A/N: This is mid-Eclipse through the end of Breaking Dawn from Edward's perspective. Thanks for reading!

These characters are not mine and all belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Thank you to Amanda Pall, katha4, MorganKFreeman, nynevenevermore, and everyone else for your kind Ch. 24 reviews, favorites, and follows!

Hearing Him (Breaking Dawn)

I missed Jacob.

As Bella curled over her abdomen, grimacing in pain. As Rosalie kept up her insensitive remarks. As Alice's anguish spilled into my own.

The house was cold and stiff and starved without him. He made a great companion in misery. His shape didn't collapse. He held steady. He kept his sense of humor. He didn't sugarcoat things. I could better understand now how his bond with Bella had grown so quickly, so deep, during those painful winter months.

Bella exhaled in a sharp gust. Her eyes squeezed shut.

I knelt beside her stroking her face with the back of my hand, wishing I could do something. I wanted to mutilate the thing. Get it out of her and shred it into bits... No, right now I just wanted her to not be in pain.

Where the hell was Jacob?

It didn't matter where he was. All that was just a coincidence. Why on earth would his presence pacify it?

A coincidence.

But still, it was worth a try wasn't it? Maybe I could convince him to stick around longer this time. I couldn't share my theory with him. No, he would find it quite offensive if I even suggested that... what? What exactly was my theory? That the thing, behind a barrier as solid as my skin, had taken a liking to him?

Oh, he'd love that.

But that was nonsense. It had to be something else. Something about Bella. What if it was that his presence was so comforting to her that the thing couldn't help but be soothed, too? Like he calmed her whole system down in a way that even Jasper couldn't.

That would make sense. How she'd asked for him constantly. How she'd feared he wouldn't come. It was behaviorism. He shows up and the pain lessens. He shows up and she can relax. He shows up and she can sleep.

Maybe. If the pattern kept up I'd get Carlisle's thoughts. Jacob was a lot more likely to stick around at my father's request than mine or, perhaps, even Bella's.

...mind of their own.

Jacob.

You don't want to imprint? Leah asked him.

Hell, no!

That's just because you're already in love with her, Leah argued. That would go away, you know, if you imprinted. You wouldn't have to hurt over her anymore.

Do you want to forget the way you feel about Sam?

She considered that carefully. I think I do.

She's in a healthier place than I am, he thought.

He'd accused Bella of not letting go of him, but he couldn't let go of her, either. It was different, of course. She'd turned him down. And then, despite that, called him back to her.

Behaviorism. That's all, I rationalized. She wasn't trying to hurt him. She just wanted some peace.

Bella gripped my wrist, letting out an involuntary squeak. "Sorry, Sorry," she panted, quickly releasing me. "I'm fine. Just a little nudge."

"He's an active little boy this morning," Rosalie said, almost singing the words.

I didn't speak, fearing my voice would come out wrong.

"Shh..." Bella stroked my cheek. "I'm stronger now. I can handle this."

"Bella," I breathed.

"It's just four more days," she said, smiling though her face was ghost white and dewed in sweat.

You would kill for that? Jacob's loud, furious thought cut through my concentration.

That's not what she's doing, Leah said defensively. I think it's more like she's living vicariously. And... if Bella asked me to help her with this... Even though I don't think too much of her, I'd probably do the same as the bloodsucker.

Jacob snarled.

Because, Leah added quickly, if it was turned around, I'd want Bella to do that for me. And so would Rosalie. We'd both do it her way.

Ugh! You're just as bad as they are!

That's the funny thing about knowing you can't have something. It makes you desperate.

Jacob phased a mile out to get away from Leah's sick head. He was coming to the house.

Thank God, I thought as Bella gripped my wrist again.

"Still fine," she said quickly.

Alice sighed upstairs. Her headache was gone.

A strange noise sounded from Bella's lower abdomen.

"Carlisle," I said urgently.

"What?" Bella's face was blank.

"Didn't you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

She hadn't grimaced or twitched so I didn't think she was lying to protect me. Somehow she hadn't felt it.

Carlisle leaned over the back of the couch.

"Edward, what are you talking about?" Rosalie demanded.

"You must have heard that," I asserted, turning to Rosalie.

"Heard what?" You know I'm not lying to you.

"It was a - a cracking noise."

"Where?" Carlisle asked.

"Her pelvis, I think."

"Let's take her upstairs," Carlisle murmured.

"Seriously, Carlisle, I didn't hear anything."

"I was sitting closer," I said.

"I would have heard it if her bone cracked."

I ignored Rosalie and scooped Bella into my arms. She seemed uncomfortable, but no more than usual. Mostly she looked confused.

"Wouldn't I feel it, Carlisle?" Bella asked.

"You would think." He frowned. Loss of sensation... But what would cause that? "We'll have our answer in no time," he assured her, patting her shoulder as I set her down.

Once again I stood anxiously by the screen waiting for the image to load.

"Hmm." Carlisle put his hand to his chin. Edward, I don't see anything. Do you?

Of course if he saw nothing, I wouldn't either.

"Maybe the amniotic sac is masking something?"

"We could try repositioning her."

Reposition all you want, Rosalie snarked. You're not going to find anything.

"What if it was the amniotic sac itself? It blacks out on the images. How would we know? What if the fetus is..."

Trying to exit the womb? Carlisle finished. But that would be even louder than bone breaking.

