"Aren't you curious to know about the other Bella's pregnancy?" Alice finally asked when they were back in the car and driving towards where Esme was studying Interior Designing in the University. She was the one driving this time with Jasper and Bella huddled together in the back seat.

"I am, but I'm not sure if I'm up for it. I'm not sure what to think, knowing that there's another me out there going to give birth to a child which is something that I know I would never have. I think an alternate me having a different mate is enough big surprise to last me a lifetime." She quipped.

"What do you think Jazz?" Alice asked her brother. "I mean, now we know that it's possible. Among all of us, it's the two of you that was the closest to have been able to make that happen."

Bella looked up at her mate and he had a serious look on his face, but his emotions did not betray anything.

"I don't want to dwell on things that would no longer be possible for us." He started. "But…" he added in a much softer tone and met Bella's soft gaze, reaching out to touch her cheeks.

"'Would be nice to have a Junior around." He said wistfully and the two of them were lost in the thoughts of blonde hair toddlers running around and bringing joy to their immortal family.

Bella sighed.

"That's not going to happen anytime soon." Jasper finally said, allowing himself to face their reality.

"I can't imagine having a fragile human carry a vampire body inside its womb, much less my own mate going through that as a human." His hands enveloped Bella in a much tighter embrace and she allowed him, taking comfort knowing that he was worried for her.

Bella nodded. "I wonder if hybrids have been around and we're just not aware of it. How many mothers out there have died giving birth to them? Are there even any survivors?"

"We don't know for sure the conditions of these women. Maybe there are survivors." Alice was hopeful but Bella wasn't.

"Maybe with the right conditions but remember that we are talking about vampires here. How many would have the right tools to deliver a baby? Would they even bother about the mother? Who knows if someone out there is preying on human women just to experiment on making babies and wouldn't really bother about what happens to the mother? Heck, with the blood that's going to be spilled during that type of operation, they'd probably end up eating the mother as soon as the baby is out." Bella told them gravely before continuing.

"I didn't ask Edward about exactly what he heard on their thoughts about how the birthing went. I was afraid it would cause him more distress. A human body is already squishy and the internal organs so vulnerable. Even if we say the baby was only half vampire, that's still half of it that has our strength and knowing that Bella out there is carrying the child in her womb... I'm more worried than ever. She's been through enough. Girl can't catch a break."

"I'm pretty sure that Carlisle will be able to help Edward." Alice mentioned.

"Speaking of Edward, how are you holding up Alice?" Jasper changed the subject and she let out a huge sigh.

"It's hard… I'm not going to pretend to understand why it's happening even though it's already been explained. Seeing him look at Bella like that and not me even if I know full well that it's really not him…" she didn't continue.

Jasper hummed in agreement, understanding what she was going through. Even though he wasn't the recipient, it irked him to see someone else, especially his brother, looking at his mate like she's the center of his universe. It was all he could do to keep his calm when he felt Edward's love and devotion towards his Bella.

He felt Bella's fingers intertwining into his. "I know it's hard and I wish there's something that we can do about it, but we just have to endure it until it's over. I know how you feel Alice. That's exactly how I felt the first time I saw Jasper in that world and realizing that his eyes were only for another version of you and I'm pretty sure the Jasper there was quite confused at all the emotions I was bombarding him whenever he was around." Bella thought fondly, remembering in detail her own experience on that alternate world.

"How you managed it baffles me. He's only going to be in my Edward's body for two more days and you've been there like a week and didn't know if you'd be stuck there much longer."

Bella was looking at Jasper intensely. "I had a goal and I focused on it. Whatever happens, I was going to find my way home, back to my own mate." She touched Jasper's chest where his unbeating heart was.

"I don't know if I could handle that... Having to look at him and… not feel anything from him." Alice whispered, trying to keep the pain from consuming her.

"Hey… It's going to be okay…" Bella comforted while Jasper sent her a calming wave which Alice accepting it greedily to help her focus.

By the time that they were back at their house, this time already with Esme, it was already nighttime, and the alternate Edward was already with them for two out of his three days.

Esme went straight to Carlisle who greeted them, but Edward wasn't around for which Carlisle has informed them that he was somewhere in the nearby woods surrounding the property.

Emmett and Rosalie had called while they were hunting and expressed their dismay that they would not be able to get home in time from their trip to meet the alternate Edward. Especially Emmett who seemed to be the most excited to meet an alternate version of his brother.

When the rest of the family excused themselves, Carlisle wanting to fill in Esme with what's been happening and Alice just wanting to spend the rest of the night in her room, Bella looked at the window worriedly.

She felt Jaspers arms around her, and she took a deep breath, enveloping herself with the scent of her mate.

"You're worried about him." Jasper stated. Bella nodded.

"I am. That was supposed to be my role in the family, right? Even if he's older than me in vampire years. I was to be her older sister and I guess… I just want to make sure that he's holding up okay." Bella sighed.

"Why don't you go and talk to him." Jasper suggested and Bella turned around to stare at him.

"Are you sure?"

Jasper smiled his crooked grin that Bella loved so much.

"Of course. I'll be here waiting for you. For now, he'll want someone there for him and among all of us, you're the one he's most familiar with and having shared the mind of his mate, you'd understand him better than any of us."

Bella melted into his arms and as she looked deep into his golden eyes, Jasper leaned forward and captured her lips into his, melting into a passionate kiss that Bella would have gladly allowed to continue for hours if there wasn't something else that she needed to do. Reluctantly, she stepped back, and jasper squeezed her hand in assurance, gave her one last chaste kiss before he settled himself to a couch, now with a book in hand.

She couldn't help but smile at her mate fondly and after taking an unnecessary breath, she made her way outside of their house to look for Edward. It took her just a few minutes to find him sitting alone on top of a tree, overlooking the river.

