"I'm pretty sure that when the day comes, I want you in there with me and Edward. Jasper can feed you my moods if he's willing to. Emmett can be in there as long as he can't see anything and I've been told that Esme will be acting as nurse. I'd like to minimize my exposure." Everyone in the room nodded their consent.

"Bella, why don't you go get ready for our appointment. Undress from the waist down and there is a sheet to cover you." Carlisle said.

"Rosalie, I have something else for you too. Alice helped me put this together." I handed her the package after Edward helped me to my feet. She opened the journal and gasped. I had personally recorded, as had everyone else in the family at one point or another, our feelings at each stage or appointment.

"Oh Bella, this is the greatest gift anyone has ever given to me. I will treasure it always. Thank you."

"Rose, will you help me upstairs?" She handed her book to Emmett, who knew instinctively to handle it with care. She and I walked to the stairs and because Jessica was here, I had to walk the entire way; which was getting more and more difficult. I was starting to pant for breath by the time we reached Carlisle's office. She helped me strip and get on the table, then covering me with the sheet. She opened the door and called for Edward and Carlisle.

"Bella, can Emmett come too?" She asked me.

"Yes, just make sure he can't see. I feel so exposed knowing that Carlisle has seen parts of me that Edward hasn't. It's weird."

"I can imagine." The three men entered the room and took their places Emmett and Edward turned their back as Carlisle performed the internal exam and I couldn't hide the grunt of pain that came with it. It's a relatively small space, I wondered what he was digging for. He was also pushing down on my belly.

"There's only a baby in there; no gold." I said.

"Sorry Bella, I know it's uncomfortable, but I'm checking to see if you're starting to dilate. I will do this every week until the baby is born. After you're dressed we need to discuss a few things."

"Ok."

"It feels closed, which is good. The baby is starting to engage, but not there yet." Let's take a look on the ultrasound. Emmett and Rosalie, do you still want to know?" They both nodded. Carlisle took his time and finally found it.

"It's a girl. Congratulations." He pointed out, mostly to me, how he knew the sex. I fought to keep my emotions in check. That tiny part of me that wanted to keep the baby was screaming at me to take my gift back, but the larger part overruled once again. The men left the room again and Rosalie helped me dress. Carlisle came back in and only Edward was with him. Rosalie left to be with Emmett. Jasper was responsible for keeping her out of her room for the next six hours while the paint dries.

"Bella, do you have any questions?"

"Um, I've talked to Edward briefly, but I need the professional reassurance. I've read it's pretty bloody. Will everyone here be ok? Will I be safe? Will the baby?" I held onto Edward's hand, he squeezed it back.

"Everyone is taking precautions and hunting just a little more regularly. I don't think that I need to explain that Garrett and Jasper pose the greatest risk, sorry guys, but they have also been putting forth the most effort. Alice assures me that it will go over smoothly since we are all hunting three times a week. She doesn't know when the baby will come either. No one, not even a nomad, or former nomad, would ever think to hurt a baby. She is safe. Rosalie, Emmett and Edward will be there along side me and Esme to defend you if someone does decide that they are hungry."

"Thank you. I feel a little better. Is there a chance that anything could go wrong?"

"There's always a chance, but I've been monitoring you closely. The baby is head down and beginning to engage, which is a good sign. Jasper is monitoring your emotions, and I saw that Braxton-Hicks earlier, so he will know when labor begins. I check the baby visually every visit, so we'll know if she tangles up in her cord and we can all hear her heartbeat as well as yours. I think you're chances for a safe delivery is extremely high."

"Ok good, then that means you don't need me to donate a pint in case I need a transfusion or anything."

"I already have some blood here for that very reason. You're safe, Bella." He assured me. I relaxed just a little bit. I was still extremely worried about the blood thing, but I had to trust in my vampires and their control. Edward and I thanked Carlisle and we disappeared. I went upstairs to our room for my customary nap and I have no idea where Edward went. I was too tired to care. Edward shook me awake.

"Bella, love, it's time to wake up. Garrett spoke with Rosalie and she's agreed to let him tell Jessica tonight."