"I know I heard something, Carlisle."

But Rosalie was right, the new images were clear as well.

You're under a lot of stress, Edward. That can take its toll, even on our kind. But stay vigilant. Perhaps you've detected the beginning of something. I could hear Carlisle's anxiety over this potential unknown.

"See, I told you I didn't hear a crack," Rosalie said. "You need your ears checked, Edward."

I held my tongue. I'd heard something. I was certain of it... But why didn't Rosalie hear it? Why didn't it cause Bella pain?

Was I losing my mind?

"Edward's going to end up ripping Rose into small pieces, I think." I could hear Alice's low murmur through her thoughts. "I'm surprised she doesn't see that. Or maybe she thinks Emmett will be able to stop him."

"I'll take Emmett," Jacob offered. "You can help Edward with the ripping part.

God, that's tempting, Alice thought.

I carried Bella down the stairs with Rosalie right behind me.

"Jake," Bella whispered, smiling through her pain.

He stared back at her, too numb to answer.

I placed her on the couch and resumed my spot by her head so I could monitor her face and listen for abnormalities.

Jacob wondered briefly why we didn't leave Bella upstairs. Must be Bella's idea, he decided. Act like things are normal, avoid the hospital setup. And Edward's humoring her. Naturally.

"Carlisle," Jacob said, seeing my father slowly descend the stairs, his face creased with worry. "We went halfway to Seattle. There's no sign of the pack. You're good to go."

"Thank you, Jacob. This is good timing. There's much that we need." She'll be out of blood by tomorrow night...

"Honestly, I think you're safe to take more than three," Jacob said. "I'm pretty positive that Sam is concentrating on La Push."

Carlisle nodded. "If you think so. Alice, Esme, Jasper, and I will go. Then Alice can take Emmett and Rosa - "

"Not a chance," Rosalie hissed. "Emmett can go with you now."

"You should hunt," Carlisle urged gently.

"I'll hunt when he does," she growled, jerking her head in my direction.

Carlisle sighed. She overestimates her control. He's endured much worse. Though, Edward, why take the risk? You could stay close. Be back in thirty minutes.

I didn't acknowledge the thought.

Jasper and Emmett held their breath until they were outside and soon the group was on their way.

Jacob sauntered over to the armchair beside Rosalie's purely for the sake of agitating her. I might have appreciated that on a different day.

"Ew," Rosalie murmured as Jacob extended his foot in her direction. "Someone put the dog out."

"Have you heard this one, Psycho? How do a blonde's brain cells die?"

I know how you'll die. Rosalie wouldn't give him the satisfaction of an answer.

"Well? Do you know the punch line or not?" He glanced in my direction. "Has she heard it?"

"No," I answered, not looking away from Bella.

"Awesome," he said eagerly. "So you'll enjoy this, bloodsucker - a blonde's brain cells die alone."

Bella rolled her eyes.

"I have killed a hundred times more often than you have, you disgusting beast. Don't forget that."

"Someday, Beauty Queen, you're going to get tired of just threatening me. I'm really looking forward to that."

"Enough, Jacob." Bella's voice dragged. She'd hardly slept since he left the previous night.

Don't want to bug her. "You want me to take off?" he asked.

She blinked, her face smoothing out. "No! Of course not."

I sighed quietly and he sighed, too.

Thought she'd finally gotten tired of me, he thought, disappointed. He'd heard me sigh, too. I know he wishes she'd get over me.

A day ago, sure. But that was the last thing I wanted now. I was relieved she wanted him to stay. Just the same as last night, the thing was calm.

"You look tired," Bella commented.

"Dead beat."

"I'd like to beat you dead," Rosalie said under her breath so Bella couldn't hear.

It was quiet for a few minutes. Peace returned as much as was possible. Except in my head where I was questioning my sanity again.

"Can I get some more, Rose?"

Rosalie took Bella's cup and disappeared upstairs.

And then there was a sound. Almost like Bella had mumbled something, but her lips hadn't moved.

"Did you say something?" I asked, my tone puzzled.

No one said anything, Jacob thought. His hearing's as good as mine - he should know that.

Bella stared back at me, confused. "Me?" she asked, clearly thinking I'd meant the question for someone else. "I didn't say anything."

If she hadn't said anything... If Jacob hadn't heard anything, either... And earlier, the noise Rosalie didn't hear...

There was only one train of thought now.

I shifted onto my knees, leaning over Bella so I was just inches from her face, my eyes locked onto hers.

"What are you thinking about right now?" I asked, my voice low.

She looked almost startled by my intensity. "Nothing. What's going on?"

There it was again.

"What were you thinking about a minute ago?" I followed up quickly.

"Just..." She blushed red. "Esme's island. And feathers."

And again.

It was coming from her. It was definitely coming from her. But why now? And why was it so indistinct? Was I... was I really hearing her?

The tenor was there. I didn't sense embarrassment or discomfort, though. Or lust. It was joy. Pure joy.

It dimmed.

"Say something else," I whispered.

"Like what? Edward, what's going on?"

The thoughts grew louder - they were childlike and delighted. Delighted as if listening to the most perfect music. Or the most perfect voice.

My eyes grew even wider as I looked down at her huge, rounded abdomen.

It. The thing.

Very lightly, for the first time, I put both hands over the bulge.

Rosalie gasped. What the hell...?

