So many of you guessed right. I didn't even make it difficult for you guys.
They stayed around the living room until late at night when Bella's head dropped on Edward's chest. She heard him excusing themselves as he carried her to his room.
"Stay," she whispered sleepily when he placed her on the bed, before moving away.
"I will be back shortly." He kissed her head.
That night she dreamed of running out of time. Carlisle's sudden concern about her health worried her deeply. Why hadn't Edward caught any change in her scent?
After a fitful sleep, Bella gave up sleeping around five in the morning.
Edward was on the couch in his room, a mountain of medical tomes around him and his laptop perched precautious over two textbooks.
"You're up?" Edward frowned at her.
"I guess. I can't sleep."
He abandoned the book he was reading. "Now that Carlisle pointed it out, I can hear it too. As for your scent… somehow you smell more like me, if that makes sense."
Bella looked away, as a crazy thought entered her mind. What if that meant something else? They hadn't used protection, because she'd been sure vampires couldn't conceive.
"What are you thinking!" Edward exclaimed, tugging at his hair, helplessly.
"I'm going to say something silly, but hear me out."
Edward cupped her cheek. "Nothing you say is silly, Isabella."
"What if I'm…" She lost her nerve, swallowing thickly.
"You're… what?"
"You know… I thought vampires couldn't, but it makes sense."
"What. Are. You. Thinking!"
Bella restrained a giggle. He was adorable when he didn't get his way. "I was wondering if maybe I might be pregnant."
There was pause, then Emmett's laughed shook the windows, startling her. Even Edward was fighting off a smile.
"Love, if that were the case, there would be hybrid human-vampire babies springing left and right with how some of us live their lives."
"See? It was silly," she rebutted.
"It was," Edward admitted. "Stop being an asshole!"
Bella could only imagine what Emmett had to say about her silly comment.
Since she was awake, not like she'd needed much sleep lately, she decided to search for Alice and finish what they'd started the previous day.
Edward caught her wrist before she could get out of the bed. "And where do you think you're going?"
"To Alice."
"She's out with the girls, catching up away from the guys."
"Oh. I see."
"But since you're awake with no intention on going back to sleep…" Edward grinned mischievously, lowering her back on the bed.
"Whatever happened to my sweet, innocent vampire?" Bella lamented, laughing.
"He fell under your spell." Edward kissed her slowly. "We have to be very quiet," he murmured into her ear.
Bella moaned, as if to answer that was impossible.
Edward's hand went up her stomach to touch her breast. She didn't jump out of her skin at his cool touch like other times. Truth to be told, his touch hadn't felt that cold in a while.
She was probably chilled herself from the weather, though it was warm inside their house.
Edward covered her body with his, pushing his other hand into her panties, earning a gasp of pleasure from Bella. He licked his lips when his fingers touched her wetness.
"So good!" Bella lifted her hips, pushing against his fingers.
Edward smirked, opening his mouth, but a look of horror crossed his face. "No!" He shouted, pulling away, his head turned to the door. "We're decent," he added softly.
Bella didn't feel decent, at all. She sat up in bed, trying to tame her hair and settle her rapidly beating heart.
"You're wrong!" Edward spat, looking crazed, as Carlisle stepped into the room.
He didn't seem surprised to see the bed, or the fact that they had been close to being intimate with the others still in the house.
"It makes perfect sense, Edward." Carlisle walked closer. "Pay attention to her heart. You've been with me the longest and you know what to listen to."
Edward left the bed so fast, Bella saw only a blur. He was at the window, glaring at the sky. "It's all my fault! If I hadn't succumbed to the desires my seventeen-year-old body wanted." He sounded anguish.
"So I'm right?" Bella checked. She had no idea how to feel if that was true.
Carlisle sat next to her. "Bella, we've been looking in the wrong books. There are only legends about this happening."
Bella felt like throwing up. "I'm…pregnant?" Her eyes welled up.
"You're slowly turning into a vampire, Bella!" Edward shouted, scaring her.
"What… I mean… Did you bite me?"
Edward growled lowly, startling her further. She had no idea what to do with the news.
"Isn't this what you wanted all along?" He asked ruefully.
"But when did you bite me? You didn't say—"
"I didn't bite you!" Edward snapped, coming to her side vampire speed. "My seed has been slowly consuming your body." He turned to Carlisle, nodding. "We'll have to do it soon, though. This being a legend, we have no idea if it does indeed turn you, or when it reaches the peak… it kills you."
Bella shivered violently. "How soon?"
"The sooner the better," Carlisle replied softly.
"Do not tell me to calm myself!" Edward glared at him. "I did this."
"She's not in any pain, son."
"I feel fine," Bella admitted.
"This could have killed you!"
"But it didn't." Bella got out of the bed. She went into the bathroom, starting the shower.
