaty between you and the Cullens. We're talking about our son! He has one chance to live, do you understand?" She punctuated her words by stabbing him in the chest with her index finger. "We will not, I repeat WILL NOT, let him die just to satisfy some asinine treaty that you think is so important!" Her mouth was set in anger as she took a step forward and Sam, wisely, stepped back. "We will make the decisions where Edward is concerned, not you, and so, Mr. Uley, I ask you very politely to SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Ed Masen stepped behind his wife, glaring menacingly at Sam as he added his two cents. "Mr. Uley, I believe you heard my wife, and if you have a brain in that thick skull of yours, you'll leave. Right now!"

Sam just stood there, breathing heavily, but finally understanding that it was best not to argue with parents who were trying save their son's life. With a last-ditch effort, he turned to me.

"Cullen, you know this will break the treaty?"

I just looked at him and I knew there was really no decision to make. We would save Edward. If we had to fight our way out of Forks, then fight we would. I had just opened my mouth to tell him as much when Jake stepped between us, looking first at me before turning to face Sam.

"Sam, that's enough," his voice was filled with quiet resolve as he faced the older man. "I'm voicing my opinion on this matter and I'm siding with the Masens."

Sam sucked in a loud breath, stepping back as if Jake had hit him. Before he could open his mouth to protest, Jake continued.

"Edward is in this mess because of me. I should have protected him; instead, I'm the reason he's lying on that gurney, barely hanging on to life." Jake shook his head as tears welled up and rolled down his face. "I misjudged the rogue vampire. I should have gone after him instead of letting him come to me. When he did, he knocked me into Edward and that sent him over the cliff." His voice broke, but he kept speaking. "It's my fault."

Sam didn't say anything, letting the words sink in. While he was still wrapping his mind around Jake's words, the younger man-wolf turned back to me, wiping his tears roughly away with the back of his hand.

"Dr. Cullen, do what you have to do to save Edward. As the son of the Chief, I'm giving permission from the Quileutes for you to do it." He turned back to look at Sam. Sam stared at him for a moment before lowering his eyes and giving a jerky nod. He knew Jake had the right to pull rank and he was smart enough not to question it. He turned silently, walking stiffly from the room with the rest of the wolf pack, except Jake, close behind him. Jake turned to face the Masens.

"Mr. & Mrs. Masen, I'm so sorry for what happened to Edward. He's my best friend and I would do anything for him."

Ed Masen answered, "We're sure it was an accident, Jake. From the sound of your explanation, there's a lot more to the story than we know. But it's not important right now. We'll talk more later." He patted Jake's shoulder consolingly, before speaking to me.

"What are you waiting for, Carlisle?" he asked and I quickly sprang into action.

I asked Esme to escort Ed, Elizabeth, and Jake to a more comfortable part of the house, assuring them I would keep them posted of Edward's progress. I knew Esme would continue with explanations of what had happened to Edward as a result of the fall and what would happen over the next three days. This would be a trying time for all of us.

BPOV

I watched as Edward's parents and Jake left the room with Esme before I hurried to help Carlisle. I had an idea I wanted to ask him about concerning the transformation process, but first, I needed a moment with Edward. I placed my hand softly on Edward's chest as I spoke to Carlisle.

"Carlisle, I want to try to communicate with Edward. I want him to know what we're going to do." I bit my lip to stop the trembling as I voiced my fears. "I want to make sure he's okay with the change. I have to give him one last chance, if I can, to make his own choice."

I could tell Carlisle agreed with me that we should try to warn Edward. He nodded slightly and I glanced up at Jasper, who had continued to operate the ventilation bag rhythmically during the dramatic scene that had just taken place in this room. He smiled encouragingly at me as I placed the tip of my right index finger gently against Edward's temple. I closed my eyes and let our thoughts connect.

"Edward? Can you hear me? It's Bella."

I waited patiently for his answer after letting him know I was there.

And then it came, the confused thoughts of the man I loved.

