A/N As you know, Stephenie Meyer's creative work has come outside to play with me.
I finished my last lap, running toward the front door, just as Jacob phased into wolf form flying from the porch. He would not be back to watch. The monster had failed again and with each step I pushed it further away from our goal. We'd wait for another opportunity. I would go into the house, kneel beside my wife, and for every second I'd stay with her until she was no more.
"I love her too!"Alice was staring at me, yelling. Then I heard her first coherent thoughts to me in days. I am not happy with that stupid agreement you tried to make with Jacob. Bella deserves better than to be treated like a common human love affair. I wouldn't blame her one bit if she throws you out of here on your sorry butt. This is not some turn of the century marriage of convenience – this is the only one that she will ever want; the only one for you and you treat it like it was ordinary. Ordinary! Look at her, Edward. Look. She fights, for the baby – but mostly for you.
Rosalie and the others slipped inside and were soothing and caring for Bella. My foot stepped into the doorway, hand on the knob. I turned my head slightly to Alice, to let her know I was listening. We'd always talked like this, not for privacy but because our talent was less obvious when we did. Among humans and vampires we were freaks. We stuck together.
Her screaming stopped, replaced by her patience wrapped in love. You know, I have headaches trying to see what is going to happen. The future is all muddled and it's not just because of Bella's condition – it's your fault. You need to decide Edward. The future is waiting for your decision. Allow her to stay with us – change her!
I barely moved my head to the other side. It was the one thing that I could not agree to, damning her soul. I would not do it. I pushed the monster further away; it would find no victory through me.
If you don't want to make a decision now, at least prepare for the alternatives. After this last stunt with Jacob – you owe it to her to prepare for her transformation. Not only that Edward, who do you think will be by her side once the baby is born? You think Rosalie will be as attentive when there's a baby that needs care? Carlisle will try but, there's already been so much damage. She's counting on you, Edward – not Rosalie. Not Carlisle. You!
I lowered my head to the ground, processing what Alice said. In a few hours – maybe minutes, Bella would die unless a miracle happened. I could not make the decision willingly, but if forced – I would. I wasn't anymore sure what would happen than Alice, but I could, at least, be prepared. There was nothing else to do. The worse outcome was inevitable - the best was no longer hopeful. I stepped inside.
Don't let her down! Alice skipped by me, quickly running her hand along my shoulder – comfort. Don't let me down! She danced up the stairs. I didn't stop her, all that needed to be said was completed. It was my turn to act – figure a way for my wife to stay with me; and I could no longer ignore the plan Bella crafted on the day we returned from our honeymoon.
The obvious path, I'd avoided since the day I realized that I loved her more than I wanted to drink her blood. I had to admit that her blush, the blood flowing through her veins, her scent; the fragile nature of her life all attracted me. I always thought it was about me being the perfect predator. For so long, I'd carried the burden of the monster but it was so clear now - she was the perfect lure.
Everything about her entrapped my heart, sang to my soul and called the monster. She was perfect, even now on the verge of death, there were no flaws. And in her perfection, I've become more human than vampire and ensnared the monster to submission.
I've fought for her immortal soul, her irreplaceable goodness on her behalf and now faced the final battle. Could her good continue? Or would we both become monsters, always on the fringe of destruction – what would lure us to submission?
I walked towards the middle of the room, where Bella lay sleeping on the white couch, suddenly anxious to talk with her, beg her for forgiveness. Carlisle stopped me. "Son, I know this may not be the best time, but you're with her constantly."
He touched my shoulder, I did not allow the comfort – my wife was dying. My fault. Her soul would be lost. I provided my excuse. "Her condition changes so often, it's hard to be away from her, even now."
"Certainly, it's understandable. We have to provide nutrition to her and I need to monitor her more closely. I've asked Emmett to bring in the hospital bed, she will be more comfortable."
Rosalie looked in our direction, listening. We won't let you harm her or the baby. We won't. I will defend her. I recognized the monster that spoke to me and I growled.
Carlisle turned and looked directly at Rosalie, as if he had heard her thoughts, "Now is not the time to provide passive care, Bella needs our help, you must not interfere." There would be no further objection from Rosalie, she would obey Carlisle's decision. He turned back to me, compassion in his voice. The same sympathetic tone he'd given to family members of his dying patients. "Even now, her heart beats are erratic, her breathing labored – only nutrition will keep her heart beating. If this works, we can then consider delivery."
I froze. Deliver that beast out of my wife – this is what would keep her alive. But for all that is holy – what would that thing be? I shivered at the thought of it – A thirsty monster that would want to kill the only human within miles, after it clawed its way to freedom. "It will have to be a c-section." I said.
"Yes, there is no other way. I will start an IV with nutritional supplements and attach the monitors. I'll need more medical supplies so Esme and I will pick them up from the hospital."
