Hey leggylover, I tried to reply to you but couldn't. Thanks for the comment you left. I did my best to hurry for you. It's always nice to get encouragement.

CLANN- KIN FABLES

"What if you're not fine?" Jacob asked.

"Let's hope for the best," I said. I settled into the bed to try and get some sleep while Jacob stood by the window, keeping watch.

We chatted for a little- I really don't know when we fell asleep, but when I woke up, it was the next morning. Jacob was asleep, leaning against the bed on the side I was facing.

"Jacob," I said softly. I stroke his nose with my fingertip a little.

"Jacob."

"Mmm."

"It's morning," He rustled awake, and I got up, already dressed in appropriate clothing and put my sneakers on.

We got breakfast and waited around in the kitchen, nursing coffee mugs, for the threat to come. Billy was here too. The only one who could keep things calm for us.

They didn't call or give any kind of warning. When we heard the sound of several vehicles driving up, the crunching of gravel making our stomachs drop, we got up and looked out the windows.

"It's time," someone said. Billy was the one to greet them. They filed in, introducing the technician, a woman in her 40's named Ayana.

"Thank you for coming," Billy said.

"No problem," She said, huffing up the stairs. Behind her, the wolves were getting something from the back of a truck.

"Where can I set up the ultrasound?" Her eyes found me and lowered to my massive stomach.

"The bedroom," Billy said. It was saw pity I saw in her eyes.

"Thanks for coming," I mumbled.

"No problem," She repeated, as if she understood why she was doing a house call now. Jacob guided me back to his bedroom, Emily following. Paul and Embry carried the machine in, and Ayana wheeled it inside the room. The elders entered, crowding in the doorway.

"Get comfy on the bed," She said, setting it up on the right side of the bed. Jake helped get comfortable. I shimmied closer to the right, our eyes locking for a second, expressions of fear exchanged.

"Alrighty, lift up your shirt," I did as she said.

"Now this is going to be a bit cold." It was a lie. The blue gel made me jump, startling EJ too. He didn't move around much before. But after drinking blood for a while, he got his strength up enough to be able to.

"Would you- would you be able to tell how far along I am? See how long I have to go?"

"Yes..." She said, distractedly. "You look like you're about to burst. When was your last period, or how many months has it been since your missed period?" I looked at Jake. I have no idea what to say.

"Uh...about...seven months?" It was close to two months since I had taken the test, meaning I've been pregnant for three to four months. With no way to measure how much faster my pregnancy was, I had to hope I guessed right.

"Mmm. Might be a very healthy baby," She said, offering me a smile.

"Yeah. I hope so." I smiled weakly, staring at the screen. She kept moving the wand over me, but the image was still staticky. I tried to keep my breath steady. Why wasn't I seeing anything?

"Do you see anything yet?" Levi gruffed.

"No...I can't see anything. You're certain you're pregnant? You got a test done?" She asked. She tried to be gentle about it.

"I'm certain of it,"

"It could be...a tumor, you know? They can get quite large,"

"I'm sure. I've felt him move," I said, my voice hiking up.

"Alright," She pulled out a stethoscope from her bag, inserted the earpieces into her ears and placed the other end onto my stomach.

"Try to breathe normally, ok?" She said. My breathing had become more erratic. She started, very subtly, shaking her head.

"There's nothing," Levi said. Hard, all-knowingly.

"She hasn't said anything," Jacob growled.

"Shhh!" Ayana huffed harshly.

"It's very muffled," She said, getting back to me. "But I hear something. I just don't know why I can't see anything..."

Why? Why is this happening?

"How much longer do I have to deliver?" I urged.

"I... I don't know. I can't see anything-"

"Thank you for coming, but that will be all." Levi said. Ayana looked at me, then the others.

"I don't understand what's going on, but-"

"It's best you don't become involved," Harry Clearwater said gently.

"You got your answer." Levi said.

"No!" They all stared with cold, dark eyes. "He's human!"