"So, go tell her. Why do I need to be there?" I rolled out of bed and waddled into the bathroom. I might as well go since he woke me up.

"He wants us all to be there."

"I'm not saying a damn word this time. Let Mike tell her."

"He's already agreed to it. Alice said it would be more believable coming from you, but it will still work." He talked to me through the door. I washed my hands and came out. He carried me down the stairs, as far as he could before I had to walk. I sat in his lap. I had one idea to show Jessica the strength factor.

"That's perfect Bella! I love the way your mind works." Edward whispered in my ear what she had mumbled.

"Stay out of my head." I grumbled back at her. She smiled at me and shook her head. I listened as Garrett started the talk.

"Jess, I know that you know I've been hiding a big secret from you. I know that you realize that there is something just not right about me. Am I correct?"

"Yes, Garrett, what is going on?"

"I'd like to share the big secret with you. It will be hard to believe, but trust that I am not lying to you. I'm not even an old family friend of the Cullens. I met Edward forty-five minutes before I met you. I've spent a really long time, living as a nomad. You've grounded me and breathed a new life into my existence. I'm finally ready to stay in one place, if you'll have me."

"See, that's how you should've broken the news." I said to Tanya with a smile. Tanya looked sheepishly at her lap and Mike hugged her, telling her he still loved her.

"What do you mean? What is going on?"

"I'm not human, Jess; not anymore at least."

"What are you?"

"Mike?"

"They're vampires. Everyone except me, you, Bella, and Charlie is a vampire." Jessica paled and seriously looked like she was going to faint.

"Jessica, do you remember how it felt last month when Garrett refused to have any contact with you for that week?" She nodded.

"That's what Bella and I went through when we suddenly moved away. If you choose not to accept Garrett, that is your right, but you will go back to feeling like that for the rest of your life and Garrett will suffer like that for eternity." Edward said and I leaned even farther into his body.

"What does this mean?"

"You are his soul mate. Mike is mine, Charlie is Kate's and Bella is Edward's. Vampires can only be drastically altered twice in their life. The first is when they meet their mate and the second is if they lose their mate. For us, it's instantaneous and everlasting." Tanya added.

"Jess, you can take comfort in the fact that Garret will never cheat on you. He will never leave you unless you send him away. From now on, you are his first priority. Your needs and safety comes before his own. Edward once told me that if he had to, he would leave his family if it meant keeping me safe. He's even killed other vampires because they wanted to hurt me." I told her. Her eyes widened. She looked at Garrett.

"Is this true?"

"Every word. Everything about you entices me. I'm not merely listening to you to get in your pants, I listen because every word from you is a gift. I want to know everything about you. I've been in love with you from the very second our eyes met. I knew you were the one for me. I've been looking for you since…"

"Don't tell her that yet. She's on the edge." Alice advised.

"Huh?"

"If he tells you how old he is, you will pass out. It's important that you stay with us right now. There are things you need to see."

"Like what?" She still sounded unsure, as if she thought we were lying to her.

"You need to see that we aren't making this up. There is a reason that private bedrooms are sacrosanct and off limits without permission to enter. We can hear every word that is whispered from the garage even. There are no secrets in this house, though Bella and Edward are working on that one." She looked at us and we smiled innocently at her.

"You said things; are you willing to back up your words?"

"Sure. Garrett go outside and Jessica, tell him what you want for breakfast tomorrow morning." Garret left at a human pace and Jessica waited a whole minute before whispering waffles. Garrett came back in and promised to make her waffles in the morning.

"We are also gifted with strength and speed." Alice zipped over to my side and lifted me out of Edward's arms. Jessica stumbled backwards toward the wall. Alice set me down again and turned to Garrett.

"Uh, maybe she needs some water. I know I could use some." I suggested. Rosalie darted off before I finished the sentence. She handed me one water and Jessica the other.

"Uh, hey, there are two other humans in the room. What about us?" Mike joked. Emmett got them some water. I was getting hungry. I knew that everyone was letting the information sink in before they told her more.

"What would you like to eat, love?"

"I think I want a sandwich, but I want to make it myself. Help me up?" Alice held out her hands and I pulled myself off of Edward's lap. He scooped me up and whisked me off to the kitchen.

