Two months have passed. Construction on the other three houses has been going smoothly, they were almost finished. Renovations to the main house have been done, it now has six bedrooms to house guests.

Jasper has, thankfully, cooled it down a bit on the overprotective and overanxious attitude he's been having. I think seeing that I wasn't going to keel over helped, so did the fact that the wolves haven't showed up and the family themselves have calmed down. No one was projecting anxiety anymore.

I also have to report that Alice has cooled down on shopping, for now. Carlisle's looking into having either a few of Jasper's friends or a few of his friends to come help out. We still need to buy things and Alice is sort of a habitual creature, she'll break soon and start shopping like crazy again. We will need someone or a few someone's to run her purchases here from the other towns in different states. Carlisle's idea to keep us safe.

I hope that the measures we've taken are enough and I hope they arrive soon, whoever it is.

"So, what you're telling me is, I am still not pregnant?" I cupped my hands over my face. I couldn't take one more negative.

"I'm sorry. It could have been a number of things, that prevented you from conceiving, but I have no way of knowing what exactly it is." Carlisle removed the gloves and replaced the equipment.

"I don't understand. I've taken the folic acid supplement and pre natal vitamins as directed, ate healthily. I've done everything I have been directed to do." I was getting upset. I had practically swore an oath to Alice that she would have her child. What if I couldn't give her one? What if something happened during the attack to prevent me from having children?

I shook my head. Carlisle would have told me if that were the case, he wouldn't keep something this important a secret. He knows how important this is to me, to all of us.

"Could you have Jasper and Alice come up, please? I would like to discuss this with them." I rubbed a hand over my face.

He retrieved his phone from his pocket, speaking too fast for me to understand, but when he finished helping me out of the stupid contraptions he had me in to examine me, the couple was in the room. They stood side by side, as beautiful as ever, hands locked together.

I waited while Carlisle filled them in. Their eyes darkened and their faces fell.

I sighed. I hated that this was my fault. I couldn't pinpoint exactly how, everyone denied it when I spoke it out loud, but it didn't eliminate the feeling that it was. "What are our options?"

"We can try inserting the sperm into your womb through the direct, physical way that most couples do." Carlisle suggested.

I blanched. Sex with Jasper? He belongs with Alice, it wouldn't be right. That couldn't be the only option! I don't know why he suggested it at all, to be completely honest.

Seeing my reaction, Alice's unnatural stillness and the empath's stiffening shoulders, the doctor nodded and spoke again. "The second option would be to harvest some eggs and examine them, maybe even try inserting the sperm into them in vitro."

"I thought you said that harvesting eggs caused a lot of pain?" I mumbled, confused. I could have sworn he said that the first time we talked about harvesting eggs.

"It does include a large amount of pain, but with time-" He never got to finish that thought.

"No!" Jasper barked, voice harsh and body tense.

"Jasper?" I frowned at his reaction. What on Earth?

"If no one is willing to engage in sexual activity, this is the best option." Carlisle responded calmly.

"NO!" Jasper roared, teeth bared. "If any part of conception requires pain, she will not conceive! I have felt other women's pain after an egg harvest. I will not put her through that pain! No!"

"Okay." I murmured, wanting to soothe him. "We won't do the harvest. We'll figure something else out, okay?"

His black eyes rested on me once I spoke. I kept repeating that we wouldn't do the harvest, over and over. Alice rubbed his arms and face, making soft noises. The tension slowly left his body, his shoulders relaxing.

"Now that that's settled, why don't we talk about this?" I gestured to Carlisle to speak, hopefully avoiding the subject of egg harvesting. I wasn't sure we could calm him down again, if he got that upset. I hadn't expected it the first time and neither, it seems, did Carlisle.

Alice was being surprisingly quiet. That didn't help my nerves, at all.

"Since we are not having any luck with the artificial route, and the harvesting is out, that leaves the sexual activity approach." The blond doctor murmured, his expression uncomfortable. He wouldn't look any of us in the eyes.