Soon, Carlisle had said. She had to say her goodbye to Jake today. She'd have to call her mother with a sound explanation of why she wouldn't be visiting again. And she had to visit Charlie's grave one last time.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, Edward was at his desk on the laptop. She slowly got dressed, and while she stepped into her boots, Edward's head snapped up, his eyes fixating her.
"Where are you going?"
"To see Jake. I have to clear my head."
"I can't protect you there," he said, pained.
"I'll be fine. I'll see you later."
"Allow me to drive you to the treaty line."
During the car ride, Bella called Jake and told him to meet her at the treaty line. She was surprised to find a familiar motorbike just under the sign welcoming people to La Push.
"No way!" Edward exclaimed.
"I was on his bike before. Brady is an excellent driver." Bella kissed his cheek, getting out of the car and sprinting to Brady so Edward wouldn't be able to follow her and act all caveman, wrestling her back into the car.
He opened his door, walking as close as possible without breaking the treaty. "Call me when you want to return." His hands went into his pockets.
"Sure. Stop worrying."
Bella mounted the bike, accepting the helmet from Brady.
"Where's Jake?" she asked.
"His car broke down yesterday."
"Sucks."
Bella found out Brady didn't take her to Jake's house, but on the beach. Jake was already there, sulking on a fallen tree.
"Mind if I talk to him alone? It won't take long," she whispered to Brady.
"Take your time."
She walked slowly to the tree, and sat down next to Jake. He gave her a sideways look.
"You look like shit. Why the sudden desire to see me so soon?"
Bella wrapped her arms around her middle, chewing on her lip. "Something happened."
Jake's eyes went to her neck.
"He didn't bite me, have some faith."
"I'd hate to kick you out of here," he muttered.
"You might as well. You see, when Carlisle arrived last night he noticed something different about my scent." She stared at her hands as tears pooled into her eyes. "Uh, I've been sleeping with Edward ever since my birthday."
"Does he have any idea what could have happened? What if he lost control?"
"He didn't. He was a perfect gentleman. Edward was always careful and attentive."
"I don't need to know that, Bella!"
"His… sperm…had some effect on my body. It's been changing me slowly."
Jake sprung up, shuddering like he was about to transform, which was absurd. "I'm going to murder him!"
"Would you sit down? He didn't know, either. Carlisle said it was a legend."
"So you came in search of another Quileute legend? You're barking at the wrong tree. I'm done here."
"Jake, don't do this!" Bella grabbed his elbow. "If this is the last time we see each other, I don't want it to be a fight. I want to remember it as we were before: Jake and Bella."
Her smile slipped off her lips when he snorted. "We're no longer Jake and Bella. You're turning into a leech. It's all you've wanted since high school, right? Congratulations!"
He marched away, ignoring her crying out his name.
Brady joined her shortly after, hugging her tightly. She sobbed into his shoulder, mourning the loss of her best friend. She still couldn't understand how deep his hatred for vampires ran.
Bella explained to Brady what she'd told Jake, and he was the first person to be happy for her. He offered to take her to the cemetery when he heard she wanted to go there. Then they simply rode around, as Bella enjoyed her last carefree moments as a human. She had a feeling everything would change when she returned to the Cullens.
It was twilight when Brady parked next to her Volvo in the driveway.
She only had time to dismount the bike before Edward rushed out of the house. He pulled the helmet off her head, handing it to Brady wordlessly. Then he hugged her tightly, as tightly as he dared with her still fragile bones.
"Where have you been? I was so worried."
"Around," she answered against his neck. A new wave of tears came out of nowhere. "I lost Jake."
"Shh." Edward rocked them on spot.
Bella became aware of some sort of silent conversation between Brady and Edward.
"I better go. Take care." Brady revved the engine.
Bella disentangled from Edward, throwing her arms around him, knocking her head into his helmet. That made them laugh. Brady took it off, hugging Bella while still straddling his bike.
"I'll miss you."
"I promise not to be a stranger. It's not like you'll change your phone number or email."
Bella nodded, touching his beardy cheek. "Take care of Jake."
"Will do. You better not hurt her again," Brady threatened Edward.
"I wouldn't dream of it." He pulled Bella into his arms.
They watched as Brady rode away down the winding road.
"I have to call Renee," she whispered.
"Do you want me here?"
"Please. I have no idea what to say."
"Let's do it now. When we get back inside, you'll be pulled into the chaos about our new destination. They've been fighting over a place since you left."
Bella stifled a smile, pulling out her phone.
The conversation with Renee wasn't as painful as she'd envisioned it. She told her mother about Edward being back in her life, allowed her to scream for a good ten minutes, then told her they planned to travel the world. More screams ensured, but Bella had stopped listening. Eventually, Renee relaxed enough to make her promise to visit at some point, to which Bella said she'd see what she could do.
They stood on the porch until darkness engulfed them.
"Ready?" Edward placed a hand on the small of her back.
"I'm ready for forever with you."
He smiled his special crooked smile, opening the front door.