Hi, so I am going to keep this one short and sweet as a lot is covered in this chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

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Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Chapter 12-Everyone Takes A Beating Sometime.

Bella and the baby for the first time since all this began. Edward begins to hear strange thoughts. Jacob courts certain death (or so Rosalie thinks) and the Cullen's go for a feed. Finally.

"The world is so unpredictable. Things happens suddenly, unexpectedly. We want to feel we are in control of our own existence. In some ways we are, in some ways we are not. We are ruled by the forces of chance and coincidence" Paul Auster

After several hushed conversations it was decided that Bella would drink the blood out of a human sippy cup.

That might not be the technical word for it but to Rosalie it was a sippy cup that little human children drank out.

They watched all of them waiting to see if it would work.

And it did.

And it did.

Bella began to drink. She began to drink blood. Human blood. Donated blood but it was human blood all the same and even though the colour rose in her cheeks, even though the baby seemed to love the idea of finally getting some nourishment, even though he kicked a lot less (probably because he was less hungry than he had ever been) and even though the muscles in her husband's shoulders seemed to unlock a fraction of an inch it was clear that soon they would have to do something about hunting.

If not for themselves then for Bella.

But also for themselves. Because it was getting very clear that soon with this much human blood around the house, one of them was going to snap.

Rosalie was sure she could hang on for as long as Edward hung on. She was pretty confident that she could do that. The burn was killing her with each passing breath and sitting next to the human blood was making it worse but she didn't…she didn't crave it as much as she knew her husband did. She didn't…she had never had human blood before. Even with Emmett bleeding all over her arms she had never even considered feeding on him. She had held her breath (no point in tempting fate after all) but she had never really realised she was coated in his blood until after he had passed through his transformation. She had been with him until the very end even as the blood had dried on her, gotten under her skin and in her hair and permeated the house to the point where Emmett had, had to leave for several hours.

So she stayed with Bella, she stayed with Edward. Both of them were aware that they were running out of time. The wolves knew it too from the amount of times that Jacob came in or simply sat on the porch watching and waiting. Bella lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw him and this time Rosalie could see the pain in his eyes and for once she didn't blame him (much).

She even went and got him some food.

This…generosity of spirit lasted all of two seconds because he flipped the bowl into her hair.

Into. Her. Hair.

SHE HAD FOOD IN HER HAIR.

And Emmett was laughing.

To be fair he covered it rather well as she turned around moving she knew so that he could catch her as she prepared to launch herself at Jacob. Edward was grinning, Bella was laughing, Alice was all but gleeful and the fucking dog was sat on the floor his feet dirtying up her carpet eating with his hands like the dog that he was uncaring about the bowl that was on the floor.

There was a long pause she calculated what she was going to do next.

"YOU GOT FOOD IN MY HAIR!"

"Come on" Emmett said gently though he was grinning and damn her sexy and conniving husband because he was using the full power of his dimples at her and with the ketchup that was congealing in her hair—and ew! What the hell was that sliding down her back?—it was clear that he knew she was dangerously close to the edge. Never mind the lack of blood, her family splintering apart at the seams and the fact that she and Edward had dangerously come close to the breaking point on more than one occasion, this was where she put her foot down.

She shot her traitorous husband a look and he immediately stopped smiling though his eyes were dancing with mirth.

"Esme?"

"Yes—oh children"

Seriously Rosalie was standing here with muck in her hair and Esme was looking as if she was struggling to laugh herself.

Well that was motherhood for you.

"Jacob dear do you mind not doing that again? I sourced that carpet in Turkey in 1954."

"Err…sure Mrs C" Jacob said through a mouthful of baked potato. "Great food by the way. I thought Seth was exaggerating but this is really good"

Esme practically preened. Rosalie felt her temper begin to snap.

"I'll have Alice make you another dear. Edward clean this up please. Rosalie…I can stay with Bella if you'd like a shower"

"Sounds good" Emmett said with a grin. "Come on Rose you can let your vigil go for a few minutes"

Rosalie paused. She did not know what to do. She trusted Esme to keep the baby safe of course and she was aching for a shower but…

"It's alright Rose" Bella said from where she was stretched out onto the couch sucking blood from a straw. "Esme can stay with me"

"Come on" Emmett said as if she could understand all of what she was thinking and why. He held out his hand and Rosalie took it. Emmett shot Edward a look and then they were gone.

"Ten minutes" Rosalie said stepping out of her clothes as Emmett got the shower working. "Five if I can help it"

But the second she stepped into the hot water she hissed. Granted vampires did not need to clean so to speak but the hot water was heavenly and she ran her hair under the water letting it soak into her.

"You got room for me?"

She opened one eye and Emmett stepped into the shower grabbing her shampoo.

"Get all the food out" she instructed testily.