"You weren't going to survive natural birth anyway," Levi said.

"I'm going to live and I'm going to protect him. I won't let you kill him," I said looking right at Sam. I knew Levi would use him as the axe.

"And you can't kill me. You won't get away with it,"

"Your father doesn't even know you're here," He said. My brows furrowed deeper. A low growl erupted from Jacob.

"Try it," He said, stepping in front of me.

"Step down," Sam ordered.

"No."

"Now."

"No."

"Stop it! Not here!" Billy yelled. Ayana looked between Jacob and Sam, and everyone else, extremely bewildered. Harry grabbed her and took her out of the room.

"Unless you promise to build me a new house, take it outside!" Billy shouted.

"Jacob!" Sam yelled.

"No!"

"Jacob!" Billy shouts.

"I'm not stepping away from her!" Now I looked between Sam and Jacob. With each shout, each kept shaking harder. Their shapes trembling. They were close to shifting. Up until now, I had never seen it before.

"I'll stand in front of Bella," Quil said.

"Quil," Embry said worriedly.

"There has to be fairness," He defended.

"No. My freedom." Jacob snarled.

"Get out, NOW!" Billy yelled.

Everything happened so quickly. Sam and Jacob lunged at each other. Quil jumped to protect me with his body, and the others dove for cover. Sam and Jacob crashed through the front of the house, crashing into everything as they went, filling the house snarls and growls.

One moment Jacob was there. In the next, he was replaced by something large and furry. A reddish-brown blur.

"What a comeback. You really made a mess Bells," Embry said. I remembered he was tiny and cute, back when Jacob first introduced him to me. Used to be. Now my breath was shallow because of what I had just witnessed.

"Is that..."

"Yup," Quil sighed.

"What about the lady?" Embry asked. They uttered other things about the technician while I slid out of bed.

"Th-thank you," I muttered to Quil. He gave me a grave nod. I stumbled to the front of the house, Emily grabbing my arm.

"Wait, Bella. Maybe don't," My eyes flashed to the scars on her face. The reason why Jacob stayed away from me, also nearly happened. I rubbed my stomach.

"I have to see what happens, if it's safe here anymore." I told her.

We made it to the front door, still close to where the go-bag was; Quil and Embry rushed past us. Good. I can now get it, and no one would know I was prepared.

In the front yard were two massive wolves biting at the air, as if there was an invisible wall between them. The others had also shifted, and growled in a crescent formation behind- what I guessed was- Sam.

"It's a battle of wills, not an actual fight." Emily said. "They're fighting for control." I looked on.

"Jacob said that if Sam ordered something, he'd have no choice but to obey," I said.

"I don't know what they're saying but-"

"Sam is trying to order Jacob to obey. Jacob isn't having it." Quil explained. His tone sounded dead, like he couldn't choose a side. One was his friend, the other the person who helped him adjust. Or someone he himself couldn't disobey. Maybe he still resented that, or that he couldn't run from what he was.

"Can he win?" I asked.

"...Jacob is the grandson of the original chief. I wonder if that gives him something."

More snarls ensued. Jacob was almost bowing. He was low to the ground but also trying to pull away. His lips were curled back, baring his teeth. Sam was trying hard to be louder than him. He stood tall and barked at him, stepping closer. As if he was trying to intimidate Jacob into a corner. The corner of his mind.

Jacob started fighting to push off the ground.

"Come on Jacob! You can do it!" I found myself yelling. I nearly covered my mouth when everyone turned to look.

Jacob kept trying, falling down once, but he braced himself and rose again. His growls grew louder and louder. He straightened his back and now stood taller than Sam. Sam stared, half frozen.

"I am the grandson of Ephraim Black," Quil quoted. "I am the grandson of a chief! I wasn't born to follow you, or anyone else!"

"BILLY. What is the meaning of this?!" Levi yelled.

"I...I don't know." But Billy didn't seem at all disappointed.

Do enjoy an extra update, peeps. I'm just as eager to bring the Cullens back, as you are.