Chapter 50

The Cullens' house was quiet, though almost everyone was home. Sue sat in the kitchen with Esme, sipping on a cup of coffee and occasionally munching on some pumpkin spice bread that Alice had prepared.

They talked quietly, attempting several bouts of normal conversation before almost immediately returning the topic back to Masen and Leah.

Carlisle had everything set up for the arrival of the baby. He had worked four eighteen hour shifts in a row at the hospital to assure he would be free for the next several days in case Leah went in to labor. He sat upstairs in his office reading over everything he'd documented with Masen popping in every so often to ask questions.

Most of the rest of the family was scattered around the lower level of the house. Jasper and Michael played pool in teams against Seth and Luciana, while mostly everyone else sat in the living room.

Alice moved around from place to place, bringing food for Leah and Sue, then lounging around Jasper down the hall before settling in on couch in the living room.

William sat next to his parents, texting merciless away with Madison, who for the time was back in Alaska with her parents.

Leah's comfortability began to decrease as the evening hours arose and night had begun to set in. Every now and then Rosalie would check in to see how she was doing, always getting an answer of "fine" or "alright".

Esme and Sue both had an extra ear out to listen to the kids' conversations.

"Can I get you more coffee?" Esme asked Sue.

"Oh, I'm alright. Thank you," Sue said, "I'll be awake half the night if do, not that I won't be regardless with everything that's going on."

"I'm sure things will be okay," Esme told her kindly.

"It will, if nothing else, give the others a look at what they can expect if they want to have children in the future," Sue said. Her optimism faded as the sentence went on, "Please tell Carlisle that I appreciate all he's been doing to help Leah."

Esme waved her hand as if to say 'it's nothing.'

"No, really," Sue said, "You've all been so good to her."

"And you've been just as gracious to Masen," Esme told her friend with a smile, "We all help each other."

"I know I have told you in the past, but since Masen has come into Leah's life she's never been happier. I used to see her in constant pain day in and day out, never happy, never smiling. He's turned her world upside down, in a good way. And believe me, I had my own small heart attack when I found out she was pregnant, but I'm grateful all the same," she lowered her voice, "I never thought it would happen for her. She was so bent ou of shape over Sam for so long. I never thought she would be able to have a clear enough mind to accept love elsewhere. You have no idea the burden that has left her since she met your son."

"Masen really loves her," Esme said, "He's been devistated not knowing what the outcome will be."

"They deserve to be happy."

Esme recognized a slight shake in Sue's voice and stood up from where she was sitting to give her a hug.

From the living room, they both heard Leah sigh uncomfortably as Masen and Rosalie both simultaneously asked if she was okay.

"Yeah," her voice said back.

Esme and Sue looked at each other before going into the living room. Carlisle had already beat them in there and had Leah's wrist in his hands, checking her pulse so he would not confuse her heart rate with the baby's.

Leah winced and put her hands on her stomach, pressing her eyes shut for a second after giving a few deep breaths.

Masen looked at his father, then to Rosalie and Emmett who were both on their feet just behind Carlisle. William's focus was now off of his phone and a tense look crossed his face.

"Come on," Carlisle said to Leah, "We're going to bring you down the hall."

"Okay," she nodded, taking his hand as he helped her up off the couch. Masen quickly attached himself at her other side, making eye contacy with Esme and Sue as they followed close behind.

"How is she?" Bella asked Edward, a hint of worry filling her voice.

"She's fine," he said, but shook his head.

"What?" Bella asked.

Rosalie and Alice entered his line of vision.

"I'm trying to understand." Edward put his hands on the sides of his forehead and closed his eyes.

Leah's heartrate began to pick up and her sighs deepened.

Edward pushed past everyone and made his way toward the room.

Bella was at his heels, as were the rest of them.

"Give us some space," Carlisle's voice called as everyone had either entered or stood by the doorway.

Alice and Jasper were the first to go back into the hall, with Emmett and William close behind. Seth had remained in the hall the entire time with Luciana as they listened in on what was going on.

Masen tried to focus on the heartrate of the baby, but his head was spinning as he squatted down next to Leah, grasping her hand to try preventing any pain. "Dad, what's the heartrate like?"

Carlisle didn't answer, he continued to hook Leah up to the machines he needed and prepared for the birth of their child.

"Dad-"

"Hold on," he said firmly.

Sue made her way around to the other side and stroked Leah's hair and forehead while Esme stood close behind Masen.

Rosalie and Bella were both in the hallway grilling Edward for answers, though he wasn't sure exactly what answers to give.

"We're here!" Jacob's voice rang through the house, "Is she in labor?" He and Renesme joined up with the others, as they were both eager to see the results of what could become of their potential future.

"Stay out here with us," Rosalie told him with a stern, yet sympathetic ring to her voice. She toned it down a notch, "Carlisle asked us to stay out here for now."

Jacob decided not to pick a fight due to the sensitive nature of the situation. He nodded and put an arm around Renesme.

"The heart rate's fading," Edward said, "Almost nonexistant."

The rest of them had noticed the same thing, but no one wanted to say it out loud.

"What does that mean?" Bella whispered.

"I don't know. Maybe it's more vampire." His statement came out in the form of a question.

Emmett squeezed Rosalie's shoulder and she leaned into him slightly.

Carlisle's voice talked in a controlled fashion, though Edward sensed a slight urgency in his voice, moreso as the minutes passed. Leah frantically answered his questions and tried to be as calm as possible speaking back to him. His voice was extra soothing as he spoke to her with a reassuring temperament. Sue also seemed to calm down from his patient, collected voice.

From the hall, Jasper attempted to use his gift to the best of his ability.

Edward's eyes narrowed as he tried to zone in strictly on Leah's and the baby's thoughts. In the panic stricken minds of everyone else, it was more difficult than usual but he was polished enough from all the years of having the super sense that he was finally able to process what the unborn child was thinking.

He quickly burst through the room and met Carlisle's eyes, "He's choking. Or she's choking. The baby's having a hard time breathing! You need to get it out now!"