"The f - " I swallowed. "It... the baby likes the sound of your voice."

For a moment there was only the - the baby settling again. Rosalie and Jacob were lost in wordless shock. Then -

"Holy crow, you can hear him!" Bella shouted.

There was alarm and... colors? Striking blurs of orange and red. These were the loudest thoughts yet.

A quick tremor erupted at the peak of her stomach and she winced.

It kicked. It got scared and it kicked.

I moved my hand to the spot and gently rubbed it. It was sensitive enough to feel the gentle vibrations of my hand through its hard shell and it was soothed.

"Shh," I murmured. "You startled it... him." I inclined my head closer, concentrating.

"Sorry, baby," she said softly, patting the side of her stomach.

It - he? She? He was... soaring. Warmed by her tender tone, our tender touch.

"What's he thinking now?" she demanded eagerly.

The vibrations and that voice - this was heaven. This was more than he'd ever imagined was possible.

Such a simple joy. Innocent.

"It... he or she, is..." Words failed me for a moment. I looked up into her bright brown eyes, filled with awe. "He's happy."

Her breath caught and tears overflowed her eyes running down her cheeks and over her smiling lips.

It. It. It. It was like her. Innocent and good.

This... baby. This baby was a part of her. More of her. More Bella. I remembered imagining the children she might have some day with some other man when us seemed impossible. The little girl with her dark hair and her chocolate eyes. A little Bella.

"Of course you're happy, pretty baby, of course you are," Bella crooned, rubbing her stomach as she continued to cry. The baby was practically purring. "How could you not be, all safe and warm and loved? I love you so much, little EJ, of course you're happy."

"What did you call him?" I asked. I had the strangest feeling. Like walking into a movie late or starting a book halfway.

Her cheeks turned pink. "I sort of named him. I didn't think you would want... well, you know." Her tone was sheepish, but there was a hint of defensiveness, too.

"EJ?" I pressed. The letters together didn't mean anything to me.

"Your father's name was Edward, too."

"Yes, it was." I'd never told her that. Perhaps Carlisle had. And the J? "What - ?"

The baby was... intrigued... no, fascinated. The baby was fascinated by this new voice.

"Hmm." There was a warmth spreading in my chest.

"What?" Bella asked.

"He likes my voice, too." His thoughts were a lovely hum.

"Of course he does," Bella said, her tone almost gloating. "You have the most beautiful voice in the universe who wouldn't love it?"

I could live without it sometimes. Despite her snark, Rosalie's thoughts weren't hostile. She was touched... and exceptionally smug.

"Do you have a backup plan?" she asked Bella, leaning over the back of the sofa. "What if he's a she?"

I stared off, focused on the strange murmurs from Bella's womb. From Bella's child.

She sniffed back tears. "I kicked a few things around. Playing with Renée and Esme. I was thinking... Ruh-nez-may."

"Ruhnezmay?" Rosalie checked.

"R-e-n-e-s-m-e-e. Too weird?"

A bit.

"No, I like it," Rosalie assured her. "It's beautiful. And one of a kind, so that fits."

"I still think he's an Edward."

Everything else melted away as I recognized it.

It was the baby. It was him. It was his regard for her. Though it was wordless, imageless, it was so familiar, it could have been from my own memory. It was my mother's adoring smile. It was Carlisle and Esme's forgiving embrace after my long absence. It was Alice knowing me though we'd only just met. It was hearing Bella say my name in her sleep, telling me to stay. It was holding her in the meadow. It was my arms around her in a dark, dingy Italian tunnel. It was hearing her yes, my mother's ring on her hand. It was seeing her walk toward me in white.

In all those memories it was love. Pure and joyful love. The kind that felt like glowing. And my heart was swelling because I loved him. I loved him. I loved him like I loved Carlisle. I loved him because he was an extension of her. I loved him because he loved her.

"What? What's he thinking now?" Bella asked.

My heart felt so full and well that it could have started beating and I would have hardly noticed.

They all gasped as I laid my ear tenderly to her stomach and closed my eyes.

"He loves you," I whispered, dazed. "He absolutely adores you."

Bella rubbed my back as I listened and there was peace. There was peace in my head. A part of me remembered that in many ways I was still in the middle of hell, but I didn't focus on that part. I focused on this tiny island that I stood on now.

When I finally looked up at her I was smiling. Smiling in a way I never thought I'd smile again. She half-laughed, half-sobbed, placing one hand on my cheek and the other on her belly over her child.

There was a quick motion in my peripheral vision.

Jacob. He was on his feet and he was suffering. Suffering like I had been not five minutes ago. Suffering at the sight of my island of peace. Suffering over the girl. Suffering over my betrayal. Suffering alone.

"Ahh," I choked as his thoughts dragged me back under.

Jacob stood there trembling, longing for escape. Escape he wouldn't find here. Escape he wouldn't find as a wolf.

I darted to the end table and pulled out the keys to my Vanquish. Max speed: one-ninety. That was the best I could give him. I tossed the keys.

"Go, Jacob. Get away from here."

I stood staring at the doorway he'd just passed through, listening. Worrying that maybe I'd done the wrong thing. How desperate was he for escape?

Desperate. But not suicidal. Not this time. His plans started to firm up as Leah's voice, just a memory, looped in his head. That would go away, you know, if you imprinted. You wouldn't have to hurt over her anymore.