He chuckled dropping a kiss to where her neck met her shoulders. Rosalie was very proud of the fact that she did not disintegrate into pieces just at the simple touch. It had been far…far too long.

"He got food in my hair" she stressed as Emmett pressed another kiss to that spot that he knew made her a little week.

"I know" Emmett murmured and his hands came around her waist his fingers spread out flat across her belly and achingly close, but achingly far to where she wanted them. She leaned back against her husband and closed her eyes and found that it was not ten minutes tops that she stayed away. For so long her fate had been tied in with Bella's and tied in with the babies that she had not considered, not remembered that she was someone outside of it.

A wife, a mate, a person.

A woman. In need of her own kind of pleasure. She had been a member of the walking dead for so long, without food not just blood but another kind of nourishment and so had Emmett. It was for both of them that they spent more time in the shower and for the first time in nearly seventy years together they were quiet. Hushed voices and a desperation for touch.

Everyone knew what they were doing of course but between Edward and Alice privacy had gone out the window with the Cullen's a long time ago. You just had to brazen stuff like this out.

And besides…it was what they needed. To feel…something other than what they had been feeling recently. To feel…hope…humanity.

God Carlisle was rubbing off on her.

Rosalie changed her closed and got dressed and went downstairs to realise that the dog had gone and Carlisle and Esme and Edward were discussing birth plans.

And that was the snap back to reality that she didn't need.

But at the same time they were almost here. They had almost done it. The end was in sight.

And so she sat down and listened into the plan that Edward was proposing.

What was surprising was that she liked it.

What was surprising was that it worked.

What was annoying was that it depended heavily on getting permission from the wolf and it was Edward's idea and not her own.

But that was before they heard the baby.

That came next.

Edward had been sitting next to Bella her socked feat on her lap as she had spoken to her father. Clearly he nor Jacob who was also I the room could understand why Bella was stringing along her father when it was clear that she was not going to get out of this human. As far as Jacob was concerned it was still a struggle to believe that she was going to live through this at all.

But Rosalie did. She found that she understood Bella now. She found that she understood her optimism that had carried her through her relationship with Edward. She found that she understood her decisions. She knew Bella was trying to have her cake and eat it and she knew that in doing that she was causing (unknowingly) a lot of hurt to other innocent people. Charlie was just another casualty but Rosalie at least could understand that it came from a place of caring.

She didn't have that. She and her father had not had that relationship. As far as Carlisle was concerned she imagined he thought her a lost cause compared to all the others. God knows Rosalie had not exactly been desperate for a fatherly relationship. Her own feelings towards her parents had been so complex and complicated and had been tied up in Royce and what he had done and the world in which they had lived in that she had not yet come to the conclusion of did she hate them or did she love them. There was no comfortable middle ground for her.

Just this.

But she watched as Bella chatted animatedly to Charlie and watched Edward flinch whenever she said see you soon and Jacob in either wolf or human form shoot her a look as if she was stabbing them all with wooden sticks and she wondered how long optimism was going to keep them all afloat.

There was a long pause when she hung up broken only be Emmett coming back into the room with Jasper, Carlisle and Esme. He was dressed in jeans and a button down and a thick leather jacket. Jasper was much the same. Carlisle and Esme were dressed for running too. It was supposed to be easy. The wolves had cleared the way and Jacob was sure that they could get in and get out but Rosalie didn't like it. She didn't like the idea of leaving her husband's safety up to the wolves. She didn't like it at all.

"I'll be alright" Emmett said coming to her side. "I promise you remember?"

"Damn right you did" Rosalie said into his shoulder as his arms slid around her. Emmett grinned into her hair. He was excited she could tell. He wanted to hunt, he needed to feed but above all of that he wanted to run. Vampires were not designed to be cooped up inside all day, every day, they were wild creatures. Domestication only really worked because they had the options to go running or to go hunting or do to do…anything. Right now they had all been cooped up in this house watching as their family burned in front of them (or at least Emmett had) and now they had the option to do something about it.

There was a chance that Bella could make it out of this.

Emmett shot Edward a look and then he was gone. Edward flashed his brother something that might have once resembled a genuine smile full of brotherly affection. She saw Emmett pause a little at the genuine reaction and she could tell he wanted to speak to Edward, to see if Edward was out through the other side but Edward had already turned his attention back to Bella and Emmett with that half quizzical, unsure smile that she found she hated, followed Jasper out the house and down the path.

And so she was alone. There was nothing that she could do but sit and wait this out. It was her and it was Edward and it was Alice and—

"What did Emmett ask you?" she asked turning to Edward.

"Wasn't so much of an ask as it was a demand"

"What?"

"Said if Alice or I tried anything we'd end up on a burning pile somewhere and that there was nothing that Carlisle or Jasper would be able to do to stop it. I think he was serious as well. Certainly I thought he was. Jasper too judging by the way he was picking up on the emotional whiplash"

Rosalie said nothing for a second and then.