"How's she doing?" I asked as I pulled out every single type of lunchmeat they had and combined them all. I had mayo on one slice of bread and mustard on the other. There was also three different types of cheese and some tomatoes between the meat as well. I added some chips, fruit, and a soda (rare for me; very rare) I wasn't yet sure how I was going to eat it all, but it sounded good and looked even better.

"She's still not sure. She's amazed to see some of her suspicions are right, but at the back of her mind, she's considering that this might all be a magic trick." I smiled and took a huge bite. I moaned because it was so good. Just what I wanted. Edward made a face, but carried me back to the group anyway. I used my stomach as a table while Edward held my drink for me. I kissed his cheek.

"I know you noticed that my skin is always cold. All of ours is."

"What about everything that is supposed to go with vampire lore; coffins and sunlight and garlic and stuff?"

"It's all myths. We don't go out on sunny days and I will show you why on the next one. We don't need coffins because we don't sleep and we don't eat food, so garlic has no effect on us. I can go to church if I wanted to as well. I used to be Catholic." He explained.

"But you all have beds, why bother if you don't sleep?"

"Uh, the beds have other uses for mated couples. Edward didn't get a bed until he met Bella. He has it for when she sleeps over since they will never use it the right way." Emmett teased.

"Three more months and then you're not allowed to make fun of us ever again." Edward growled.

"No way. Really?"

"Yes, Jessica, I am still a virgin." She looked at my stomach.

"Then, how, why…"

"I don't want to talk about it now. I'll tell you later." I said and my voice was stern enough that she didn't question it.

"So, other than the hearing and the speed and strength, is there anything else I need to know?"

"Well, yes, some of us have extra gifts. You need to know about our diet and you can't tell a soul. If you have questions, there are three other humans you can confide in. Next summer, there will be another human added to our mix as well." Alice explained.

"Really? She's going to tell him?" I asked.

"Yes, and he will be surprisingly easy going about it.'

"Who?" Jessica asked.

"We'll tell you later. That particular piece of information is time sensitive right now and could make matters worse if word gets out too soon." Jessica nodded.

"I won't tell anyone."

"Don't write it in your diary either, your mom will be snooping through it soon." Alice said.

"How do you know all of this?"

"It's my gift. I get visions of the future." Alice looked at me.

"Keep that plate steady; the baby is going to kick it in three, two, one…" I did as she asked and felt the rather painful kick delivered to my ribs. I didn't voice my pain though.

"Who else has a gift?"

"I can feel and manipulate the emotions around me." Jasper said.

"I can read every mind in this room, except for one and Charlie's isn't always clear either." Edward said and I smiled, quite smug. I was so proud to have a silent mind to him. I feared that Jessica's eyes might actually pop out of her head as she realized the truth of what Edward had just told her. I, being as observant as ever, watched Garrett look to Edward and Edward nod discreetly to answer whatever question Garret had just asked.

"Jessica, it's not something that I can control and I do try to tune most people out. The day that Bella moved here, I heard every word you were telling her and every word you didn't. I listened to you interrogate her the day after we met up in Port Angeles. I watched Bella through your eyes. I try very hard and if you stay with us, then you will learn tricks to keep me out of your head." He tried to soothe her. She glared at me and Edward tensed.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" She demanded.

"Alice told me to. She said that if I had talked to you, you were going to ask questions I wouldn't be able to answer honestly or at all. Garrett wanted to be the one to tell you and I agree. You're his mate, he should tell you, not me. As for me, I figured it out on my own. Carlisle, Esme and I told my dad out of necessity, and we all gathered together to help Tanya tell Mike. We will all most likely do the same thing when Irina decides to break the news to her mate." I told her. She stood and then suddenly Edward was in front of me.

"I will not let you hurt her. You will only hurt yourself if you hit me and then Garrett will get mad that you got hurt. I advise you to stay where you are." He gestured to Garrett behind her, ready to attack if she got hurt. It looked to me like she was beginning to understand his devotion to her.

"Ok, I'm better now. So, how old are you? How did you all come to be together?" It was shameless but we all looked to Alice.

A/N: Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Have a great day! Kelly