"To die would be an awfully big adventure." ~Peter Pan


Chapter 125- Life and Death

"You want me to do what?" I asked, surprised.

I wasn't entirely sure that I had heard him correctly.

"You heard me right," he said. "The baby isn't what we thought it was. He's so much like Bella."

I watched Edward carefully.

"You're joking, right?" I asked. "This is all part of a joke?"
"I'm not joking."

"So you actually heard the fetus?"

"I heard him, yes. The voice you heard, it wasn't Bella. It was the baby."

"You know, that's not exactly reassuring."

"I'm sure in time he'll see what we all see in you."

"Edward, you understand that that thing isn't human, right? You understand that it is going to tear it's way out and it's going to kill her?"

"No it won't," he said slowly. "He's got enough room now to where he'd be able to survive on his own."

"Edward, I want you to hear me," I said, putting my hands on the side of his face and pulling his face to mine. "It can not be allowed to live. It is a threat to us all."

"No it's not," he whispered. "It's a baby. My baby."

"And you won't allow me near it?"

"No. Not if you are going to harm him."

"Then if you hear nothing else of what I've said today, here this. If you keep that child, then I will leave, and I will never come back. You will never hear from me."

"I can live with that, Alice," he whispered. "He's my son. I have to protect my son."

"Fine," I said, dropping my hands from his face. "I will help you with Bella. That is all."

I headed for the door, and didn't stop to look at Bella, who I figured was crying judging by the sniffling.

"What was that about?" Jasper asked when I stepped into the bedroom.

"Edward heard the thoughts of the fetus. He's helping Rosalie and Bella to protect it. I wonder if he realizes that his thoughts on the fetus will not save her. It will do what it knows, and that is to rip her apart from the inside."

Jasper looked at me apologetically and pulled me into a hug.

"So what are you going to do?" he asked as he rested his chin on top of my head.

"I don't think there's anything I can do," I mumbled into his shoulder. "Edward's not going to let me come near it."

"But?"

"But I don't have to be close."

"You think you can destroy it and keep Edward, Rosalie, and a newborn Bella from attacking?"
"Well I've thought about that," I said.

"Already?"

"Yes, I thought about it on the way up here."

"So what's the idea?"

"Do you remember me telling you about the Obscurus attack on New York City back in the 1920s?"

"Vaguely."
"Do you remember be telling you about the magical creatures that were released from Newt Scamnder's suitcase?"

"That I do remember."

"Well obviously the Muggles noticed, and they all had to be Obliviated. In 1927, there were over five million people in New York City, so they took Swooping Evil venom and put it into a storm. It's supposed to erase negative memories."

"But what if they don't view this as a negative memory?"

"Well I'm not saying to use Swooping Evil venom. I'm just saying, maybe I can mimic something similar. It would go over the town of Forks and La Push. Erase the fetus from their minds, replace the memory with a new one, a truce."

"Would they ever remember?"

I shook my head.

"They shouldn't."

"Are you ready to go to sleep?"

I shook my head.

"I don't know if I can sleep at this point."

"Can you try?"

"I can try," I murmured.

"Good," he smiled. "Kreacher brought the Wiggenweld potion, so I'll wake you up in a few hours."

I nodded.
"Deal."

Sleep was different like this. It felt heavy but peaceful. It felt like I was in the Netherworld, but it was black. I was alone, and I was actually okay with it.

I sat cross-legged in the blackness for a while. I wasn't entirely sure how much time had passed, but there came a point where the black began to lighten, and I saw a room beginning to form.

I stood up and looked around, watching as the room came to life.

"Who's there?" I called looking around.

"It's just me," Severus called back. His voice didn't come from any one direction. I could hear it like he was speaking into one of the intercoms at school. The only difference was Severus's voice was much more clear. "You'll see me in just a second."

The room had finished forming. It was Severus's living room in his house on Spinner's End.

In the center of the room there was a glowing white light that hovered. Around it, a shadow began to form, and the longer I looked, the more the form resembled Severus.

"It's very different to watch you come," I said. "I'm used to you already being here."

"I would have been, but there was a little dispute about who was coming."
"Who else wanted to come?"

