A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the wait. I've been dealing with finals. I'd love some feedback. It's about to get a lot deeper.

Once inside the hospital, Edward waved quickly to the receptionist, who smiled widely and gestured for them to head into the labyrinthine hospital halls. Her thoughts were flustered at the sight of him, and he was sure she hadn't even noticed Callie.

He knew the route perfectly, of course, and they were at Carlisle's office after only a moment. He knocked on the door politely before Carlisle sent him a mental invitation to come in. The door slipped open with ease, and Carlisle stood to greet them. He extended his arms to Callie, who rushed to him with a smile.

"Edward, why don't you wait here while I take Callie to my examination room," he said as he led her out. Edward nodded and arranged himself on a plush chair. Carlisle and Callie were already halfway down the hall.

In the examination room, Carlisle offered her a hospital gown and left to allow her to change. As soon as she was completely finished, he had reentered. "Let's get started," he said, and she nodded.

He began the examination, focusing on asking her questions about her diet and daily routines, and the habits of her child. She answered surely and calmly. Soon, he was done with his medical questions, and he quietly asked her a more personal question.

"Callie, how do you feel about Edward?" Callie blushed, and Carlisle noticed her heart beating harder. "Ah," he interjected knowingly. She blushed harder.

"It's nothing, really. I don't know what he wants," she said, pleading for a hint in her voice. She found it a little weird that she was asking Edward's father figure for advice about a romantic relationship with Edward, but she wasn't uncomfortable. Carlisle had a warm aura of kindness and compassion that made her instantly at ease.

"He has been alone for a long, long time, Callie. He is very careful." He paused. "As are you." Callie looked away from his golden eyes. "I understand, however." She knew he did. "The situation surrounding your child is a…messy one." She looked up.

"What do you mean?"

Carlisle hesitated. "You are aware of what Jacob is, I assume?"

"Of course." She quieted. "He's a werewolf."

Carlisle nodded. "Our people are natural enemies, unfortunately. We have done what we can to establish peace with them, but it is still a very, very volatile relationship. Just one small thing could tip the scales. Your child, the child of a werewolf, is in the hands of vampires. If they were to find out about this, I'm not sure what would happen."

Callie swallowed hard. "Have I put everyone in danger?" She whispered. Carlisle stood, smiled softly, and stroked her hair.

"Everything will be fine, Callie."

She nodded, her nervousness still evident on her face. Carlisle let the subject drop. After calming herself, she asked, "What's the prognosis?"

"A healthy, happy baby girl in about seven weeks." Callie smiled, thinking, "I knew it." "There was only one thing," he added, "that was strange. You're very warm, but I believe that is from your baby's heritage, though it is strange that a girl would be affected."

Callie's brow furrowed. "Why is that strange?"

"Can women in the tribe become werewolves?"

Callie looked up at him. "My baby is a werewolf?"

"It is possible that she carries the gene," He said it quietly. She found it hard to breathe for a moment. "I didn't think females could carry it, however."

"What? Of course females carry it. There is a female werewolf in the tribe right now."

Carlisle's shock manifested itself on his face, and he struggled internally to regain his composure. "I suppose we've been very wrong, then. What was the cause for your surprise, then, if not a female werewolf?" Callie eyed him, and it occurred to him that she may have known exactly what was going on behind his golden eyes despite his careful façade.

"That my baby would already show signs. They have been getting younger and younger in the tribe, but why would my baby…? It makes no sense." Callie paused for a second, then quietly added, "I was hoping…it wouldn't affect her."

Carlisle gazed intensely at her, taking her breath away in the same way looking into Edward's eyes did. She briefly wondered if it was a vampire thing. His brief unbalance had been cured by her statement. Through his gaze, she saw more than what other people normally caught; she saw the gears turning in his brain. He was thinking through everything, compiling possible reactions and consequences of this baby. Suddenly, a glint of hope lit his eyes like the light of a burning sunset had just hit them. He noticed that she noticed, and smiled.

"This baby, your baby, may cause a lot of mayhem. But there are new options here that we never thought possible." The glint of hope had turned into a beacon of joy. Carlisle embraced her fondly. "You are what we've been waiting for!"

Edward, catching the hullabaloo from down the hall, had wandered over. He caught a bombardment of thoughts from Carlisle's overexcited head and Callie's confused state of mind. He hadn't seen the elder vampire so excited since he saved Esme, all those years ago. His ambition had caught hold of him.

"She could be the link to end our war, Edward. Her little girl could be the excuse for a conjoining of the werewolves and the vampires."

Edward coughed back his surprise. "What?"

"What?" Callie said, lost. He had forgotten about her for a moment.

"Wait, it's a girl?"

"Yes, of course. Why is it so surprising that I was right?"

Edward rolled his eyes. "Because werewolves can't be girls!" He exclaimed just barely too loud. The nurses outside had questions running through minds, however, and he quickly had himself in check.

