Renesmee lay on the examination table for her checkup with Edmond since Carlisle was still absent with Esme awaiting the results of an ultrasound.

"Can you see anything? It all looks like a blob to me," Nessie said looking from her swollen belly to the monitor.

"Actually yes, we can see past your skin through the membrane. It's difficult to really be able to see what's going on in there, because of the genetic makeup of your skin. But right here," said Edmond pointing to part of the screen, "is the head."

"Oh! Okay, I see it now," Nessie said excitedly grabbing Jake's hand.

"What sex is the baby?" Jake asked Edmond.

"It's a girl," he smiled.

Jake beamed, "We're gonna have another girl Nessie!" he exclaimed kissing her cheek. "So doc, why couldn't we see anything before?" Jake asked.

"It's hard to say Jacob, I really don't know. Maybe because the twins have more vampire traits or because Josiah was in a sac so he blinded the device. I really can't be sure." Edmond said swiping the goop off Nessie's tummy.

"How far along does it look, Edmond?" asked Renesmee.

"Well, at the rate the baby is growing, and having checked it every day for the past month, you seem to be what would normally be the fifth month of pregnancy… at this rate, you will be due by maybe the beginning of October… Of course that I only my guess, but it seems you carry a baby for only two months…" Edmond said jotting down notes in his book.

"Even though the baby is mostly human?" Jake asked astonished.

"Well Jake, I think it has mostly to do with the mother, is my guess and the rate of nourishment perhaps… All the babies that are produced by my Halflings are carried for around the same amount of time. Well between two and three months, it also depends on the growth of the fetus. Do you think that perhaps because of your state of being, that may have something to do with it?"

"My state of being?" asked Jake with a smirk, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean you no offense. Simply put, you are in a state that is not exactly human yourself. Perhaps if your phase gene wasn't active it may make a difference in the term your child is carried, but since you are in a heightened state of being this may carry weight in your children."

"Huh, I guess I don't know. No one ever really mentioned procreation…"

"Well consider what you are and why you are in existence: You shape shift in order to defend against vampires. However now add the fact that you are mated with one, the fact that your gene will always be active. What effect did the active gene have on you?"

"Oh I see, you mean my rapid rate of growth?"

"Exactly, so the gene you carry is excited by vampires, and your child is both shape-shifter and vampire, wouldn't it be a reasonable hypothesis that it's created with the gene and it's automatically excited? So for two reasons your children will grow rapidly. Firstly because vampire children to grow fast, but in addition, they have a gene that is exciting their maturity to advance quickly in order to be able to defend against what they themselves are…"

"That's a very interesting theory," Edward said pensively.

"At any rate Renesmee, this baby will be coming out of you within a month. So, if you notice anything, take note of it, and I will see you tomorrow." Edmond said, closing his bag and helping her up to a sitting position.

This news was incredible to Renesmee, but Emmett's words burned in the back of her mind.

"I have a question Edmond," she began, "do you think that every time Jake and I have sex I may get pregnant?"

"Well of course," was Edmond's response. The shock in Nessie's face told him that she was completely unaware of this reality. "I'm sorry my dear, I have shocked you."

"Ummm, yes and no… but you're sure, every time?"

"Well, my daughters get pregnant every time…"

"Is there any way around that? I mean, I love children and all, but at the rate I have children I would be having six babies a year? That's unheard of." Nessie said looking up at Jake in horror.

"Haydee has been researching a formula to prevent childbirth, but so far it has been unsuccessful. There is only one way that I know of."

"What?" Jake and Nessie asked in unison.

"The only way is to complete your change into a vampire, by biting you, or injecting your system with venom. But you would never be able to bear children again."

The room seemed to be filled with statues as the words sunk in. It was almost as if Edmond had announced the death of future generations when in fact that is what that decision would mean.

"I'll leave you now and see you tomorrow. Just think about it, nothing need be done immediately."

Renesmee touched the doctor's hand and silently asked him another question, to which he said, "Actually, yes that would be possible. The danger is minimal, but it's very painful and a very morbid process… but if you were both willing, that could be arranged first." And in a moment he was gone.

Edward's eyes shifted to Renesmee's knowing what had flashed between her and the doctor.

"I'm starved… can we get something for me to eat?" Nessie asked lightly sliding down from the table, pulling her shirt down over her swollen stomach.

"Ness, what did you ask the Count?"

"Nothing," she said adjusting her blouse in the mirror.

"It didn't sound like nothing," Jake accused.

"Don't you trust me? Why is it such a big deal Jake? Can't I have any privacy in my life anymore?"

"Ness, I…"

"Save it Jake!" She said pushing past him, ghosting down the hall.

Edward put his hand on Jake's shoulder, "Don't worry, pregnancy mood swings don't last long," he said with a kind smile. There were so many things that Jake just didn't really understand. Sometimes she would be happy, sometimes she would be crying… She seemed to eat more than he did and would ask the cook for the strangest combination of things.

"She wasn't this bad before…" Jake mused.

"Well, she had just gone through a hellish ordeal, and being reunited with you and the rest of us I'm sure made her pregnancy pass a lot more easily," Edward reminded Jacob. "Don't worry, just call out for Jasper when she loses it. I'm sure he'll be happy to help," he said as they walked down the hall back toward Jake and Nessie's room.