I didn't blame him, talking to a man about having sex with another woman in front of his wife would make me uncomfortable, too. Oh, that's right, I am the other woman so I'm already uncomfortable and awkward as hell!

Joy.

"So, I guess we have to do the, erm actual act." I squirmed uncomfortably. This whole thing was weird!

"It's alright, you don't have to look so uneasy." The chiming voice of my sister echoed in the silent room.

"You can't be comfortable with this, Jasper is yours." I mumbled, frowning.

"The fact that you said so, means that I can trust you. You once told me that you would do whatever it took to give us a child, did you mean that?" She questioned, eyes burning a hole through me. At least, that's what I felt like they were doing.

"Yes, of course I did." I sputtered, blinking at her in surprise. What was that about 'that means I can trust you'? What was that supposed to mean? It couldn't be that she didn't before, because that doesn't make sense.

"Bella, I know you would only do this if it was what we needed to create a baby, nothing more. I trust you." She grabbed my shoulders and stared me right in the eyes while she spoke the words.

"But-" I was cut off by my adoring, confusing sister.

"No buts, it's okay. Really."

Okay, then. . . .

"So, how would we-when would we?" I couldn't even force the words out of my mouth. This was just too weird and awkward.

"I would suggest working with Jasper to control his thirst. I'd say, two or three weeks of finger prince ought to do it." Carlisle supplied, writing something in his notebook and filing it away in his drawer.

"So, we'll start tomorrow, then?" I asked the couple, I suppose to make sure they really were on board with this. This felt beyond unreal.

"Sounds good. We'll see you a two o'clock in the main house." Alice chirped before pulling Jasper out of the room by the hand.

Okay, what the hell just happened?

I paced my room, thinking over whatever the hell had went on in Carlisle's office. Alice actually agreed to let me have sex with her husband? I mean, I wasn't sure I was okay with it! He's her husband! If he was my husband, I wouldn't just share him with someone, to make a baby or not. But, you know, he's not-obviously-or this wouldn't be my dilemma.

It didn't make sense to me, and my head hurt trying to make sense of it.

I shook the thoughts out of my head, determination seeping into my body.

I would do this, for her. I may not like it, but I made her a promise and I intended to keep it. Unlike my parents and the mutts that were once my friends, if I made a promise, I moved hell and high water to make sure I fulfilled it.

Even if that meant sleeping with a married man, a man that I respected and cared for. Not romantically, but I did care for him.

I would prick my finger three times a day for three weeks, get him used to my blood and then, I will lose my virginity to him. I wouldn't be alone when I rocked my finger, the desensitized Emmett and Carlisle will be there to help if need be. I won't tell him until I figure out what to do about the blood portion I'd heard about losing your virginity. It will require a lot of research and help from female members of my family.

What had I gotten myself into?

Week One

Today is officially the start of week one, I prick my finger three times today and hope. Well, here goes nothing. . . .

Totally not freaking out.

I swirled my spoon around my bowl, watching the little whirlpool that formed not the middle of the milk. I know I'm stalling, but I was nervous! If this worked, it meant having sex for the first time, and that was terrifying. Then, the obvious added complication of it being to my sister husband, and how it would probably have to be more than once. I had to stop before I gave myself an anxiety attack.

"Bella, you can't sit there staring at your milk whirlpool all day. It will sour." Esme patted my shoulder gently. She was trying to be supportive without being pushy.

"I know." I sighed, draining the milk in two gulps and rinsed my bowl in the sink.

The males filed in, and I retrieved the sterilized needle I would use from the napkin in my pocket.

I sucked in a deep breath. Keep it together, Swan, you haven't even started yet. Don't think about it, just do it.

"Are we ready?" I asked, needle poised over my index finger.

Three nods, one uncertain. Ah, good old Jasper, ever the hopeful one. Note the sarcasm.