I'd been there before. Every day for nearly seven months, I'd been there. Bound to the girl I could not have.

I didn't turn back to Bella until his thoughts grew quiet at the far end of the winding drive.

"What is it?" Bella finally whispered, tugging at my hand. "What's wrong with him?" I didn't know if the fresh tears on her face were over the baby or him.

I took her hand and knelt beside her again, desperate not to upset her. "He just needed a break. He was tired of having everyone in his head."

"I hurt him again," she whispered, easily seeing through my explanation.

"No," I murmured. "No, Bella. It was my fault."

"Your fault?"

Rosalie handed me a tissue and I dabbed gently at Bella's wet face.

I half-smiled. "I suppose Jacob and I were sort of allied in our ignorance. And now..."

"And now you know," she stated in a soft yet serious voice. It wasn't a question or an I-told-you-so. It was something of a reproval. In all of her frailty, there was something fierce burning beneath it. A line had been crossed and that had to be acknowledged.

I nodded. "And now I know."

She smiled easily and I knew my slate had once again been wiped clean.

"You're going to be a father," she whispered.

My face went blank and I blinked.

Rosalie and Bella laughed at the ridiculousness of my reaction to this obvious fact, but the thing was, from the second I realized he was an innocent, thinking little being, he'd gone from being my parasitical offspring to being hers. Of her.

But he was mine, too. I felt so fortunate, so incredibly undeserving to have a claim, a tie to this creature that was so much like her.

Never, never before I met Bella had I longed for a child. And when I did, it was only because I'd wanted to be able to give her everything a human man could.

A father. It was hard to wrap my head around the idea.

Bella's warm hand cupped the side of my face. "Don't worry. You're going to be a great dad."

I took a deep breath and then I smiled. "We're going to be parents."

"Yup." She looked amused and a little smug. And completely adorable.

I laughed. And then I kissed her cheeks and her forehead and her nose and her eyelids and finally, carefully cradling her face in my hands, her lips.

She sighed happily, leaning her forehead against mine, eyes closed.

"EJ," I murmured. My son. I placed my hands on her rounded stomach once again.

"You like it?"

I almost asked about the J, but I realized I already knew. Edward Jacob.

"I like EJ, but..." I hesitated. It didn't feel like my place to have an opinion at this point.

"But?"

"But not Edward. I wasn't particularly fond of my father. And, should he" - I patted her stomach - "ever decide to go by Edward it would be a bit tedious hearing it in everyone's thoughts all the time. Confusing."

She pouted for a moment.

I stroked her protruding bottom lip with my finger. "Perhaps if we agreed to only call him EJ. It really wouldn't be such a problem then..."

"That's fair."

Such a pushover, Rosalie mocked.

"Besides, as Rosalie pointed out, he may be a she."

"I don't think so."

I pictured a little Bella again. A daughter. It wasn't so hard to imagine.

But a son. That was harder.

I listened to the child's peaceful flow of thoughts. Calm, soothing... Seth's face came to mind.

There was the whir of color again. Orange and red. Then -

"Oh," Bella gasped.

She reached toward the spot he kicked but I grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"Be gentle little one," I said, my voice stern but calm.

He wondered at this new tone and volume - not frightening, but not as pleasant as before.

Bella and Rosalie shared a glance.

A few seconds passed and I sensed its slow movement.

I rubbed the area of her stomach over where, based on my localization of his thoughts, I assumed his head to be. "That's right," I murmured. "Gentle, gentle."

He lit up again and I chuckled at his elation.

Now this is a side of him I've never seen before... Rosalie mused.

"What?" Bella whispered, clearly impatient but trying not to disturb whatever I was doing.

"He - "

She grimaced again.

"No, no little one. You mustn't kick." Stern again.

"I'm trying to teach him," I whispered to Bella and Rosalie.

Bella opened her mouth to reply but I put my finger to her lips and whispered, "We can't reward his bad behavior." I grinned. "And your voice sends him over the moon."

After a moment he moved again. Unconsciously, it seemed, but it wasn't rough so again I rewarded him. "Good, baby. Gentle baby."

"Sweet little EJ," Bella cooed. "My sweet little boy."

Something was coming to him then. He rotated cautiously, consciously, trying to connect the dots.

I laughed as I patted her stomach. "Yes, little one. Good, good. Gentle." I looked up at Bella, my eyes round with awe again. "He's starting to understand."

She looked too stunned to speak.

I wanted to cry and I wanted to sing. I wanted her to be healthy and whole and as strong as me so I could pull her up into my arms without reserve and communicate with my embrace what words could not possibly express.

This was truly her child. Her kind, loving child who could learn and be taught.

And I could help her. I could do something for her. Just like Jacob, I could help take the pain away.

We kept it up, praising and - less and less - correcting until Bella bit her lip.

"Bathroom break?" Rosalie guessed.

"Sorry," Bella whispered, but she was looking at me. I wasn't sure if she regretted separating him from me or if she worried my new perspective might falter in our brief time apart.

I quickly shook my head dismissing her apology.

Once Rosalie had pulled her up, I sat in Bella's spot staring at my hands. They were still warm from resting on her stomach.

With her out of sight, the anxiety flared again.

Two. Two to worry about now.

He still posed a grave threat to her. I loved him now. I did. But Bella would always be my first priority. What complicated things was that he would always be hers.

