Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The content, ideas and intellectual property of this story and the 'American Vampire Series' in its entirety are owned by Just4ALE.
Chapter 4: Just When You Least Expect It
BPOV
The rest of the weekend was fun, Cullen-style. The bet was on and Edward was determined that we would not opt out. At my request, we divided the Las Vegas Strip into three segments as I really did not want to run into any of them in their quest to earn points. Edward and I took the segment from the MGM Grand to the Aladdin. Jasper and Alice got from the Paris to the Mirage and Emmett and Rosalie got from Treasure Island down to the Wynn, which was only a few weeks from officially opening. As we were staying at the Bellagio, it was fair game for all, and thankfully, Carlisle and Esme opted out of the 'fun.'
I was curious about one thing though.
"Edward, how will we know who is winning?"
"We'll tally the points daily," he responded.
"Yes, but hoping beyond hope that I'll NEVER actually catch any of them in the act and doubly hoping that they won't see us, how do we know about the others and whether anyone has earned any points?"
"You can't hide it from both me and Alice," he said. "We'll keep everyone honest." Ew. Still think this is weird.
Every day when I awoke, Edward held up my swimsuit grinning. 'Blue bikini?' became his way of saying 'good morning.' When I rolled my eyes, he decided to find a different way to help me greet the day.
As it turns out, the family gift was a beautiful graduation card… with a $30,000 check in it. I was thankful that I was seated when opened the envelope. 'Something to get you started,' the note said. 'Love, your new family.'
"Edward, I can't take this!" I said, the check shaking in my hands.
He sat down next to me. "Bella, you're going to be part of the family. We have a lot of money and it is always good to have a solid foundation as you start work."
"But BCG is going to pay off my loans over a three-year period. I've got the foundation right there."
"You've been living on a student budget. You don't have to do that anymore." He smiled and kissed me softly. "Just accept it or you'll hurt their feelings." He moved my hair away from my right ear and started nuzzling my neck.
I sighed. I'd hurt their feelings by not accepting $30K! "Well, maybe I can use some of it for a new car."
"Um, Love, maybe you don't want to do that," he murmured as his lips grazed the soft spot behind my ear.
I pulled away and turned to look at him. He was humming to himself in his head again, blocking me. "Is there something you'd like to share with me, Mr. Cullen?"
He took the check out of my hand and put it down on the coffee table. "Why, yes, in fact there is," he said, grabbing me and throwing me over his shoulder as he ghosted us to our bedroom.
Yeah, that wasn't exactly what I meant, but okay...
On Friday, Rosalie, Alice, Esme and I all had a girls' spa morning. We arrived early and spent some time in the women's steam room before our treatments. I learned very quickly that these three women had no body image issues as they walked around buck naked. I, on the other hand, introduced them to my friend the towel.
Alice giggled. "Bella, all of that modesty will go away once you're one of us. You don't sweat the small stuff."
"That's easy for you to say. Look at the three of you and your bodies! Please tell me that you all wear clothes around each other when I'm not in Denali. Otherwise, I don't think we'll be living with you all in the future!"
They all laughed. "Despite the conversation that I know happened in Alice's suite last night before we arrived, even we don't want to see each other's spouses in that way, Bella," Esme said. "We do maintain modesty when the men are around. Besides, your body is perfect, Bella. Ask Edward," she said, winking at me. Okay, this doesn't seem like normal future mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conversation to me.
It was a really relaxing morning. I was washed, waxed, scrubbed, sea salted, wrapped, baked, massaged and polished for three hours. I was a puddle when I finished and managed to get back to the villa and crash for an hour or two, skipping lunch. Thankfully, Edward let me sleep.
Later that afternoon, Alice decided that the whole family should hang together by the public pool for a little while. Watching the Cullen family walk into the Bellagio pool area was quite something to see. It practically played out the way you'd see it in a movie… you know, when the dreamy guy or girl enters the room and everything becomes hazy and they're moving in slow motion to some rock music? Except that now they were walking in pairs, sans rock music, as the rest of the guests all gawked.
Rose and Emmett came down the stairs first. Rosalie's blond hair and supermodel body looked fabulous in what was essentially red dental floss with three band-aids covering the key parts, while Emmett's dark hair and big muscular body contrasted, yet complemented, her stunning image.
Alice and Jasper followed them. Alice looked adorable in a little hot pink skirted hipster bikini, her spiky hairstyle helping foster the image of a wild child. Meanwhile, she hung off of Jasper's tall graceful form, their bodies and contrasting hair colors - dark and light - also so different and yet both so perfect alone and together.