"Bella? Where are you? I can hear you, but I can't see you. It's so dark."

"I'm here, darling. Just listen to my voice."

"Bella...?"

"You were in an accident, darling. Do you remember?"

"I remember falling. And I remember your eyes."

"Yes, darling, you fell."

"Am I dead? Is this heaven? My heaven would have you in it."

"No, darling, you're not dead, but you are injured; really badly injured."

"How badly?"

"Your neck was broken."

"Am I going to die?"

"Not if you don't want to. Carlisle and I want to know if you want us to change you."

"Change me?"

"Yes, change you into… one of us."

"You mean into a vampire?"

"Yes."

"Will I get to be with you forever?"

"If you want to be..."

"That's my heaven."

"Then you want to be changed?"

"Yes."

"I'll be with you the whole way, okay?"

"Will it hurt?"

"Not if I can help it. I have to leave you for a while, alright? I'll be back."

"Okay. Bella?"

"Yes, darling?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

I pulled my mind back and looked up at Carlisle with a smile and a nod.

"He said yes. So, let's do it."

Jasper cleared his throat to get our attention. "I think it might be best if I wasn't in the room when you do this. I mean, I still struggle sometimes with…" his voice trailed off, but we knew what he was getting at. Jasper had hunted humans for the first 100 years of his vampire life and still had to fight his natural instinct when confronted with the smell of fresh blood.

"It's okay, Jasper," Carlisle told him. "You go on out; we can handle this."

I nodded at him and reached for the vent bag, taking it from him and watching him leave the room.

"Carlisle, I had an idea. It came to me when you used the needle to inject the adrenaline into Edward's heart. What if we did the same thing with venom?" Carlisle eyed me speculatively, weighing my idea in his mind. "It would be the quickest way to get it into his system. It would also be the quickest way to get the venom into his spinal cord, thereby causing it to mend faster. If we can get his spinal cord to mend, then his lungs will operate normally to supply his body with oxygen as long as he needs it."

"That is a very good idea. I don't know why I never thought of it myself." He smiled warmly at me as he continued. "I always said it was too bad you looked so young; you would make a wonderful practicing physician. You have a knack for innovation."

The human Bella I once was would have blushed at his compliment. The vampire Bella just smiled back at him as I squeezed the vent bag and watched Carlisle prepare Edward for the change. Finally, he turned to me.

"Isabella, I think it might be best if only one of us supplies the venom. Do you want to do it, or would you rather I did?"

I looked from Carlisle to Edward, considering my options. On the one hand, it would be much easier for me if I let Carlisle do it; however, I knew Edward would prefer me to do it myself. Even if it would be excruciatingly hard to resist the taste of his blood, I would do it for Edward's sake.

"I'll do it."

Carlisle just nodded and came to stand beside me, silently reaching his hand for the vent bag. I turned the task over to him.

I prepared a new syringe, filling it with venom from the gland located under my tongue before laying it aside. Carlisle watched me, then said, "In order to make the change go faster, after you inject the venom into Edward's heart, you should bite him at all the strategic pulse points on the body: the neck, wrists, elbows and groin, injecting more venom into his bloodstream. Getting the venom into the main arteries of the body will make sure it's distributed throughout the body in the least amount of time. With your idea of a direct heart injection, it may speed up the transformation process by as much as a day."

I nodded in agreement as he continued.

"We don't have to worry about any increase in the pain factor. I imagine you plan to block the pain receptors in his brain, as you did for both Rosalie and Emmett during their transformation. The swiftness of the change will help you, too. I know the concentration needed to block the pain usually leaves you mentally exhausted for days after the change is complete."

I gave him a small smile. "But it's worth it if I can help." I ran my hand gently over Edward's bare chest, feeling the warmth of his skin and the sluggish vibration of his heartbeat under my fingertips. I would miss these things about him, but as I listened to the somewhat-weak beat of his heart, I knew it was time.