Jasper then appeared around the corner next to his door, "I'd be happy to help," he said closing his eyes before Jake opened the door.

"Hey Jake," Nessie said smiling as he entered the room. Jasper winked at Jake from behind the door and disappeared down the hall with Edward and Bella.

"What do you think they are going to do if they keep having babies?" Bella asked Edward, in the hallway before joining the family in the den.

"I don't know love… I suppose our family will just keep getting bigger," he laughed under his breath, "seeing as how they can't keep it in their pants."

"Where are the children?" Bella asked Rosalie who was sitting at a table drawing.

"They went out together in the woods."

"Alone?"

"No, Seth and Embry are out there with them."

"Oh, okay," Bella said, "but what are they doing?"

"Oh I don't know. Whatever kids do, playing in the dirt… hunting, climbing trees… finding some trouble to get into…"

"Are you okay Rose?" Edward asked walking up behind her looking at her drawing.

"I'm fine." She said closing her sketchbook. Her smile was weak and didn't touch her eyes. Dropping her gaze from Edward's, she quietly left the room.

"What's the matter with her?" Emmett asked tossing his book onto the couch when Rose had left the room.

Edward didn't feel comfortable exposing anyone's innermost thoughts to scrutiny, least of all his own family, so he didn't say anything.

"Maybe you should go talk to her and find out, Emmett," Bella suggested, "I'm sure she would appreciate your tenderness."

Emmett huffed and got off the couch, following his wife.

"Babe, what's wrong?" he asked trying not to sound too condescending.

Rosalie's eyes turned to him with the pain of a thousand tears, but words failed her.

"I'm not enough, am I?" he asked knowing immediately what was bothering her.

"It's not that you aren't enough, sabes que tu eres mi vida, it's just that I want more."

The corner of Emmett's mouth lifted, "You know I love it when you speak in any foreign language," he said tugging on her belt loop bringing her closer to him. "And I know. I know what you want. Do you know that it kills me that I can't give it to you?"

"I know…" she said resting her head against his solid chest.

His embrace swallowed her and her sorrow momentarily.

"I love you Rosalie, and I'll love you every single day of my life and death."

"I love your glow baby," Jake said sitting across from Renesmee rubbing her raised feet after they had had a leisurely lunch.

"Oh so you don't mind the fact that I'm all swollen out of shape, I eat all the time, and I'm so grumpy?" Nessie said smiling with her eyes closed.

"No, I don't." Jake laughed.

"So you admit that I'm grumpy all the time and I'm fat," Ness accused opening her eyes in alarm.

"Huh?"

"You know what, if I'm so fat and disgusting, maybe you don't want to touch my feet," she said snatching her feet from his lap.

"But… I … that's not what I said…" Jake stumbled over his words, "Hey Jaz?" he called out.

"What are you gonna go call him for? To 'calm me down' well I don't need any calming, I need you to get the hell out of my face. Why don't you just go hunt or something," she said in a huff turning from him trembling, waddling off to the window.

"I don't hunt…" Jake muttered, just as Jasper and Alice entered the room. Jake's eyes pleaded with him… The sympathy in his eyes was complemented by a very kind smile for Jake.

Jasper crept over to the window and put his arm around Nessie's shoulder.

"Hey Ness," he said sending waves of calmness to her and the baby, "having a tough day huh?"

Nessie sighed, forcibly releasing her tension. "It's just so different this time… I don't know why… I'm always cranky. I don't remember this much irritation the last time I was pregnant… You know I can't even recall how long it's been, Jasper, it seems I've lost count…"

Jasper snickered sending over waves of amusement and joy to a suffering Renesmee, "Well, it's already September so you've been pregnant for about a month now… which makes it about seven since you were pregnant before. Take into account that the circumstances were very different as well."

"Has it only been seven months? It feels like a lifetime." The time seemed overwhelming to Renesmee that so much should have happened. Her children were growing up so unusually fast. Even for children with such unique heritage. They grew taller everyday and it was a wonder that they had any clothes to wear, except for that the family Dantès had clothing for every stage of development, so there was never any need for shopping. "Are we still going to Italy in October?" Nessie asked.

"S'possible."

Renesmee sounded a deep sigh from the depth of her being.

"You're exhausted Ness, you should get some sleep."

"I think so, I feel better. Thanks Jaz, you know I love you. Thank you too auntie," she said to Alice who was sitting next to Jake cross legged on the floor.

"I'm sorry Jake," Nessie blushed, knowing she must be terrible. Jake's eyes were puffy from lack of sleep and he looked worn out and just as tired.

Jumping up and embracing his wife he smiled, "It's okay baby, there's nothing to be sorry for. How 'bout you get some rest… how about we both get some rest."

"Auntie, will you make sure Auntie Rose isn't bored with babysitting?" Ness asked settling herself onto the bed.

"She's not babysitting," Alice informed her after a moment.

"Oh, where are the children then," Ness asked yawning.

"They were out with Embry and Seth in the woods," she informed her, "getting all muddy I'm sure…" she added in a muttered undertone.