There are some things worse than death. Esme's words rang in my head.

I could never ever let anything happen to this child. It would kill Bella in the worst way.

If Alice could have seen this. Him. My love for him. My acceptance of him as a part of her. Even then, I would have fought for Bella to terminate the pregnancy. Or, better yet, that night wouldn't have happened at all. Because nothing was worth seeing her suffer like this. Not even her son who was so much like her and had no fault in this.

But she wouldn't terminate. And that night did happen. And there was absolutely no going back now. Yes, this was still hell - the hell that I had created - but Bella had found a way to grow roses here.

Bella. EJ. I had to protect them both.

Don't overreact, Seth pleaded. I'm sure he's fine.

It's been two hours.

Leah, Seth whined. Leave it alone.

"Stay with Bella," I murmured low to Rosalie.

"Where are you going?" Bella asked when I stood.

"It's Seth - he's just checking in."

"Ask him if he's heard from Jacob."

"I will."

The grey wolf stopped about twenty feet from the porch steps, her discomfort obvious in her stance. Seth still ran the perimeter.

What the hell happened, bloodsucker?

Just - uh - just curious what Jake's up to. Seth tried to soften her inquiry but he was worried, too.

"Leah," I greeted her. "Jacob just wanted a little space. To be alone. I lent him the car."

And why did he need space, leech? Leah asked at the same time Seth responded, Where did he go?

"He wasn't completely decided yet. Not home, though. Maybe Seattle."

Why was he upset? Was it the blonde? Was it Bella? Leah launched her questions at me furiously.

I didn't really want to tell her anything, not with how her thoughts wrapped around Bella's name as if it was a curse. But I owed her and keeping the peace was priority. I deliberated for half a second on exactly how much to share with them before deciding transparency was probably best.

"It's difficult to explain - "

Try.

I went on as if I hadn't heard her. "I heard the baby's thoughts. He doesn't want to hurt her. He cares for her already. And it was - I suppose it was a bit of an emotional moment for Bella and I. But - I think you can imagine - quite difficult for Jacob to witness. He was thinking about what you told him, about imprinting. That he wouldn't have to hurt anymore. I should have been more sensitive about the situation. I - "

Wonderful. Congratulations. She turned, grumbling as she went.

I sighed.

"Has Seth heard from Jake?" Bella asked first thing.

"No, but I wouldn't worry. This is what Jacob wanted. To be alone." More or less.

...forgot to tell him something about the trail we picked up. The trail to the South. Probably nothing. Better safe than sorry. The trail to the south and the scent...

Leah was coming up to the house again. Human. Her thoughts were strange, as if she was trying to memorize something. Or conceal something.

Who's that? Rosalie asked, hearing the approach.

"Leah," I said under my breath.

The one that hates us? Great.

"What now?" Bella asked when I stood again.

"Leah's coming to the door. I'll see what she needs."

I pulled the door open just as she jogged up the steps.

"Hello, Leah. Was there something - "

"I want to speak to Bella."

"About?"

She'd already edged past me through the door when her intentions started to become clear.

Rosalie was swiftly on her feet, standing partially in front of Bella.

"Hi, Leah," Bella said shyly. "It's good to see you again."

"That's nice. Look, Bella, I've got a bit of an issue with you." She crossed her arms over her worn t-shirt.

"Oh." Bella's voice quivered.

"Yeah. First off - "

"You're entitled to your feelings, Leah. But Bella is too fragile for this." There was a warning behind my calm. "Let's discuss this outside."

"Oh, don't even get me started on you, Edward Cullen. God, you don't give a fuck about anybody. Except Bella. And half the time you treat her like shit, too. But I wouldn't expect anything different from a leech.

"Bella, on the other hand, claims to be Jacob's best friend." She looked back to Bella. "And sorry, Bells, you're not cutting it."

"You're right. There's a lot I should have done differently."

"You said your piece, now go." I blocked Leah's line of sight to Bella.

"In a sec, bloodsucker." She stepped around me again. "The way I see it, you've been shit to Jacob since day one. Manipulating him into breaking the treaty to get the scoop on your bloodsucking boyfriend. Then Eddie here goes off on his spiritual journey, and you're all over Jacob. Hugs and hand holding and sweet little walks on the beach. And the whole fucking time you knew he had feelings for you. And then one day someone's not getting enough attention, so she throws herself off a cliff. For the love of God, woman, you're supposed to eat ice cream and get a bad haircut when you go through a break up. But ya don't. You do this instead. So while my dad's off dying of a fucking heart attack, Jacob - Jacob who's a zombie because he's already running extra patrols around your house - has to go pluck you out of the ocean. Then you ditch him for one of your leeches, almost kiss Jacob, ditch him for another leech, pester him for two months for abandoning you. Then, even though you're with the leech again, we're back to the hugs and the hand holding and the sweet little walks on the beach - "

"Get out," I growled. I stepped closer to her, but I felt completely helpless. I couldn't attack her. Bella's heart pounded behind me but I didn't dare take my eyes off of Leah and Rosalie didn't either.

Leah's whole frame shook but otherwise she acted as if I wasn't there. "Then Jacob keeps you from freezing to death, saving your life again. And even though you're engaged and there's a fucking war about to start, you decide it's a good time to stick your tongue down his throat and realize wow, I guess I am in love with Jacob. So what do you do about it? Well, you wait until he's a bedridden mess and tell him you can see your beautiful future together, but sorry, its not good enough."