Picking up the syringe, I leaned down, kissing Edward softly on the lips once more before I plunged the needle directly into his heart, quickly injecting the venom. I heard his heart shudder as the venom mingled with the blood flowing through the chambers, quickly moving to the aorta to be carried throughout his body.

I removed the needle, putting it on the supply cart and moved quickly around his body. I started at his neck, where I sank my teeth into his carotid artery, tasting his sweet, sweet blood for the first time. I was momentarily stunned by the euphoria that came over me at the flavor and couldn't prevent letting the blood flow over my tongue and down my throat. It was like nothing I had ever tasted before. I took another long pull from the wound savoring the warm, salty blood as it coated the inside of my mouth.

"Isabella?" Carlisle's soft inquiry brought me to my senses. What was I doing? This was Edward. I felt a slight sense of shame at what I had nearly done, but shook it off as I quickly injected more venom into the artery before moving my tongue over the bite and sealing the skin instantaneously. I moved to his wrists and elbows, biting, injecting venom, sealing the skin. With each new injection, I could sense a tensing in his shoulders, neck and face. I pulled back the sheet that covered his torso, running my hand up his thigh muscle as I felt for the pulse in his groin. The scent of his body hit me with the full force of a shotgun blast. I couldn't resist running my tongue over the thin skin that covered his femoral artery before ripping it open with my teeth and injecting venom. I licked it once more, sealing the skin, before moving to do the same to the other side.

Finally finished, I moved back up to place my fingertip against his temple, closed my eyes and entered his mind once more.

"Edward? I'm back…"

PAIN!

The blinding, soul-numbing pain of vampire transformation was screaming its way through Edward's brain. I quickly let my mind seek out the pain receptors and promptly blocked their signal.

Edward's pain was still a long way from the full-blown pain of transformation, as his paralyzed body could feel nothing from the chest down. However, the part that could feel pain was more than making up for the lost sensations.

Keeping the signal blocked with part of my mind, I attempted to communicate with him once more.

"Edward?"

"Oh my God, what was that pain?"

"It was the normal transformation process."

"Is it over now? Why can't I move?"

"No, darling, it's far from over."

"Then what happened to the pain?"

"I told you I would keep you from feeling any pain if I could. I'm blocking the pain receptors in your brain."

"You can do that?"

"Yes, I can do that. I can shield your brain from a variety of different things."

"Wait a minute. You promised you wouldn't mess with my brain again."

"I said I wouldn't do it unless you asked me to. Do you want me to stop? It would mean that the pain would return, however."

"In that case, I'm asking you to mess away."

It's funny. Even without verbal communication, I could hear the amusement in his thoughts. He did a kind of mental chuckle.

I kept my up communication with Edward throughout that day until I sensed he was getting tired. I began to hum the song I had written for him months ago and soon his mind was lulled into a peaceful sleep.

Carlisle had remained tirelessly at his post with the ventilation bag until Alice relieved him a few hours after the transformation began because the Masens wished to talk to him. For once, Alice kept down her chatter, knowing that it took concentration to maintain the delicate balance between shielding Edward's mind from the pain and completely taking it over.

She just quietly told me that Edward's parents were spending the night and that Chief Swan had been called out on a police call. He had finally left after being assured that Edward was going to be fine. Rosalie and Emmett had landed in Seattle and would be home in a couple of hours. Jake, much to Alice's vexation, was refusing to leave until he was absolutely sure Edward would be okay. This annoyed Alice because as long as Jake was around, she received no visions. It was quite disconcerting for her to be without her second sight. I could tell she really wanted to talk more, but, bless her, she quashed the impulse.

Edward remained asleep for nearly twelve hours, his human body needing the rest. When his mental voice finally made a re-appearance, it almost startled me. I was beginning to feel the effects of the tightrope I was balancing on as I maintained control over Edward's mind.

"Bella, are you still here?"

"Of course, silly. You don't feel any pain, do you?"