"Emmett has been finding the gap in your relationship hard" she said finally. Edward shot her another look but refrained from saying what he thought which was undeniably going to be a snide comment and so she took the rare opportunity to carry on speaking.

"He misses you" she said finally.

Edward didn't so much as cast a look in her direction but she heard him.

"I miss him too"

Well…that was something.

Edward tilted his head to the side then and…

"Bella what are you thinking about?"

Bella turned to look at Edward.

"Isle Esme…and feathers?"

Rosalie watched as Edward seemed to go through some mental breakdown. As if he could see the problems that were in front of him but he couldn't see a way around them. Confusion on Edward was strange. It wasn't a new expression but it was still unusual. Edward who had always known everything and anything about everyone and anyone. At least until he had met Bella.

And that was how they realised that the baby could hear them.

That was what had won Edward over.

It was a instant thing. The second he knew the baby could hear them, the second he could hear thoughts, the second that he could understand the child it was suddenly a child and Bella was suddenly going to live.

If Rosalie had been anything other than gleeful she would have pointed out that it was hypocritical that suddenly Edward who less than half an hour ago wanted to burn his son on the pyre, suddenly wanted to protect and love him and play the role of doating father but the moment where the three of them were locked in this embrace looking at the hard bump that was Bella's stomach protecting the baby was ruined by Jacob.

What Edward and he had agreed to, what deal had been struck that had seen him here, throwing aside his family, his pack, his home and God only knows what else was clearly over. Rosalie didn't have to be a genius to understand that something had happened when Edward simply threw him a pair of car keys and told him to go and work off some steam.

"You need to talk to him" Rosalie said quietly watching him leave. "You need to make sure that we have permission, you know Carlisle, you know he's going to want at least one of them to sign off on this for security if nothing else"

Edward whose face was in his wife's stomach didn't respond. Instead he was lit up from within and Rosalie who had been the champion of Bella and this baby was suddenly struck with a realisation that Bella would survive this. She would get to be a Mom.

Okay it had been what she had been hoping for, it had been what she had been championing for but there were now clear lines in place between the two of them on the couch and their baby and her. She was now the Aunt, if she was that. She was not going to be Momma to this baby. She was not going to see Emmett play Dad. She had never wished for anything as much as she had wished for that and while she had known deep down that Bella would live, that Edward would come around and not fly straight off to Italy or let the wolf rip his head off there had been a small part of her deep down that had wondered…what if? What if it was her and Emmett raising the baby? Her and Emmett doing the school runs and the parent teacher conferences and the feedings at night time?

It had been a daydream, something whimsical that she had barely even thought to indulge in but she had indulged in it nonetheless. And yet here it was. Her shunted to the side again, Alice would take up position as best friend again, claim that she had always seen this coming and then that would be that.

Once again she would be cast into the shadows as the family pariah, the bitch who couldn't understand that there were roles in this family and that she was not one of them.

"I'm going to change the blood" she said to the room at large but Alice had moved to Bella's side with wide eyes and Edward still had his ear to Bella's stomach and…yeah…dismissal accepted.

Fuck.

She went into the kitchen and watched as the red liquid filled the sippy cup and for the first time in her immortal life she wondered weather or not she should throw caution to the world and just drink from the damn thing. She had been seen as the cold hearted ice queen for such a long time that she didn't think that it would surprise even Esme if she just took Bella's food.

It just…it just wasn't fair.

So locked in her own thoughts that she didn't really pay attention to Leah Clearwater's arrival. Seth the other morning stuffing his face with eggs and cinnamon rolls had told them the story in clipped tones which told Rosalie that he had found serving under the guy who had broken his sister's heart rather galling, but she got the impression democracy was not something the wolves liked. The inner workings of that pack—of Paul and Jared was to protect Sam. And while Sam seemed to have an inkling of the damage his imprint had done a lot of it seemed to be in the scaring of Emily and not in the tramping of Leah's heart.

When Seth had mentioned that Emily had asked Leah to be a bridesmaid even Rosalie (who was not the werewolf's greatest friend nor would she ever be called that) had thought that might be a bit too much.

She listened but she did not leave the kitchen. She could not blame Leah Clearwater for pointing out that Jacob Black had sacrificed everything for her, that he had lost everything for him, that there was a very good chance he could never see his father again or sleep in his own bed or even see his own mother's grave again because Bella had created a scenario in which he had been forced to choose her…again.

She listened as Leah pointed out that it wasn't fair to look at him like he was a nice piece of steak, the extra present under the Christmas tree. That she could not have her cake and eat it with Edward and Jacob.

That Rosalie could agree with.