She climbed up and sat on the next branch beside him and they just sat there in companionable silence.

"You kept your promise." Bella finally spoke.

"I did... I tried... but I feel like I'm still failing."

She turned to look at him. "You don't have to be too hard on yourself."

Edward closed his eyes and there was a pained expression there that Bella could not understand where it was coming from.

"I'm ashamed to say that when I found out that Bella was pregnant... the first thing that came to my mind was that I created a monster, and that thing should be destroyed before it can destroy her." he confessed, and Bella was taken aback at his words and what he was willing to do.

"I only had one thing in my mind... to make sure that I wouldn't lose her again because of my actions and I didn't even bother checking what she wanted until she made me listen and I realized my mistake... I remembered your words and I saw how much she wanted the child... I almost destroyed our relationship again."

"But you didn't." Bella reminded him gently. "And you're here, away from your mate, in a different world altogether, trying to find a solution and when you get back, you'll be with her, help her deliver your baby and you'll be able have something that most of our species wouldn't even think that we'll be able to have."

"I wish I had your optimism." he sighed.

"You dwell too much on the bad things when you can always think of the good things instead." she told him honestly.

Edward studied her for a few seconds before speaking.

"Carlisle showed me how the family came about."

Bella was already expecting that. With her away, Edward would have been able to see everything in Carlisle's perspective as soon as he reads their father's mind.

"And...?" she asked curiously.

"It looks like watching someone else's life that looks exactly like me."

Bella nodded, understanding what he meant.

"That was how I felt when Alice told me about Bella's story and then remembering it in Bella's mind."

"Did he show you his memories when you... I mean your counterpart and Alice found each other?" Bella asked eagerly. That was something that she wished she was present when it happened because Carlisle and the rest of the family especially Alice, had fond memories of that moment.

He nodded. "It's hard putting myself in his shoes because for me... Alice has always been a sister, just like Bella will always be a mate to me. When he started recalling the memories of how you joined our family, I wasn't sure if I would be upset that it wasn't me that fell in love with you... and then seeing how you and Jasper handled your relationship in Carlisle's eyes, I felt all the things that I've done in our relationship was be controlling and messing things up. It's a surprise that Bella still found it in her to love me as much as she does."

"Don't ever underestimate the power of a mating bond." Bella told him before continuing. "Also... no one is without flaw. You had your moments of bad decisions... everyone does... what matters is your willingness to change for the better and I've always believed that even us, vampires, are capable of... change."

"Thank you." Edward suddenly said.

"For what?"

"For always believing in me and not giving up on me." Edward looked down shyly and Bella reminded herself that beneath the hard exterior of a century-old vampire was the body and mind of a seventeen-year-old boy.

Bella patted his shoulder affectionately.

"You're Family... we take care of family, no matter what world or reality you're from." She smiled.

"You're happy here." Edward observed.

"I am. It's like, I've been made for this life. I found exactly where I belong." Bella conveyed and Edward could hear the sincerity in her voice.

"I'm sure you're Bella would feel the same way once she changes." She assured him. She knew that he was worried about the other Bella.

Edward fell silent he had a faraway look in his face.

"My deal is with our Edward when it comes to shielding the family. If you want, I can drop my shield so you can see everything that they see and remember what they remember throughout their lifetime so you could see how your counterpart and I live our lives here."

Edward thought about it but eventually, he shook his head.

"I think I don't need to. Carlisle's memories should be enough and I'm not sure I'm ready to hear Jasper's thoughts of you as his mate or Alice's thoughts of me as her mate. They were not able to think about it that last time your shield was down but I'm not sure that I wouldn't catch a glimpse of it if I listen to them all the time." he explained and Bella nodded, accepting his decision.

"We should be heading back then. Esme is looking for you." Bella reminded him as she gracefully dropped herself to the ground.

"Whichever Edward you are, you know she'll be happy to see you." Edward couldn't help but smile and he followed her back to the house where he was greeted by a welcoming family.

Time went by so fast that before they knew it, the alternate Edward's three days was almost up and everyone, except Rosalie and Emmett, who was still outside of the country, gathered in the living room, anticipating the switch.

Edward still was not able to get the memories of his counterpart and he was resigned to the idea that he would be able to share his memories. Even though, he was able to get a good look of what this world was in Carlisle's mind, he would have wanted to be able to see, hear and feel everything through the other Edward.

"I wish we have more time to have known you more." Esme sat by Edward's side and held his hand.

"I'm confident that you'll be able to get through whatever challenge you are facing right now." Carlisle spoke as he stood behind Esme. "And son... know that your family is always with you, no matter which world it is."

Edward looked at both of his coven leader and adoptive parents and he couldn't help but be thankful that he had Carlisle and the rest of the family.

"Thank you." He said sincerely, and he looked at the others in the room.

Alice was sitting cross-legged on the marble table beside the couch, eyes closed and with a peaceful look on her face. With his gift not available to him, with Bella around, he could only imagine what she was seeing in the future but with the hint of smile on her lips, he could guess that she was looking at her future together with his counterpart, the Edward of this world.

Jasper was sitting on the armchair beside Bella on the love seat and he was still having a hard time seeing Bella looking at Jasper with eyes shining with love that was usually reserved for him and he had to remind himself that this was a different Bella. His Bella was waiting for him so that they could be finally together with their child.

The feeling was still quite surreal when he finally felt his body growing heavy and he had to lean back on the couch which made the others panic except for Bella who knew exactly what was happening.

"It's time." Bella announced.

"Is Edward going to be, okay?" Esme said worriedly. He blinked and the heaviness in his eyes grew.

"I'll be fine… I'm just not used to feeling tired and… sleepy." He said, his words almost slurring and before he could tell them not to worry, everything went black.