I pricked the tip of my finger, holding my breath so I wouldn't faint while I found something to cover my hand. I waited until at least five drops hit the floor before I grabbed the gauze Carlisle had had the foresight to place nearby.

Snarls and a crash drew my attention to the other side of the room. Jasper was struggling and fighting with all he had to get over to my side of the room, Carlisle and Emmett were straining to keep him on their side. The crash had been Jasper knocking Carlisle into a cabinet full of pans and pots. The doctor was quickly on his feet and holding the empath again.

I didn't feel fear, like I'd expect in this situation. I felt calm and curious. Strange.

My gaze was drawn to Jasper's eyes, and what I found there shocked me.

Gold.

His eyes were gold.

There could be many reasons why that could be, I reasoned, Carlisle and Emmett probably pushed their control toward him. Now, he wanted to stop the bleeding in my finger. That made perfect sense. He was over protective a lot these days. Hell, he'd been overprotective since my decision to get pregnant.

"You can let him go, Carlisle. He won't hurt me." I kept his gaze as I spoke.

"His thirst-" Carlisle protested, or tried to, before I cut him off.

"Look at his eyes." I prompted, never looking away. He'd calmed down a little now that the bleeding had stopped.

"I'll be. . ." Carlisle breathed, surprised. He released his hold on Jasper and stepped away.

"See? He won't hurt me. After we clean up this mess want to head into town for a bit?" I suggested, leaving it open in case there were others, anything better offers.

Carlisle canted his head. "As long as we're careful; don't use our old cards, don't draw attention to ourselves and keep our heads down I don't see why not."

"I'm game." Emmett boomed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Maybe we could window shop for the nurseries?" Esme murmured, smiling radiantly at the thought. "It would be lovely to stroll through the gardening section as well. The front of the house is lacking a little something, don't you think?"

"I thought so, too." I agreed. "We could plant a few rose bushes, maybe?"

"Or herbs in window boxes? Maybe a vegetable garden, as well."

"Oh, yes, that would be very-"

"Ugh." Rosalie groaned in disgust. "Can we leave already if we're going to leave? You can discuss what disgusting addition you'll stink the house up with on the way there."

"Rosalie." Esme scolded, halfheartedly given the light still in her honey eyes.

"She's anxious to start browsing the baby section." I shrugged, not really minding her abrasive attitude when I understood the reason why in this case. "It's the perfect time to do it, even though I haven't gotten pregnant yet. I'm curious, too, so let's do this!"

"Booyah!" Emmett seconded with a near deafening shout.

Emmett had finished construction on the houses late last night. Now, each had a minimum of four bedrooms and other special things specific to each couple.

Emmett was kind enough to add a den and fireplace to the main house, which was where I would stay. The family would alternate staying in the guest room at the main house and their own houses so I wouldn't be alone.

We piled into two separate cars, the girls in Rosalie's less ostentatious car. The men chose to occupy Jasper's new silver Stratus. It was very. . .uh. . .domesticated. I would've thought he'd buy something more edgy or I don't know, manly? It was cute that he got a somewhat family friendly car.

I sat in the driver's side back seat, Rosalie drove, Esme was shotgun and Alice sat in the passenger's side back seat.

We drove for a few hours, wanting to shop a few towns over at least. Maybe farther, if Alice can wait that long. As it was, she was bouncing in the seat, her purse in her lap. I didn't think she'd be able to last until we passed more than one state line, if she lasted that long. Our pixie was a shop addict and she wouldn't deny it, if you word it carefully. I think Carlisle set a limit, though, so she wouldn't attract unwanted attention.

The thought of the pennyhead made me want to hit something. He was a jerk, he didn't deserve to stand in the same space as me. I shoved thoughts of him away, no need to think of him, he was out of ourselves. Preferably for good.

By the time we arrived at the mall in some town a few hours from our new home, it was approaching the late afternoon. Alice hopped out of the car and sped off toward the mall as quickly as she could while seeming human.