"Fred wanted to come, and so did Remus."
"So you were the neutral option?"

"No," Severus laughed. There was a small glow, and then Severus looked how he always did here. "Dumbledore says there isn't a lot of time left, so I'm here to prepare you for what's going to happen next. Obviously, we're going to have to come up with a new plan now that Edward has changed his mind."

"I keep seeing this image in my head," I said slowly. "I let the fetus live and it destroys them all."

"Is this a plan or a fear?"

"It's neither. It's a prediction of what is yet to come. I am sure that this child will be an end of the Cullen clan."

"Well of course it will," Severus said. "Because this will prevent you and Jasper from ever returning. The Cullen clan will never be what it was."

"That's true," I said, sitting down in one of the chairs. "So why here? Why did you choose Spinner's End?"

"I missed my home," he said, looking around. "We can change it if you want, I just wanted to see it again."

I shook my head.

"It's fine. I liked being here."

"How are things going?"
"Not much different," I murmured. "Are you guys able to see everything or do you just watch me?"

"We can choose what we see. While you were hunting, we were focused on Jacob. He's an interesting boy."
"Where is he at?"

"Driving. He's trying to find somebody to imprint on."

"Poor boy," I sighed.

"I don't think it's going to work," he said.

"I don't either. But Jacob is doing what he thinks he has to do."

"So what are you planning to do about the fetus? I heard the idea you proposed to Jasper. Do you think it'll work?"

"No," I groaned, leaning back and covering my face with my hands.

"Why don't you think it'll work?"

"Because trying to obliviate around four thousand people isn't going to be easy."

"You won't have to obliviate everyone," Severus said, tugging on my wrist. "Just the Cullens, Charlie, the wolves, and the tribe's elders. Localize it to the specific memory. Bella's pregnancy, or in Charlie's case, her being sick."

"How would I explain the missing gap in time?"

"You or Tobias to replace the memories. Or you can explain to them that there was a threat, you had to take care of it, but it came with a price."

"The price being their memories?"

Severus nodded.

"You'd never have to tell them."

"And if Edward sees?"

"You could block that part of your memories from him. You can keep certain things from him, can't you?"
"Yes but if he gets suspicious then what do I say?"

"Tell him it's dangerous to know."

"And Jasper?"

"Maybe you could tell him after the two of you have left."
I was quiet for a moment.

"If I let the child live, we can't come back here. It's too dangerous. But if I kill it, I might not be able to save Bella."

"How are you feeling about that? Not being able to come back I mean."

"I think I'm okay," I said. "They've made a decision. A dangerous one. It could mean the end of us all."

"But not if you leave."

"Exactly. Jasper and I are leaving anyways. We just won't come back to visit."

"And if the Volturi finds out about the child?"

"I don't know," I sighed. "I guess they'd come for me and Jasper, although I hope that their fondness of Kingsley would be enough to save us."

"Or their fondness of you. They are still very eager for you to join them."

"I wonder how long I've been asleep," I said, looking up at the ceiling of the room.

"A few hours," he said. "You'd been asleep for about two hours when I came down here."

"I wonder when he'll wake me up."

"Soon," Severus said. "Edward came to ask, he said he'd probably wake you up around five."

"Do you know what time it is now?"

"Around that time. I expect it won't be long now."

"So you said you were here to prepare me for what comes next?"

"Yes," Severus said. "I want to make sure that you are confident in yourself and your task."

"I believe that I can save her," I said. "With all the energy and magic that I've been conserving, I don't see how I couldn't."

"Good," Severus smiled. "Time is running out."

"Carlisle is most likely going to deliver the fetus when he gets home tomorrow."

"But things can always take a turn overnight."

"I don't think it's likely for Bella to die if Carlisle delivers the fetus," I said, slowly. "Which means it must be tonight in order for Firenze's prediction to come to pass."

"So you must be sure that you act quickly. Keep the cuff on when you wake up. You'll know when it's time."

The pull was much different now than it usually was. I felt it, and then before anything more could be said, I was gone, and opening my eyes.

"Tonight," I told Jasper. "The fetus will come tonight."

"Did Severus tell you that?"