She tried to tune out Edward and tried to tune out Alice and tried to tune out Bella's noisy sobs but she wanted to cry herself. She could see the family picture being painted and there was no place for herself. There was no easy place for her to fit in. She and Bella had been bonded against Edward and now that bond was over.

She put her head down on the cool marble and breathed in the scent of the human blood and wished for her husband.

"Rose?"

"Alice?"

"Bella seems to be very upset"

"And?"

"And aren't you supposed to be stopping that?"

"Edward's with her"

"No he's not he's gone out to speak to Jacob"

Jacob? How long had she had her head down on this patch of marble?

"Jacob's back?" she asked looking up and brushing her hair out of her face.

"Yes. And Bella is very hungry"

"Where's Leah?"

Alice gnashed her teeth together.

"Gone. She had no right—"

"She has though"

Alice looked at her as if she had just uttered a disgusting swear word.

"She has Alice and you know it. I might hate what he is but he doesn't deserve this emotional whiplash"

Alice opened her mouth to say something and then shut it again. It appeared even she agreed with that and when she and Alice were agreeing that the werewolves had been through too much it was a significant accomplishment.

"She wants the blood"

"Then you take it to her then"

Alice raised an eyebrow.

"You started this Rosalie, you need to finish it. And soon it will be over. And this headache will go"

Rosalie opened her mouth to ask Alice if she meant the headache that came with not seeing anything or if she meant Rosalie but Alice had turned and walked back through the swinging doors to the living room before she could even think about how she was going to phrase that question.

Instead she finished with the blood and left the kitchen. Jacob was back looking green around the edges. Edward was sat with Bella.

"We should talk you know" he said looking at her. "Sometime…when this is over we should talk"

"Great" Rosalie said passing Bella the cup. She attacked it without saying anything her eyes red and Edward watched her for a second but Rosalie sat back down on the arm of the couch and pulled her hair around her shoulders effectively blocking him from view. The tension in the room was stiff and then Alice chimed in.

"Bella why don't you tell Jacob about your names for the baby"

Oh God. Why not just pour acid on them all?

But Bella looked thrilled. Jacob looked as if he would rather have the acid.

"If it's a boy. EJ"

"E.J?"

"Edward Jacob"

Jacob closed his eyes for ten long seconds and then opened them again. It seemed to be costing him a great deal in order to speak calmly. Bella didn't notice, she was instead just looking at him as if she expected a hug and a baby present.

"And if it's a girl?" Jacob asked as if he was swallowing razor blades.

"I was playing around with Renee and Esme, I got Renesmee"

"Ren-ez-may?"

"Ren-es-mee. Like Renee and Esme moulded together"

Jacob raised an eyebrow.

"So you have a time set for the little monster then?"

Bella sucked the last of her cup dry shooting him a look.

"We do?" Edward asked and there was that unspoken conversation between them. Jacob seemed to deflate a little and Edward suddenly looked desperately hopeful and Rosalie knew that Jacob had just given his permission to do what had to be done.

How was it that she, who had hated the werewolves since the day she had known that they had existed had in fact gained some sympathy for this one, slumped half naked on her couch dirty feet messy up the rug staring at Bella as if she was the best and the worst person all at once? How was it that this had become her life? When she had started seeing Jacob Black as a person rather than an animal?

Well, Rosalie thought bitterly, Carlisle would be proud. Finally she was evolving past the selfishness that Edward had always claimed was her greatest gift and that nobody in this family (bar Emmett) would disagree with.

"I need to go and…" Bella said gesturing and Rosalie nodded. Weather it be blood or human food fluids were a part of this pregnancy. A long time ago she had closed off what grossed her out and what didn't. Bella's bodily human functions didn't even register anymore.

"Come on" she said with a small smile. Anything to put off Edward and this talk he wanted to have where he was bound to say thanks but no thanks. She wanted Emmett here for that. She needed her husband, she needed his strength and she needed his body pressed up against hers when he did that. Surely it would not be too long?

And then something odd happened. Bella dropped her cup. Alice caught it before it hit the ground but Bella was already moving towards it and there was a rippling, ripping noise, so soft and so small that you didn't even realise it. In fact Bella wouldn't have even heard it. Only the supernatural creatures in the room heard it if Jacob jumping to his feet was anything to go by.

For a moment they were all suspended in time looking at her, for one, two, three of Bella's stunted heartbeats and then her whole body seemed to snap, her legs went out in front of her and she fell to the ground, Edward went with her, Rosalie went with him and Jacob was there but then she turned and Rosalie saw the blood vessels contract in her eyes and then she opened her mouth and vomited what felt like all the blood in her body.

And Rosalie knew that there would be no words for what was going to come next.

And there you go, I hope that you enjoy this one and let me know what you think.

Next Chapter-Bella gives birth, Rosalie slips and then gets her happy ending (sort of) Jacob makes things more complicated and yet somehow it all works out-graphic birthing scenes for this one.