Esme and Carlisle came in next. Esme wore an animal print bikini, the print on the fabric playing nicely off of her caramel hair color. And Carlisle looked like the sun god with his pale blond hair and blue swim trucks as he walked at Esme's side, his arm around her waist.
Edward glided in after them, looking truly god-like in his forest green swim trunks and bronze hair tossed every which way. And then there was little old me, trolling up next to him, a t-shirt covering up the blue bikini. I was amazed I was even brave enough to be out here with them and I had no intention of taking off the shirt. Edward had other plans, however, as he decided that he needed to make sure I had plenty of sunscreen on - even though we were all seated under umbrellas - and he pulled off my shirt to apply it.
Through Edward, I got to hear a little of the lusty thoughts the guests were thinking about the Cullen family, including me. Then he blocked it out for me and I was really happy that I only heard one person, despite the new rhyme running through his head as he ogled me and my bathing suit. I will yank the little string, you will enjoy everything.
I reached for his hands and I pointed around to the guests. Then I leaned toward him and whispered in his ear, "String pulling is reserved for private spaces, thank you very much." His response was a low lusty growl.
Jasper's head turned our way and I could hear him snapping at Edward. Listen, horn-dog, I'm trying to enjoy myself here. It's bad enough I have to deal with all of the lusty emotions coming our way from the guests, I don't want to have to worry about you two!
And then, suddenly, I became quite put out by some of the thoughts directed at Edward. Holy crow, it seemed like every woman at the pool was thinking ungodly things about him! Despite the fact that Edward's attention was clearly focused on my breasts right now, I felt horribly jealous! I had never felt jealous about him because he never gave me reason to, and yet my blood was boiling! Edward saw it immediately as I shot up two notches, He leapt up, handed me my t-shirt, picked up my bag, grabbed my hand and walked me very fast out of the pool gardens. We hadn't been out there for more than 20 minutes.
I thought for sure that he was going to try to jump me in a hallway and get a point going on the family bet, but thankfully he made it to the alcove in front of our villa and we got a point for that anyway. Afterward, we learned that Jasper had riled me up just to get some peace from Edward's lusty state. Boy, was Emmett was pissed that Jasper helped us earn a point!
Alice took me shopping for some work clothes but honestly, I never thought in my life I'd own suits by Armani and Carolina Herrera. Mercifully, I was able to keep us away from La Perla. I was already covered just fine in the underwear department, thanks to Alice and her constant care packages.
O was just beautiful. It was my second time seeing the show and this time our seats were even better. Most Cirque du Soleil shows are odd and confusing with some weird theme running through them. This one started and ended with a little red handkerchief and a huge red curtain. It was just breathtaking, with acrobats doing tricks above, on and under the water and the music... Oh the music! The music just swirled around with some vocal parts that sounded tribal in the background and others that were augmented by the deep slow moan of a cello.
My favorite act was the pirate ship trapeze act, naturally. The Cirque performers always make everything look so simple but I had to explain to the Cullens that all of the timing on the some of the swings was backward. A trapeze is essentially a pendulum and you work with the swing of the pendulum to help propel you. In this act, at least one of the people doing the throwing was releasing their partner against the swing of the ship, which was so difficult. And water essentially functioned as the net for most of the tricks. It was a brilliant show... and a wonderful evening, until I swear I caught sight of Alice and Jasper in the Bellagio flower conservatory exhibit in one of the trees. Yep, point for them.
Zumanity, on the other hand… yeesh! It wasn't Cirque as much as sexy dancing if you ask me. Mercifully, someone thought ahead about our seating to request that the duo sofas on which we sat were in four completely different sections of the theater. It was a sensual and lusty show and there was one act with all of the cast members that I swear was like a big orgy on stage. Between the show and Edward's thoughts, I actually found that I needed to control myself – and we gained another point when Edward figured out a place, hidden among the statues on top of the Monte Carlo entrance, with me clinging onto him for dear life. Scary as hell and yet, wow. Unfortunately, I heard some really loud and familiar noises in the bushes among the villa grounds as we returned home. No need to verify that one: Rose and Em earned a point.