"No."

"Did you see something?"

"No."
"Then how do you know?"

"Because it's the only way for the stars to be right. Bella won't die if Carlisle delivers it, which must mean that it is ready to be born tonight."

"We have to tell Edward."

"Is he downstairs?"

"He's waiting outside for Jacob. He's almost here."

"I'd better go catch them both," I said.

I jumped out of the bed and hurried down the stairs.

"Where's the fire?" Rosalie asked.

"Where's Edward?"
"Garage, I think."

I hurried through the house, and into the garage.

"Good to see you awake," Edward said. "What's the matter?"

"The fetus is coming tonight," I said, sucking in a deep breath.

"What?" Edward asked, surprised. "Is Carlisle on his way back?"

"No, but the fetus is ready."

"How do you know?"
"Firenze's prophecy. Bella will die, but not if Carlisle delivers the child. He'll deliver it tomorrow which means that the child will be ready tonight."

Edward watched me carefully for a minute.
"You're serious?"

"Yes."

"How sure are you?"

"About 90 percent."

"And the other ten?"

"There is a chance that she could die on the table tomorrow," I said. "A small chance, but not an impossible one. She could be too weak to survive a surgery."

"So those are our options? Today or tomorrow?"

"It all depends on the fetus."

"Who knows?"

"Me, you, Jasper, and I guess Rosalie."

"You guess?"

"Well I'm sure she can hear us."

"Don't tell Bella," Edward said, more to Rosalie than to me. "I don't want her to worry before she has to."

"I want to check the child's growth," I said. "I'm not going to do anything to it, I just want to figure out the safest way to approach this."

Edward was quiet for a moment, and he looked in the direction of the house.

"Bella's asleep," he said. "Rosalie will keep an eye on you."

I nodded and turned back to the house.

"Oh, Alice?" Edward asked.

"What?"

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

When I stepped inside the living room, Jasper was in the living room with Rosalie. He held out a stethoscope to me.

"So you can hear," he said.

I nodded.

"You aren't going to fight him to get the cuff off?"

"Now isn't the time," I said, raising Bella's shirt slightly.

"Edward said he's trying to avoid rough movements," Rosalie said, watching over my shoulder. "He doesn't want to hurt her."

I pressed lightly against her stomach, feeling where the head and feet were. Her stomach was hard, but I could feel through it.

"Judging by the size, I'd say the child is definitely ready," I said.

"So what do we do?" Rosalie asked.

"We wait. It will come on it's time."

"And you're willing to sacrifice Bella?" Rosalie asked. She didn't sound upset or angry. She sounded almost pleased.

"Some things are set in stone," I said. "This is one of those things. She will die but that is not the end of her life."
Rosalie and Jasper's heads perked up.

"Is Jacob here?" I asked as I put on the stethoscope.

Jasper nodded.

"Edward isn't happy."

"Well then I'd better make this quick."

I listened closely to the child's heartbeat. It was strong, and much too fast for a human.

"Alice, what are you doing?" Bella murmured groggily.

"Checking the baby," Rosalie soothed. "Edward asked her to check on him to make sure everything was okay."

"Is everything okay?" Bella asked.

I nodded.

"The child is getting very big now."

"Do you think he'll be okay after the delivery?" Bella asked.

"I think so," I said.

"How long have you been asleep?" I asked, sitting on the arm of the couch.

"About fifteen minutes," Rosalie said.

"How long have you been awake?" Bella asked.

"About five or so minutes."

"You seem wide awake," she said.

"Yes," I agreed. "I ran through the house when I first woke up. Running seems to be the key."

"Why were you running?"

"Had a question for Edward that I wanted to ask before I lost it," I lied.

"What was it?"

"It was about the delivery. I wanted to know if I was going to be in the room on standby or if I would just wait somewhere in the house."

"Do you think you'll be needed?"

"I think you can never be too safe."
"What did he say?"

"That it's probably best for me to be in there."

"But you won't hurt him, right?"

"No," I said, although I wasn't entirely sure that it was true. "I won't hurt the child."

Jasper watched me carefully for a second before he stood up.

