Chapter 49

Carlisle had become increasingly worried as the week passed by. He reluctantly told Leah and Masen that the heart rate continued to drop, somewhat dramatically as time went on. He estimated a span of less than two weeks as the potential due date.

The entire family on both sides began to worry, as word spread that there were drastic changes in the heart rate of the unborn hybrid child. No one had any concrete information regarding something like this in the past, and therefore any hypothesis regarding the situation could not be determined accurate or inaccurate.

Edward spent most of his days closeby Leah, always attempting to get a reading of the baby's thoughts. Because of the premature development and lack of ability to piece thoughts together, he was unable to get an accurate reading thus far.

Esme and Rosalie were both overly encouraging to Leah, often prompting her to remain positive and not to worry. They knew it was a tough mindset to stabilize in given the situation, though they hoped their soothing antics would at least contribute to her well being. Jasper, too, used his gifts quite often and though Leah could see through that it was his talents being put to work, she could not help but feel more at ease in his company.

Carlisle recognized the life slowly draining out of his son each time he gave him news that would contradict a positive outcome to the situation. His eyes were tired with worry and he had been waiting until the last minute to hunt on many occasions, leaving him more short-tempered than usual and overly antsy. He and Leah had begun staying at the family's house on a regular basis.

Masen sat quietly on the back porch with his elbows on his knees and a fist beneath his chin. He looked up at the stars in the mid-October sky and knew the fate of his and Leah's baby would be decided before the end of the month.

Carlisle exited the house through the back door and made his way next to his son, seating himself directly next to him. He patted him twice on the back. "Don't make yourself sick with worry, Masen," he said.

Masen nodded and continued to look up at the sky before stretching his legs out in front of him and resting his upper body back on his hands. "I just have a lot of questions, that's all."

Carlisle waited for him to proceed with his thoughts. Masen finally looked over at him.

"Why," he began, "If this wasn't meant to be would it happen at all?" He looked at his father in the eyes, "I mean, really. Why would we even get this far if it would just be taken away anyway before it even got started?"

"We're not certain that's the case yet," Carlisle told him, trying to sound reassuringly.

"But it's starting to look that way more and more," he said calmly, "Am I right?"

His father shook his head, "I don't know."

"I need answers, Dad," Masen said, still calm but edgy, "It should have just never happened in the first place if it wasn't going to work out."

"There's a good chance it will work out."

"How long until the heart rate burns out completely?"

Carlisle began to shrug, but Masen cut him off before he could answer.

"I know you've done calcuations," he told him, "I've seen you."

"It's all guessing," Carlisle told him, "It's approximations that may be totally false and incorrect."

"How long?" he asked again.

Carlisle stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets and took at few steps off the porch into the grass. He didn't want to answer, though he knew Masen wouldn't let it go. The calcuations he'd created from the facts he had were not promising. They could actually prove to be devistating, though he was certain from their own existance that something without a heartbeat could, indeed, live... live forever, at that. He wanted to make sure Masen could see it that way from his point of view.

"We don't know if the baby needs a heartbeat to live," Carlisle told him. Masen was about to protest but he put up his hand, "You or I don't have a heartbeat. We don't know if he or she needs one to survive. You can live without it. Leah can't. That's the biggest puzzle of this... combination."

"Or it could just be dying inside of her."

"Masen," Carlisle started.

"How long, Dad?" he insisted, "I will consider all possibilities. Just tell me the results of your calculations."

They looked each other in the eye before Carlisle answered, "Around the time of the birth... give or take a day."

Masen stared at him blankly, "So it could just be a, what's the term?" he searched his mind, "Still born baby?"

"No," Carlisle shook his head, "Even if it doesn't have a heartbeat, that doesn't mean it won't survive."

"The difference is that I never had a heartbeat," Masen said, "I never needed one to survive. What if the baby does?"

"There are a number of unknowns to what could come of this," Carlisle told him, "But I will do everything in my power to make sure this baby comes into the world healthy. The biggest positive is that Leah is healthy. She's still strong and active."

Masen couldn't argue that. He was grateful that Leah hadn't had to go through what everyone described of Bella's pregnancy. "I know," he said, still down, "I hope she continues to stay that way. And, damn, I wish Alice could see past the Quileutes so I would know what to expect."

Carlisle looked down, feeling guilty that he couldn't provide him with a more concrete answer or explanation. He wanted to desperately, but there was nothing he could physically do to change that. "I'm sorry," he told his son, "But I will give you all the information I can."

"Have you guys talked to Sue?"

He nodded, "Your mother has. She's been keeping her updated. She was going to stop tonight by but Seth and Lucy just arrived back so she spent the day with them. She's expecting to come over in the morning. Leah told her there was no rush."

Masen shook his head, "I shook have listened to you. This could ruin us if things turn out badly."

"It won't ruin you," Carlisle told him, "And I don't think it will turn out badly, but it's smart to prepare yourself for any outcome as best as possible."

"Yeah," he looked upward again into the sky and shook his head with a hint of anger.

"I'm going to help you both," he assured him, "We'll do everything possible."

Masen's expression continued to remain down and anxious.

"I know how hard this is," Carlisle said, "But when you go inside, be as positive as possible... for Leah. The least amount of stress for her, means less stress for the baby. Keep her feeling comfortable."

"I will," he nodded, "That's why I come out here when I'm like this. I need to just get away from everyone for a few minutes."

Carlisle motioned for him to get up, "Come here," he said, waving his hands.

Masen sighed.

"Give you old man a hug," he said, trying to lighten him up.

A closed mouth smile spread over his face and stood up and gave in to his father's wishes.

"Things are going to be okay, son," Carlisle told him, "We'll make it work."

"Okay," he responded before Carlisle parted from him and patted him on the back. He walked inside and Masen sat back down in his original spot on the step, praying to the sky that things would work out, not for just his sake, but mainly for Leah's.