"Leah, I swear - "

"You tell Jacob you're gonna fuck the leech, 'cause, why not? Best friends tell each other everything. And he tells you it's a dumb idea, but you do it anyway. You get knocked up. And so you can have your perfect, happy little family, Jacob, Seth, and I give up ours. And you insist on rubbing it in his face, looking at him like a little puppy dog - "

"Good lord. You are a bitch."

Leah and I both looked up at Rosalie, stunned.

"Honestly, you make me miss Jacob," Rosalie said, revolted.

"I know all about you, Blondie. You're just pissed I'm upsetting the little monster spawn."

"No, I'm pissed because you're bullying my sister." And she really was. "Kicking her when she's down."

"Well, maybe if - "

"Uh-uh. I'm not done. Because your story has a lot of holes in it. Like the time Jacob sexually assaulted her. Like the time he threatened to kill himself if she didn't kiss him. Oh, and my favorite. Why exactly was Jacob 'a bedridden mess'? Wasn't that because you're a terrible fighter and he had to save your sorry ass?"

"Fuck you! You, bloodsucking bimbo."

"Bloodsucking bimbo?" Rosalie chuckled. "You're more creative than Jacob. I'll give you that. Now are you done? I'm tired of looking at your split ends."

"Fucking leeches." After one more fierce glare at Bella, Leah threw herself out the door, her clothes shredding as she burst into a wolf.

"Try conditioning once in a while." Rosalie called after her. "It goes a long way."

I flitted to Bella's side. Her face was white and she still stared at the spot from which Leah had launched her tirade.

"Bella?" I held her face between my hands.

She sniffed once and then she fell apart.

It was a very long afternoon. A horrified Seth came by almost immediately to apologize on his sister's behalf. We all distracted Bella as much as possible after that. Seth told her corny jokes that turned her sobs into laughter. Rose helped her brainstorm middle names. I provided a near constant play-by-play of the baby's thoughts.

It became apparent that the baby was quite advanced and quite cramped. Rose and Bella came to the same conclusion I did. The baby was overdue.

I got Carlisle on the phone and stated my case for delivery as soon as possible. He was amazed at the day's developments and, most of all, my change of heart.

"You may very well be right, but I'd like to examine her first. We'll discuss it as soon as we return."

I wasn't going to leave it at that. I wanted her in surgery the minute he walked through the door, but I decided to give him more time to process before calling again.

Alice and Jasper arrived not long after that. They both beelined for the third floor, Alice to manage her headache and Jasper to keep clear of the cup of human blood always at Bella's side. Still, he managed to soothe Bella from the small distance and finally she slept.

It was nearing dark when I heard Jacob coming up the drive.

Rose, recognizing the Vanquish's distinct purr, groaned quietly from her chair.

"I'll go talk to him," I sighed, but I went to her side first. "Thank you, Rose, for earlier. For defending her."

"I meant it."

"I know." I kissed her cheek and darted to the garage.

She snorted. Been quite a day for you...

Jacob studied my face as he pulled in. He looks... peaceful. Nothing bad happened to her, he decided. Too bad I forgot to wreck the car. Oh well. Probably couldn't have hurt this car...

He was still pretty messed up.

"A few things, Jacob," I said once he cut the engine.

He took a deep breath before getting out and throwing me the keys. "Thanks for the loan," he said sourly. Apparently it'll have to be repaid. "What do you want now?"

"Firstly... I know how averse you are to using your authority with your pack, but..."

I hesitated hearing the distaste in his thoughts.

"What?"

"If you can't or won't control Leah, then I - "

"Leah?" His eyes narrowed. "What happened?

"She came up to see why you'd left so abruptly. I tried to explain. I suppose it might not have come out right."

"What did she do?" He asked, bracing himself.

"She phased to her human form and - "

"Really?" Leah letting her guard down right in the mouth of the enemy's lair?

"She wanted to... speak to Bella."

"To Bella?"

It wasn't making sense to him. Maybe it was irrational, but I blamed him for not seeing this coming. He obviously understood the kind of outbursts she was capable of.

"I won't let Bella be upset like that again," I said, my voice tense. "I don't care how justified Leah thinks she is! I didn't hurt her" - Jacob's eyes grew wide with outrage - "of course I wouldn't - but I'll throw her out of the house if it happens again. I'll launch her right across the river - "

"Hold on. What did she say?"

I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. "Leah was unnecessarily harsh. I'm not going to pretend that I understand why Bella is unable to let go of you, but I do know that she does not behave this way to hurt you. She suffers a great deal over the pain she's inflicting on you, and on me, by asking you to stay. What Leah said was uncalled for. Bella's been crying - "

"Wait - Leah was yelling at Bella about me?" He couldn't believe it.

I nodded once. "You were quite vehemently championed."

Whoa. He almost sounded pleased.

"I didn't ask her to do that."

"I know that." He'd be at the bottom of the river if he had.

He rolled his eyes. Of course he knows. He knows everything. But, Jeez, that's something about Leah. Leah walking into the bloodsuckers' place human to complain about how I was being treated.

He was pleased. If I didn't owe him my life a thousand times over...

"I can't promise to control Leah. I won't do that. But I'll talk to her, okay? And I don't think there'll be a repeat. Leah's not one to hold back, so she probably got it all off her chest today."