"I'm going to go upstairs for a few minutes," he said. "I have to owl Minerva about some arrangements at Hogwarts."

I nodded, and stood up to take his spot in the chair. He kissed my cheek and disappeared up the stairs.

"What arrangements?" Bella asked.

I shrugged.

"I guess about the days he's meant to stay at the castle."
"He has to stay?"

"Yes. He's there to learn his duties as a professor, learn the material he's going to teach, that sort of thing. Some nights he'll stay at the castle for patrols."

"So when you move back, it'll be you and Teddy at home all the time?"

"Not exactly. We're thinking of finding a place in Hogsmeade for the school year, and there's talk about us having our own private quarters in the castle. Nothing's been decided yet."

"When will it be?"

"After we move back, get settled, and get a routine."

"Routine?" Rosalie laughed. "You don't sleep."

"No, but Teddy does."

"I guess that's true," Bella said slowly. "Alice, does being a mother scare you?"

"Yes," I laughed. "Having a magical child, like mine or like yours, is going to bring some challenges, but having to raise another life is very scary."

"Isn't the hard part already over for you?" Rosalie asked. "I mean Teddy's what, almost nine? You won't have to worry about diaper changes, and late night feedings. All those things that Bella will have to do have been done for you."

"Yes," I agreed. "That hard part has been taken care of. But the hard part that still remains is I have to make sure that I won't make a new Voldemort or Grindelwald. I have to make sure I turn him into a respectable young wizard. Our customs and your customs are not the same."

Bella picked up the cup on the table next to her and sucked through the straw. It sounded empty, and she looked very disappointed.

Edward came through the door only seconds later.

"Bella, love, I thought you were sleeping," he said. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't have left."

"Don't worry. I just got so thirsty—it woke me up. It's a good thing Carlisle is bringing more. This kid is going to need it when he gets out of me."

"True. That's a good point."

"I wonder if he'll want anything else."

"I suppose we'll find out."

"It also didn't help that Alice had a cold stethoscope on my stomach," she said, darting her eyes at me.

"That was my fault," Edward murmured. "She's the best medically trained after Carlisle."

Jacob stepped through the door then.

"Finally, you're back," I said.

Bella looked to where I watched, and a smile spread across her face. Almost instantly it was gone, and her bottom lip quivered like she was going to cry.

"Hey, Bells," Jacob grinned. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine."

"Big day today, huh? Lots of new stuff."

"You don't have to do that, Jacob."

"Don't know what you're talking about," Jacob said, moving to sit at Bella's head on the arm of the couch. Edward sat by her head too, only he was on the floor. Rosalie sat at Bella's feet where I had been, and I sat the furthest from them all.

Bella looked at Jacob and gave a very weak smile.

I'm so—" she started, but was cut off when Jacob pinched her lips between his fingers.

"Jake," she grumbled, tugging on his hand.

"You can talk when you're not being stupid."

"Fine, I won't say it," she said.

When Jacob pulled his hand away, she quickly said, "Sorry!", and grinned.

Jacob was quiet for a moment, then he jerked his head at Edward.

I saw him mouth "Thank you", but I couldn't hear it. I was sure what had happened though.

He's given you his permission to change her, hasn't he?

Edward just barely nodded his head.

"So," Bella asked slowly. "How was your day?"

"Great. Went for a drive. Hung out in the park."

"Sounds nice."

"Sure, sure."

"It does sound nice," I murmured.

I looked back to the others, and noticed Bella making a face.

"Rose?" she asked.

"Again?" Rosalie laughed.

"I think I've drank two gallons in the last hour," Bella told Jacob as he and Edward moved when Rosalie came to pick her up.

She held up a hand when Rosalie went to tuck her hand under her knees.

"Can I walk?" she asked, looking between Edward and Rosalie. "My legs are so stiff."

"Are you sure?" Edward asked.

"Rose'll catch me if I trip over my feet. Which could happen pretty easily, since I can't see them."

Jacob looked away from Bella locking eyes with me. I was sure he was trying to talk to me, but I showed him the cuff and he sighed.

"That feels good," Bella said. "Ugh, but I'm huge."