Unlike Paris, they let me wander on my own for my alone time. I was thankful. So on Saturday morning, I walked with my iPod to get my Starbucks fix. In the early mornings, the Strip was fairly empty, but for folks like me out for a morning jog or walk, some drunk groups of guys wandering back to their hotels and a few hookers in tiny outfits and big heels looking for johns. Walking up toward the North side of the Strip, I grabbed a drink at the Starbucks by Imperial Palace and then decided that I would avoid this side of the Strip and stop looking anywhere else other than the ground from now on when I saw Rosalie and Emmett in the Treasure Island pirate ship and Alice and Jasper on the Eiffel Tower at The Paris casino.
On Sunday, our last full day there, I awoke bright and early and made my way to the Strip. As I was wandering down to the Starbucks at MGM, I passed McDonalds. The smell of Egg McMuffins wafted out after a couple of patrons exited the building and suddenly I was nauseated. My stomach lurched and I barely made it to a local trash can, spilling up last night's dinner. Aw crap, food poisoning. A trio of guys wandering by at that moment, laughing at me and one commented, "Jesus, lady, drink much?" Sweating profusely, I turned around and made my way back to the villa.
Walking into the villa, I smelled the remnants of the aromas from the meal we had cooked the night before and I felt my stomach lurch again. Covering my mouth, I made it to the closest bathroom – thank goodness there were five of them in this huge-ass place – knelt by the toilet and got sick again. Edward was there by my side instantly.
"Bella, are you okay?" He knelt by me, his cool hands pushing my hair from my sweaty forehead.
"Nah, something from last night's dinner isn't agreeing with me," I said. I sat down, leaning against the closest wall. I smiled weakly at him. "We're going to lose this bet."
He frowned. "That should be the least of your concerns right now. I'm sorry you're feeling bad, Love. Should I get some ginger ale or Sprite for you? Would that help?"
I was thinking about it when we heard a knock at the door. Edward stood and went to answer it. My energy level wasn't quite in a completely happy place for me, but being back home and having him near me was comforting and I was hovering between a two and three, so I could hear him, although it was a little spotty.
"Hi Alice," he said.
She stepped in quickly and appeared at the bathroom door.
"Hey Alice," I said looking up at her from my lovely seat on the floor. "What's up?"
"Um, I was just in our room and suddenly you started fading in and out of my visions." She looked at Edward. "And so did you. It looked like you were in Paris, Edward."
He looked confused. "Maybe you were remembering the trip?"
She shook her head. "No, Jasper and Emmett were with you and Jazz was wearing a new shirt that I just bought him last week." She looked back at me and sniffed. "Hmmm, you smell odd, Bella."
I groaned. "Aw man, again with my smelling weird? Well, I just got sick twice. Maybe you smell my stomach flu?"
Alice's head was processing quickly and suddenly her face changed. "Oh my…" she said. Edward picked up on her thoughts and gasped. And then I heard him repeating the question in his head, although it cut in and out… like a bad cell connection.
Edward , when did - - - period? came Alice's question.
Period? Oh. My body went cold. Oh shit.
So much for his vampire birth control.
~#~
Carlisle came over immediately when Edward called him. As he stepped into the bathroom, I asked. "Is this what you guys were all smelling with me? That I was pregnant?"
Carlisle looked confused. "Actually, I don't know. Your scent is modified and I'm now detecting the change in your hormones… but the smell is a little off. You don't smell like the typical pregnant woman. It is pretty new, from what I can tell without running some tests. You may be only two or three weeks along." He asked gently, "You're not on the pill?"
I shook my head. "I tried it a few years ago and it really messed up my hormones. I didn't like it and I didn't feel like myself, and since I wasn't with anyone…" I grimaced sheepishly. "Edward always could tell before. He was my pill." I looked at Edward. "What happened? I thought you knew when I was ovulating."
He ran his fingers through his hair, obviously very upset with himself. "Your cycle and energy all changed after taking in my blood and I didn't notice the modification to your scent. Carlisle might have been right the other night: the magnetic pull I've been feeling since you've been able to hear me may in part be due to your blood and my blood calling to me… and it masked everything else. I'm clearly not quite myself. I'm sorry, love."
"Maybe this is why you weren't biting me… and why I've been napping so much." I took a deep breath to steady myself. "Edward, don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming you. It's just not great timing obviously. We're… we're not even married!" I said, bursting into tears. Jeez, here go the hormones.
He sat on the floor with me and pulled me onto his lap. "But we're going to be, sweetness."
At this point, the rest of the family had made it over to our place. Emmett's booming voice filled up the house. "So Bella's knocked up, huh?" he asked as he walked in. "Maybe this explains all the crazy activity between you guys," he said laughing. Then his face changed as he saw us there on the floor.