"No, but I do feel an annoying, tickling sensation of something down my throat."

"That's just the ventilation tube. It's helping you breathe."

"Really? Well, it's beginning to bother me."

And just like that, Edward's spinal cord mended enough for him to be able to breathe on his own. I quickly asked Alice to carefully remove the tube and then go get Carlisle and let the rest of the family know that Edward was now breathing on his own.

"Edward, I think you're about halfway though this thing. It hasn't been so bad, has it?"

"Nothing is ever bad when I'm with you."

"You're just as corny as ever."

"Maybe, but admit it. You love it, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

At that moment Carlisle entered the room. It took more than a little effort on my part to keep my shield on Edward's mind and concentrate enough to talk to him. The mental strain was starting to really wear on me. I don't remember it being this hard with Rose or Emmett. I mentioned this to Carlisle and of course he had a theory.

"With Rosalie and Emmett, did you also keep up a mental conversation with them during the time you shielded their mind?"

It took me a moment to be able to concentrate fully on his words and remember enough to answer. "No, I just shielded their mind and left their thoughts alone."

"But you can't resist conversing with Edward, can you?"

"No, I can't," I admitted.

"That's putting a double strain on your gift. I dare say with time and practice, you could do it without much strain, but now it just takes so much concentration that it drains you."

"You're probably right."

"Then it's probably for the best if you don't have to carry on a conversation with me or anyone other than Edward. I think that strains you even more."

I just nodded.

"Okay, then don't speak to me, I'm going to make this brief. Edward is more than halfway through his transformation. It's progressing even more rapidly than we anticipated. I estimate it should be completed in about eight hours. There is no doubt now that he will survive the change. I'm going to let his parents know and see if I can get Jake to go home. Alice is driving us all crazy while he's around." He was still chuckling as he left the room.

"Edward? Carlisle just told me that you're over halfway through your transformation. It won't be long now darling."

"I can already feel a tingling sensation in my legs. It's not painful, just feels funny, like they've been asleep."

"That's because your spinal cord has finally been restored. In fact, I can already see a change in your entire body."

"Oh, really? Is it for the better?"

"Well, I really can't say. You were pretty much perfect before; now you're just more so."

"Yeah, tell me more. Flattery will get you everywhere with me, sweetheart."

"If the cheese gets any thicker coming from you, I'll have to nickname you Cheesy McCheesington."

"Yeah, but admit it again. You love it!"

I had to admit to myself he was right, but I absolutely refused to tell him again. He was trying to coax it from me when I heard Alice's jubilant cry from the other side of the house, "Thank God that canine is gone!" I knew Jake must have finally left the house.

I was still resisting an insistent Edward, when I heard Alice yell, "Oh, my God, it's true! Carlisle, I have to talk to you." I could hear her dragging him away in the direction of his study before I had to pull my concentration back to Edward alone. It was really exhausting dealing with everything going on around me while maintaining the mental block. I found it was easier if I just blocked everything out but Edward's mind and concentrated only on him.

I was succeeding in doing this when Carlisle came through the door a few minutes later.

"Isabella, I need you to come with me." His voice was adamant, but I couldn't leave Edward. If I did, his pain would return. Carlisle knew this.

"I can't leave Edward, you know that. His transformation isn't finished."

"Isabella, I must insist. You have to come with me. Now!"

I had never seen Carlisle act this way, especially when the stakes were so high.

"Carlisle, if I leave Edward now, his pain will return. I can't let him suffer. What is so important that you would even ask me to leave him at a time like this?"

He drew a deep breath and began. "Alice had a vision while she and Jasper were traveling to Rio, but she dismissed it as impossible, and besides, her vision of James and Edward outweighed everything else in her mind. Since she's been back, Jake has been around and you know that blocks Alice's sight. But now, Jake is gone and Alice has a clear vision; one she insists is true, however unlikely."