I studied her stomach carefully. She was in fact huge. Her stomach stuck out from her so far that it was hard to believe she wasn't carrying twins.

Edward looked at me in surprise.

"That was rude," he mouthed to me.

She'll never know what I said, I thought back winking.

"All righty, then. Whoops—oh, no!"

I watched as the cup that rested on the arm of the sofa tipped over. Bella, Rosalie, and Edward all reached for it, but the mess was quickly forgotten.

A strange sound came from Bella. It sounded like a ripping sound. She suddenly went limp, and slumped to the floor. Rosalie caught her, easing the fall, and Edward held his hands out.

The room was quiet for a moment as we watched Bella.

"Alice, what's happening?" Edward asked.

Before I could answer, Bella screamed, and the sound was cut short very quickly. There was a gurgling noise, and a fountain of blood following.

"It's time," I said, watching the scene before me in horror. "The child is coming. Jasper!"

It was as soon as I called for him that Jasper appeared.

"Alice!" he said worried, "what's wr—oh god."

He watched wide eyed in horror with the rest of us as Bella's body jerked from the center. The child was trying to rip it's way free, breaking bones as it went.

"I need the cuff off," I told Jasper. "It's time."

Rosalie swept Bella up as Jasper pulled the cuff from my hand. Jasper stood behind me and the rubber band feeling snapped into place.

"Alice, get Carlisle on the phone," Rosalie screeched at me, as she carried Bella up the stairs. I pulled my phone from my pocket, dialing the number as I followed behind.

"Alice, what is it?" Carlisle asked when he picked up the phone.
"The child is coming now," I said, quickly explaining what had happened.

"Get Rosalie on the phone," he said.

I hurried into the room, and put a bluetooth into Rosalie's ear.

"Alice, help me," Edward begged, "she's choking."

I held my breath and hurried to Bella's head. Edward moved out of the way as I held a hand over Bella's throat. It glowed, and she took a gasping breath, but it was quickly cut off by gurgling.

"I don't think it's going to work," I told Edward. "She's bleeding from somewhere inside."

"Can you fix it?"

"Not while you're trying to get the child out."

Bella vomited again, this time it covered my hand and the sleeve of my shirt.

"You'll have to hold her head up," I said. "It's the best option we have."

Edward nodded and looked up.

"No, Rose!" he exclaimed.

Rosalie had the scalpel to her face. Her lip was curled up, and he black eyes glinted.

Jacob launched himself across the table, kicking Rosalie across the room. She buckled into the door.

"Keep her breathing," I said, moving to grab Rosalie by the throat.

"Alice, get her out of here!" Edward shouted. "Take her to Jasper and hurry back here. Jacob, I need you!"

I pulled Rosalie behind me, and brought her to Jasper, who was still in the living room. Rosalie didn't fight me as I sat her on the couch, and she didn't fight as I held her down while Jasper put on the cuff.

"Alice, you have to save him," she cried. "He's just a little baby."

"No, Rosalie," I said, shaking my head. "That thing is a monster. It's ripping her apart."

I heard a large crack from upstairs.

"Her spine," Edward gasped mortified.

"I have to go," I told Jasper. "Keep her here."

When I returned to the room, Jacob was doing CPR on Bella.

Keep it going, he repeated in his mind. You promised. Keep your heart beating.

"What do you need me to do?" I asked Edward.
"Save her," he cried.

"I can't do much until it's out," I said, watching as he cut through her stomach.

"Then help Jacob keep her throat clear until he's out."
I moved up to Jacob, and kept a hand in front of Bella's throat. My hand glowed every now and again, and her chest expanded as Jacob blew air into her.

The sounds of screeching filled the room as we all worked quietly. I looked up to see Edward ripping through the child's protective barrier.

Jacob blew one more breath into Bella and she coughed. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

"Alice, what's happening to her?" he cried.

"She's dying," I whispered.

"Save her! That's your job!"

"I can't. Not until the thing is out of her."

"You stay with me now, Bella!" Jacob shouted at her. "Do you hear me? Stay! You're not leaving me. Keep your heart beating!"