Knocked up. Me. Where was the responsible, logical girl I was a year and a half ago? I felt stupid. I was 26 years old and should have been in control of my own body, not relying on my boyfriend for that.
"I'm sorry, Edward," I cried, holding on to his shirt.
Rosalie moved from the bathroom doorway to kneel down in front of me. "Bella, why are you apologizing?"
Emmett piped up. "Yeah, Edward, are you two having one of your silent conversations? Are you making her feel guilty for this?"
Edward growled and shot Emmett an angry look. "I'd never do that! Anyway, we can't hear each other right now. Her energy is too low." He continued to rock me as I cried. "Carlisle," he asked, "What kind of baby could this be? Is there any chance it could be fully human?"
Carlisle shook his head." I don't know. I guess it is possible although doubtful since our blood takes over when intermingled with a human's blood. Apparently there are half vampires out there from your encounter in Paris but I don't know anything about them or what the impact is on the mother."
With my energy as low as it was, I was painfully aware of the absence of Edward's and his family's thoughts. All by my lonesome, I started to face the larger question: not what was I having but did I want to have it? I was scared of pregnancy… actually, deathly afraid of it. It was an irrational fear, I know, but it was there. All I knew was that the delivery was painful. Very painful. And your hormones went crazy. And you passed gas uncontrollably. And random strangers touched you. Plus, I didn't have a maternal cell in my body yet. I really didn't feel ready for a kid. As a late bloomer, I had once thought that I'd probably have a child when I was in my 30s if I were ever married, but since I was going to be turned before then, I had it figured that it wasn't meant to be. Now…
Edward's next statement brought me back to the conversation. "My primary concern is for Bella's well being," he said. "I think I need to find out what happens to the mothers in cases like these, to the extent that there are examples… before this gets too far." He looked over at Alice who was sitting on one of the counters. "I guess we know where I'm going."
He stood up carrying me out of the bathroom and into the living room. The rest of the family followed, and I could now feel Jasper's influence trying to calm me. Sitting me down on one of the comfortable chairs, Edward knelt in front of me and touched my face. "Bella, I need to go to Paris and talk to the half-breed, Laurent. He's the only one that we know about and he could help us."
Carlisle agreed. "As much as I'd like to go to help understand the medical and physical issues with this Laurent, I think that I should go back to Chicago with Bella. Until we know more, it probably isn't a good idea for her to see a human doctor."
Rosalie nodded. "I'll go with you to Chicago." Esme and Alice nodded as well. "I'm going to be blind anyway, whether I'm with Edward or Bella. I'd rather spend time helping Bella." Alice said softly.
Emmett put his hand on Edward's shoulder. "Jasper and I will come with you to make sure you have reinforcements in case anything gets out of hand."
Edward's face was appreciative. He looked back at me and smiled gently. "Looks like we need to get you moved into the house sooner rather than later. Esme, when you're back in Chicago, we'll need your help breaking Bella's lease and getting her moved in this week."
"Of course," she said. "Let me get started on getting the trip arranged for everyone. Emmett or Jasper, one of you will need to go back to Denali to get the passports. I don't think Mr. Jenks can get us all new documents by tomorrow."
Jasper raised his hand. "I'll go. Can we get me out on a flight today? This way I can head back to Chicago tomorrow and Edward, Em and I can leave from there on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest."
"I'll check," she said as she started dialing on her cell phone.
Rosalie came over to me and held my hand. "Bella, how are you feeling?"
"Queasy and hungry at the same time. I hear that this morning sickness thing lasts all day; let me tell you, this is going to suck."
"What can I get you, Love?" Edward asked, leaning in to kiss my forehead. "Toast? Plain rice? Chicken broth?" He stood up and made his way to the phone that would buzz the butler.
None of it sounded good. I mentally processed through all foods that I could think of. The only thing sounding remotely appetizing was the steak tartar from the other night. Raw meat… are you kidding? Talk about weird cravings.
"A rare cheeseburger? With Jalapenos?"
Edward picked up the phone to buzz the butler and paused, his brow furrowed. "Rare, Love?" And then his expression registered surprise. "Oh," he said, looking at Carlisle.
I saw the look that Carlisle was giving Edward. "What did I miss?" I asked.
Edward ghosted back to me and knelt down again. "Your rare/raw meat craving from the other night and now… It might not be the meat at all."
I let that sink in and my stomach started to growl. Oh wow. They're right...
I wanted blood.
A/N: Oh, baby...
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