"I would say so."

"Anyway, I'll talk to Bella about it, too. She doesn't need to feel bad. This one's on me."

"I already told her that."

"Of course you did," he muttered. "Is she okay?"

"She's sleeping now. Rose is with her."

So the psycho is 'Rose' now? He's crossed completely over to the dark side, then.

"She's... better in some ways. Aside from Leah's tirade and the resulting guilt," I said pointedly.

Better. Because he's hearing the monster and everything's all lovey-dovey now. Fantastic.

"It's a bit more than that," I murmured. "Now that I can make out the child's thoughts, it's apparent that he or she has remarkably developed mental facilities. He can understand us, to an extent."

His jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. He seems to have a vague sense of what hurts her now. He's trying to avoid that, as much as possible. He... loves her. Already."

His eyes looked about ready to pop out as he tried to wrap his head around the matter of the child's intelligence. Beneath that was a more cynical train of thought. So that's what changed Edward - the monster convinced him of his love. He can't hate what loves Bella. Probably why he doesn't hate me, either. Big difference, though - I'm not killing her.

"The progress, I believe, is more than we'd judged. When Carlisle returns - "

"They're not back?" He was genuinely concerned for my family, first picturing Carlisle and then Sam and Jared. He'd seen them watching in the brush along the highway on his way back and worried they might get curious after his outing.

"Alice and Jasper are. Carlisle sent all the blood he was able to acquire, but it wasn't as much as he was hoping for - Bella will use up this supply in another day the way her appetite has grown. Carlisle stayed to try another source. I don't think that's necessary now, but he wants to be covered for any eventuality."

"Why isn't it necessary? If she needs more?"

This was the hard part. "I'm trying to persuade Carlisle to deliver the baby as soon as he is back."

What?

"The child seems to be attempting to avoid rough movements, but it's difficult. He's become too big. It's madness to wait, when he's clearly developed beyond what Carlisle had guessed. Bella's too fragile to delay."

He struggled to catch his breath. God, first I counted on him to hate it and then I banked on those four days. A sure thing. He was grieving.

There's something else, he thought, staring at me as he processed. "You think she's going to make it," he whispered.

"Yes. That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about."

His warring emotions lapped at him, pulling him under. He didn't try to come back up, so after a minute I went on.

"Yes, waiting, as we have been, for the child to be ready, that was insanely dangerous." A ticking bomb. "At any moment it could have been too late. But if we're proactive about this, if we act quickly, I see no reason why it should not go well. Knowing the child's mind is unbelievably helpful. Thankfully, Bella and Rose agree with me. Now that I've convinced them it's safe for the child if we proceed, there's nothing to keep this from working."

"When will Carlisle be back?" He whispered, his face blank.

"By noon tomorrow."

It was as if she was on death row and he'd just learned her execution date had been moved up. His knees buckled and I extended my arms automatically to catch him. He clutched the car and I dropped my hands, remembering he did not care for me as I had come to care for him. I was certain he'd prefer to collapse than have me touch him.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I am truly sorry for the pain this causes you, Jacob. Though you hate me, I must admit that I don't feel the same about you. I think of you as a... a brother in many ways." I'd never been able to put a word to it before, what he'd become to me. Family, just as Bella had always said. Though something about brother wasn't quite right, either. "A comrade in arms, at the very least. I regret your suffering more than you realize. But Bella is going to survive" - my voice was fierce now, even violent - "and I know that's really what matters to you."

Jacob figured I was probably right even though the alien Bella with red eyes and the corpse in the coffin didn't look so different to him as he thought of them now.

Knowing the child, teaching the child, having Bella and Rose's buy-in - I was no longer powerless. The situation could be controlled. This was back in my hands, Carlisle's hands, and I was confident in our ability to resolve it. The anxiety of these last few hours of her pregnancy was no small thing, but it was no longer eating me alive. I could look twenty-four hours ahead, now. A week ahead. There was much to prepare.

"So I hate to do this now," I said softly, "while you're already dealing with too much, but, clearly, there is little time. I have to ask you for something - to beg, if I must."

"I don't have anything left," he choked out.

I started to reach out to him, again automatically, but caught myself.

"I know how much you have given," I said quietly. "But this is something you do have, and only you. I'm asking this of the true Alpha, Jacob. I'm asking this of Ephraim's heir."

He stared at me.

"I want your permission to deviate from what we agreed to in our treaty with Ephraim. I want you to grant us an exception. I want your permission to save her life. You know I'll do it anyway, but I don't want to break faith with you if there is anyway to avoid it. We never intended to go back on our word, and we don't do it lightly now. I want your understanding, Jacob, because you know exactly why we do this. I want the alliance between our families to survive when this is over."

Sam, he thought automatically, clinging to the disintegrating shell of his boyhood. It's Sam you want.

"No. Sam's authority is assumed. It belongs to you. You'll never take it from him, but no one can rightfully agree to what I'm asking except for you."

It's not my decision.

"It is Jacob, and you know it. Your word on this will condemn us or absolve us. Only you can give this to me."

I can't think. I don't know.

"We don't have much time," I murmured. I looked toward the house, toward my wife. And... my son. I had to make the world safe for them. Or, more accurately, once again ask Jacob to. But more than that I wanted his blessing. I wanted it like I'd wanted Charlie's for her hand in marriage. No, I wanted it much more than that.