Her eyes rolled around the room, looking for somebody but seeing nothing. Then suddenly the jerking stopped. She seemed to breathe on her own now, and her heart continued beating. It was uneven but it was beating. The creature was out of her.

"Renesmee," Edward whispered lovingly.
Jacob and I looked at each other, and both of us seemed to be disgusted by the display of affection that Edward showed to the creature that almost killed his wife.

"Let me…," Bella said, her voice sounding far away. "Give her to me."

I thought you said she was going to die, Jacob thought, not taking his eyes off Bella.

"Just wait," I said, watching as Edward handed Bella the child. "I have a feeling this isn't the end of this."

"Renes… mee," she gasped. "So… beautiful."

She gasped one more time. This time in pain. I could hear the sound of her flesh tearing, and I understood almost immediately what had happened to her. The thing had bit her.

Edward ripped the child off of Bella, and he muttered, "No, Renesmee," sounding almost like he was trying to teach it manners.

I listened closely, and Bella's heart made one final thump before the only heartbeats in the room was Jacob's and the creatures.

"Alice," Jacob begged. "Please."

"I need you to move," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Jacob stepped to where I had been and I took his place. I laid a hand against Bella's heart, and looked to Edward.

"You're going to have to get venom through her while I work. Once her heart catches, the venom is going to start working."

"Jacob, take the baby," Edward said.

"Throw it out the window."

"Give her to me," Rosalie said from the doorway.

Jacob and Edward both snarled.

"I've got it under control," Rosalie said. "Alice put her cuff on me. Give me the baby, Edward. I'll take care of her until Bella…" she trailed off, and Edward moved to give her the baby. I waited for him as he reached in the drawer for the syringe with venom.

"Ready?" I asked.

Edward nodded and I moved my hand.

"What is that?" Jacob asked, placing a hand where mine had been.

"It's my venom," Edward said, knocking Jacob's hand out of the way.

As he plunged the syringe through Bella's heart, he turned to Jacob.

"Keep her heart moving."

Jacob did as he was told, and I sucked in a deep breath before I placed a hand on her throat and a hand over Jacob's which moved in sharp, sudden jerks.

Somewhere in the back of my head, I could hear Fred.

You can do this, Alice, he said.

I believed the voice. I knew I could do it. After all, I had done it before.

My hands began to glow white, and I focused on Jacob's thoughts while I worked.

All the king's horses and all the king's men, Jacob thought to himself, but there is nothing here, just me, Alice, him. Working over a corpse. Because that's all that was left of the girl he and I both loved. This broken, bled-out, mangled corpse. We couldn't put Bella together again.

I turned my attention to Edward, who repeated the same thing over and over again.

It's going to be okay. Alice can save her.

The two minds were very different. Jacob had given up, but Edward still held hope.

"It might take a second," I said, more to myself than to Edward and Jacob. "I've only practiced on deer."

"Please just try," Edward begged.

I nodded and turned my attention back to Bella.

"Go, then," Edward snapped to a thought I hadn't heard. He knocked Jacob's hands out of the way, and I could hear the crunch of two more fingers.

"She's not dead," Edward muttered, whether to himself, to me, or to Jacob, I wasn't sure. "She's going to be fine."

Jacob left the room, and I placed a hand on Edward's hand.

"Stop for just a moment," I said.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"The magic is healing her. Her spine, the broken nerves, vessels. Everything. Her heart won't work if it's got nowhere to put the blood."

"This worked on the deer?" he said.
"Yes. I was able to bring back three of the six."

Edward nodded and fell silent.
We worked quietly, and after almost five minutes, we heard her heart pick up. It was slow, and then it built faster and faster.

"Alice, you did it," Edward said, looking down at Bella surprised.

"Was it me or the venom?"

"It was you," he said, pulling me into a tight hug.

"So what happens now?"

"Now we wait."


Hey guys!

I hope that this chapter was well worth the wait for you. It took days for me to be happy with it, and even then I'm still not a hundred percent certain of it. I'm more like 98% happy with it. Things seem to be moving semi slow right now, but soon things will pick back up. I have two weeks left of driver's ed (next week and the week after) and then I'll have more free time.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and I can't think of any more notes at this time.

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