I laughed at her eagerness. Carlisle's online shopping limit hadn't done it for her. She needed to feel the material and flit around the stores to see what else there was to see.

The rest of us caught up at a slower pace, not in any hurry to go in. We'd get what we came for at our own time. No need to rush around like a . . .well Alice.

There wasn't really a discussion about who would go where, the plan was that we had no plan except to split into teams of at least two whenever possible. Esme and Rosalie immediately headed for the baby clothes and toys, no surprise there. Emmett and Carlisle made a beeline for the cribs and changing tables. That left Jasper and I to check out diapers and bottles.

Everything looked the same to me, I couldn't tell the difference between one bottle and the other. Was there really a difference?

The formula was easy, a friend in Arizona always got the Enfamil whenever a cousin or sister got pregnant. I saw Enfamil New born baby formula with two ounce nursette bottles, so I grabbed three boxes of those to start off with. For diapers, I grabbed a large package of Huggies in the smallest size I could find, I'd heard that they don't cause as much chafing or rashes as other brands.

Logically, I knew I didn't have to buy anything right now. I had time, I could pick things up along the way and the couples would choose their own preferences when they felt the time was right. However, since I was already here and in no hurry, why not?

Jasper raised an eyebrow at me when I quickly picked out a brand and box or package, as if I'd done this before. I flushed.

"A friend in Arizona bought that kind of formula for people she knew when they got pregnant. I figured if it had bottles and formula, I could research the types of bottles we'd want to buy later. I'd heard from a few people that Huggies didn't cause as many rashes or chafed as much as other brands." I explained, chewing on my lip self consciously at the end.

He nodded. "That's understandable. I wouldn't know where to begin, either."

"We have time to figure it out." I rubbed his arm. "We have at least three weeks, then however long it takes until I am indeed pregnant. After that, there's the nine months until they're delivered."

He blew out a breath, scrubbing his hair with his free hand.

"Why don't we go see the crib choices?" I suggested, not only to change the subject, but no hoping he'd know something about wood to focus on. That we'd be meeting up with Emmett and Carlisle, who would most likely have already chosen their favorite cribs, wouldn't hurt.

"Alright."

He let me take his arm and lead him to the correct section. I raised both my eye brows. So many choices! How would we choose one?!

I went by aisle, looking carefully and closely at each one. Jasper didn't approve of any of them, he thought they weren't made well. Of course, he could see the cracks in the wood, I couldn't.

We found Carlisle and Emmett on the other side, that also had cribs.

Red, white, black, brown. Oak, maple, elm. Every color and wood I could think of was there. I'd yet to find one I really liked.

I finally found one that I really loved, a Sorelle Tuscany 4-in-1 Convertible Fixed-Side Crib and Changing Table Combo with an espresso finish. Perfect. I couldn't wait to show Esme, Alice and Rosalie.

I pointed the crib out to Carlisle and Emmett, they spoke in low voices before saying they could enforce it with steel to make it stronger.

"Why would you need to enforce it with steel?" I wondered, confused. What on Earth did they think we would use it for?

"It's likely that once they child has gained the ability to kick and roll, they will become stronger. They are partly. . .like us, so they may have some talents."

"Ah, I see." In other words, they would be strong and may be gifted like Alice or Jasper.

When Rosalie and Esme found us, they brought adorable outfits and stuffed animals with them that I adored.

Emmett grabbed six cans of sky blue paint so he and the other fathers to be could work with their partners in painting the nurseries. We'd decided to paint them that color, so it'd be neutral. Each couple could decide to change it after the gender was determined, if they wanted.

All seven of us headed to check-out and I flinched with my whole body when the cashier rang it all up. Alice casually and calmly handed over a shiny card, then the men loaded the new supplies into the cars.

I fell asleep on the drive home, content that we had some of the essentials covered. I dreamed of babies with mix of each couple's features. Blonde hair, brown hair. Blue eyes, grey eyes, green eyes.

They were beautiful, perfect babies.