No time... My few days are just hours now. He closed his eyes. I don't know. Let me think. Just give me a minute here, okay?

"Yes."

He started for the house and I walked beside him, allowing a couple extra feet between us so as not to disturb him.

The extra space was appreciated. Feels like walking next to anybody, he thought. Well, anybody who smells bad.

Jake. Seth, shrugging through the ferns whimpered and trotted over. His thoughts were full of relief. Looks worse than ever.

"Hey, kid," Jacob muttered.

Seth dipped his head to look into Jacob's eyes. He didn't take the news well.

Jacob patted his shoulder. "S'all cool. I'll tell you about it later. Sorry to take off on you like that."

Sure, it's cool, Seth thought doubtfully, but he gave Jacob a grin. There was a softness to it despite the dagger-like teeth.

Jacob sent him off, promising to take over in a bit so Seth could rest.

See you, Edward. He bounded off toward the perimeter.

"He has one of the purest, sincerest, kindest minds I've ever heard," I murmured when he was out of earshot. Like the child's. EJ. "You're lucky to have his thoughts to share."

"I know that," Jacob grunted.

There was the sound of liquid pulled through a straw and I abandoned my dawdling pace. My sudden appearance made Bella jump.

"Bella, love, I thought you were sleeping." I smoothed her blanket and tucked it in where part of her foot was exposed. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't have left."

"Don't worry." She touched my cheek where I knelt beside her. "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." Right. Two to worry about now.

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

"I suppose we'll find out."

"Finally," Alice growled, appearing just as Jacob came through the doorway.

Bella looked up, a beautiful smile lighting up her tired features as she took him in. Then it faltered.

I felt guilty for ever being bitter over the joy he brought her. This was so much worse.

I want to punch Leah right in her stupid mouth. "Hey, Bells," Jacob said quickly, his tone abnormally bright. "How ya doing?" I knew the effort he was putting forth. I knew what it cost him.

"I'm fine," she said, fooling no one as usual.

"Big day today, huh?" He smiled and his feigned excitement was almost believable. "Lots of new stuff."

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

"Don't know what you're talking about." He sat on the arm of the sofa, looking down at her.

Bella gave him a reproachful look. "I'm so s- "

He pinched her lips between his thumb and forefinger and I looked away. This was what she needed. Her best friend and his sense of humor. A warm touch.

"Jake," she mumbled, pulling at his hand weakly.

He shook his head. "You can talk when you're not being stupid."

The insults were part of the sense of humor, too. And she liked his sense of humor, I told myself.

"Fine, I won't say it," she said, the words nearly unintelligible.

He released her.

"Sorry!" she finished, smiling mischievously.

He rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but smile, too.

Everything I was looking for in the park, he thought, staring into her eyes.

He took her hand unconsciously and stared, unseeing, at the patterns on the back of Rosalie's armchair. Tomorrow, she'll be someone else. But hopefully alive, and that's what counts, right? She'll look at me with the same eyes, sort of. Smile with the same lips, almost. She'll still know me better than anyone who doesn't have full access to the inside of my head.

As he thought it, Bella studied him and I wondered if she sensed the heaviness of his thoughts.

Leah might be a companion, a true friend - someone willing to stand up for me - but she's not my best friend the way Bella is. Yeah, I'm in love with her, but there's that other bond, bone deep. He looked back to Bella who was a second too slow in relaxing her frown. Tomorrow she'll be my enemy. Or my ally. And, apparently that's up to me.

He sighed. Fine! The last thing I have to give. Go ahead. Save her. As Ephraim's heir, you have my permission, my word, that this will not violate the treaty. The others will just have to blame me. You were right - they can't deny that it's my right to agree to this.

My whisper, low enough that Bella wouldn't hear, was so fervent that Rose and Alice turned to stare. "Thank you."

"So, how was your day?" Bella's overdone attempt at casualness was almost comical given what had just silently passed.

"Great," Jacob lied with much more finesse. "Hung out in the park."

"Sounds nice."

"Sure, sure."

Annoyance flashed across her face. "Rose?"

My sister chuckled. "Again?"

"I think I've drunk two gallons in the last hour."

Jacob and I moved out of the way so Rosalie could lift Bella from the couch.

"Can I walk?" Bella asked. "My legs are so stiff."

"Are you sure?" I asked. It had been days since she'd used them. Not since that first visit with Jacob.

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

I watched anxiously as Rose set Bella down. Everything that wasn't her stomach was so thin, so frail that I was surprised gravity didn't drag her forward immediately.

But it didn't. Though Rose's arm touched her shoulders, Bella stood unaided, stretching her arms out in front of her. She winced.

"That feels good," she sighed. "Ugh, but I'm huge." She patted her stomach. "One more day."

Jacob grimaced.

"All righty, then." Bella squared her shoulders preparing to take her first step when the cup she left on the sofa tumbled to one side. "Whoops - oh, no!" Crimson soaked into the white fibers.

I reached to catch it, just as Rose and Jacob did the same. Rose already had it in her grip when Bella bent forward, too.

A muffled ripping sound came from the center of her body.

"Oh!" Bella gasped.

She went limp, slumping toward the floor.

A/N: Next up... the birth and the end of Breaking Dawn Book 2. Thank you for reading!