"And this vision is important enough to take me from Edward when he needs me most?" I couldn't see how anything could be more important than Edward's well being. Unless… "Wait, is there something wrong with his parents? Or is something going to happen to them or to Charlie? Do we need to rescue him? Is there another rogue vampire out there somewhere?" My mind was racing a mile a minute as different scenarios flooded my mind; a mind that was still trying to concentrate on blocking Edward's pain. It was beginning to be too much for me and I felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over me. I slumped a little and Carlisle saw it.

"Isabella, I am telling you that this is more important than anything else at the moment; even blocking Edward's pain. In fact, if Edward knew about this, he would insist that you come with me and to hell with his pain."

"Bella, it's okay. Go with Carlisle."

"You heard him?"

"Yes, I did. He wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important. I'll be fine."

"But your pain will return. And the pain in the last few hours is indescribable. I can't leave you."

"Sweetheart, you endured the pain during your change, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll be able to do it too."

"I don't know…"

"Well, I do. Go with Carlisle."

I dragged my thoughts away from Edward and spoke to Carlisle. "He's insisting that I go with you."

"He heard me then?"

"Yes, and he said I should go with you, that you wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."

"He's a smart man."

"But I don't want to leave him alone. Jasper?" I called and within seconds of me uttering his name, Jasper was in the room.

"Jaz, will you stay with Edward? Don't leave him alone. At least you can help him with the panic he'll feel when the pain comes over him. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Sure, Bella, I won't leave him and I'll do everything I can to make him more comfortable."

I turned back to Carlisle. "You know I have to be back before the transformation is totally complete. I have to help him control his newborn urges where human blood is concerned."

Carlisle answered, "Yes, with luck, you'll be back well before that time."

I nodded at him and turned back to Edward.

"Edward, are you sure? I can stay…"

"I'm sure. I can do this, baby. I just feel this is important, you going with Carlisle."

"Okay, I'm going."

"Alright."

"I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart."

With a great amount of reluctance, I severed my mind's tie with Edward's. Almost immediately, his body, now completely able to move, drew up in a bow of pain. My heart was being wrenched from my chest to watch it happen. Carlisle grasped my arm, pulling me from the room before I could change my mind.

He didn't stop until he reached his study. Alice was waiting for us there. The anguish from leaving Edward was clearly etched on my face, made even more haunting when coupled with the exhaustion that was already stamped there.

"Okay, Alice. I'm here. What is so important that you would take me from Edward at a time like this?"

"Bella, this is so important, and time is of the essence. I know it. We have only a few hours to act before it's too late."

"Only a few hours to act? What's going on? Is something going to happen? Is it Edward?"

"No, Bella, this isn't about Edward. Well, it is a little, but his part is really not important right now." She seemed to gather herself a little as she went on. "There's really no easy way to say this, except to come right out with it…."

As she hesitated, I glanced at Carlisle. He was smiling that smile at me that he usually reserved for patients when he was about to deliver news that he wasn't sure they'd be happy about.

Alice and Carlisle exchanged a nervous glance and I cried out in frustration, "What is it?"

Alice turned and with a slight smile and a glimmer in her eye, she said…

"Bella, you're pregnant."

/c/A/N: Melolabel and I are lounging on fainting sofas behind our couch eating this awesome homemade strawberry shortcake with whipped cream that she made for my birthday. Kings of Leon's video for "Sex on Fire" is playing on the TV and we are happily looking at RobPorn on our laptops as I go all "fangirl" over my Happy Birthday Tweet from Nathan Followill. (for those of you who aren't KOL fans, Nathan is the drummer) *le sigh*

Life is good.

Now, honestly, how did you not see this coming? And before you flame me for doing something that seems to be impossible, remember, I figured this out when I began this story over a year ago.

Love the idea or hate it with a passion, at least you're feeling something. I'm just asking that you hang in there and see this story through to the end. I still have a few surprises up my sleeve.

Next chapter posting soon.

Remember, I really love you guys…

** May all your dreams be filled with Edward **

** BM **