"That's ridiculous."

"You're ridiculous!" He whispered harshly.

"Actually, Edward," Carlisle interrupted, "She's right."

"Wha–"

"Now calm down. We can discuss this further when we get home, away from prying ears." He looked to the doorway, and Edward nodded. Somehow, Callie didn't need supersonic hearing to know that there was a gaggle of young nurses giggling outside. "Edward, she is the key."

Edward's nose twitched to the side, but he nodded and led her out of the office. In passing, she said, "Thank you, Doctor," loudly enough to make the nurses blush.

Faster than she would have thought, they were at his car again. Soon, they were speeding towards his ("and mine!" she thought with excitement) home. "So, what did he mean? I'm the key?"

Edward sighed. "Carlisle has a theory – well, many theories – but this one is along the lines of creating a peaceful relationship between the werewolves and the vampires of Forks."

Callie's eyebrows furrowed. "What does that have to do with – oh!" She exclaimed, and looked frantically at him. "He wants me to act as a messenger?"

"Yes. But it's a rather dangerous idea. They don't react well to the scent of vampires."

"Vampires have a scent?"

Edward looked sideways at her. "Yes," he stated indignantly. "As do werewolves. They reek." His nose wrinkled. "At any rate, the smell of us is all over you."

"But Jacob wouldn't hurt me."

They had pulled up to the house already, and Edward put the emergency brake on before looking intensely into her eyes. "Wouldn't he?" Callie gulped. Suddenly, she wasn't so sure.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

"Finally," Edward said, hearing her thoughts, "Someone who asks the right question." He smirked and led her inside, smiling at her to reassure her of her safety. "Don't worry, Callie. My family will keep you safe."

It worked. She smiled. It was a meek smile, but it was a smile none-the-less.

Later that night, Carlisle glided through the door. Edward ambushed him. Callie was nowhere to be found, instead lost somewhere with Jasper in the library, digging up old volumes of Plato. They were arguing about the 'Cave' allegory, and both were in such a stubborn mood that they felt the need to prove themselves. Meanwhile, Edward said, "Carlisle, we cannot use her as a bridge between two species. Bridges get burned, especially in these situations. She is not a tool in this crusade for peace."

"And she will not be used as such. I would not cause her any pain…I've grown quite fond of her." Briefly, an image of the two of them playing a game of Bridge over the kitchen flashed through his mind, and it was accompanied by a small smile on his face. Edward smiled as well. Carlisle then continued, "I will not begin any experiments with this. We will cross these bridges as they come, and Callie will never be tread upon. For now, however, we must make sure her baby is born with no complications, whatsoever. An unhealthy child would be not only a misfortune, but a magnet for attention and trouble from the werewolves."

Edward nodded, chewing on his lip nervously. Carlisle noticed. "What is going on in that head of yours, Edward?"

"She's running all over it. It's like, I can't think of anything without thinking of her. I don't understand it, Carlisle. I don't know what's come over me."

Carlisle chuckled and ruffled his surrogate son's hair paternally, then walked into the other room. Edward sat on his stool, confused and a little bewildered. "And what does that mean?" He shouted to the other room. Carlisle only chuckled some more.

Meanwhile, Jasper resurfaced from the library. He had heard the end of the conversation and was chuckling himself. Edward glared at him, then said sullenly, "What are you laughing at?"

Jasper laughed harder, and patted his brother on the back. "For someone so intelligent, Edward, you can be so very dense."

Edward's nose twitched once again. "I highly dislike this new habit of people saying things without saying them." Jasper's laughed subsided into a smirk. Just then, Callie wandered in, apparently to gloat.

"I told you." She said pointedly, her hands on her hips. She was staring expectantly at Jasper, who turned to look at her.

"Ah, yes, I bow down to your mighty almightiness," He said, heavy on the sarcasm. She grinned and curtseyed, then looked to Edward. "Do we have hot chocolate mix?"

"No, but we have cocoa," Rosalie said, walking into the room with a smirk on her face. From the jar she held in her hand, she wasn't talking about a warm drink with marshmallows. Callie winced, and Edward looked at her, unaware of this ritual. "Cocoa butter, that is." Alice grabbed Callie by the hand and led her upstairs, following Rosalie.

Callie looked back at him, pleading him to save her with her eyes. Edward smiled, and shooed her away.

The girls had just finished helping Callie rub down. "You don't want stretch marks, Callie," they had said anytime she complained. After the third or fourth time, Callie stopped bothering. Now, she wandered down the hall to her room, where Edward was waiting on the chair in the corner.

"I feel like a piece of toast. Or a french-fry. Or French toast."

Edward laughed, and stood. She walked towards him and hugged him, her body sideways to avoid her bulging belly. Edward returned the embrace, arms holding her as close as they could to him. He couldn't help but relish in her warmth as she leaned her head against his chest. Neither person moved. They both looked out the window at the bright moon, refusing to let go.