"Thank you Carlisle." I couldn't say anything else, it was doubtful that Carlisle's efforts would work, but we had to try. They wouldn't allow me take the monster and stop the madness, even though her heart was failing. It had to stop before the leech would be extracted, he followed her plan, even though I hadn't agreed.
Bella was motionless but awake. The stillness helped to relieve her pain, her eyes were on me there was a faint glimmer of moister around her eyelashes. Panic hit me like a brick wall, Carlisle had been gentle in his description of her condition. I garnered my will, I had to keep her relaxed. I read her expression and at first I thought I saw the pain that she kept hidden, it wasn't pain but hurt, possibly disappointment.
"How much trouble am I in?" My hands lightly touched her face.
"Heaps." Her voice was cracked, barely a dry whisper.
"I had to try . . . please Bella."
"You really would do anything, wouldn't you?"
"Anything." I promised, hoping that her resolve would lessen. "Whatever you want, even him."
"I really don't know why. I don't deserve either of you."
"Please, you can have children, as many as you want – it doesn't have to be so extreme."
"I didn't know I wanted a child anymore than I knew that I wanted to be married. I had to experience it, be in it, to know that I love our marriage. I didn't know I wanted a child. All I know is that I want this one. I can't hurt him." She said touching her bruised belly.
We began a silent dance in one another's eyes as I lifted her from the couch onto the hospital bed. I remembered the first terrifying visions of Bella that Alice had shown me, Bella's body hanging loosely dead as I carried her – it was not much different than how we looked now. Bella lost consciousness her heart was beating too fast and her breathing was shallow. There was no color on her face and her lips were pallor and cracked from dehydration.
"She needs fluids; she's dying of dehydration and starvation. I'll prepare the fluids." Carlisle didn't wait, the solution and supplies remained sealed, no one would question whether there'd been any tampering.
Bella regained consciousness. "Bella, Carlisle is going to give you liquids and nutrition. I know you hate needles, but this is the only way to keep you alive." I whispered calmly, her eyes understanding the urgency. "It is not a question of the . . . fetus at this point, it's only you."
I then spoke to make sure my words were understood by all in the room, especially her body guards. "Rosalie needs to understand that this is not your decision - but mine, as your husband. You must accept the care that Carlisle is providing – it will only make you stronger, it will keep you alive." Bella gently nodded her head and fell asleep.
In less than thirty seconds, Bella had an IV drip going into her dehydrated body. The monitors for heart and stomach were attached and an oxygen tube placed around her head. There was no immediate improvement to the treatment, but her condition did not deteriorate.
I began to count her heartbeats, each one a delicious treasure. Carlisle, certain that her condition was stable, left for more supplies.
Rosalie, ever present – stood guard, and reviewed everything going into and attached to Bella. She leaned forward to smell the IV. No morphine or sedatives. Then two things happened simultaneously, Bella had a nightmare and Alice had a vision.
Bella's eyes burst opened. Jasper's head snapped up in the direction of Alice's bedroom. I leaned in closer to Bella – she looked at me and tears welled in her eyes.
Jasper sprinted to the stairs his talent alerting him. We'd seen this before, Alice was having a vision. Bella's breathing was labored and she barely whispered, "nightmare."
"I'm here sweetheart. It was just a dream, nothing to trouble yourself about." I wanted to promise her that she was safe, but the words would not come through – not that she could hear them anyway.
"Let me keep you safe in your dreams." I began to hum softly to her. Her body perfectly still, too weak to move – better not to move.
I searched Alice's thoughts. What I found was darkness. No light. No sound. No objects.
My humming, did not drown out the image of blackness, flashing through Alice's mind. It was both a still picture and moving but there was no difference between the two. Alice searched through the darkness over and over – finding nothing. It wasn't like an unclear blur of the future where precise features were awaiting decisions for clarity. The black did not blur. The vision ended.
"Alice what is it?" Jasper asked. Her face was stone white, frozen in fear. She knew what it meant, so did I. Death.
She continued to try and find other ways to change the blackness. Each time the dark covered everything. The despair and terror – were simultaneously shared with Jasper. She said what, I had already understood, "All of our futures have ended."
She flew past Jasper, grabbing his hand as she came down the winding stairs to be with the rest of our family.
"How soon?" I asked Alice, my body, rising, preparing for battle.
"Within the hour." Should we tell her?
Bella's eyes were open. "What did she see?" She was as observant as ever.
"It's not about your condition. We don't know exactly what Alice saw or what it means. We think there's danger." I held her hand.
"Tell me." She whispered.
"Yes, I'll tell you, we're not sure . . ." I paused, startled that Jacob Black was screaming my name. I turned my head to the door, "What now?" I said it so softly Bella did not hear. "I hear Jacob's voice, he wants to - talk to me, it might be related to Alice's vision. I'll be back as soon as I can." It was urgent. My mind went into battle mode, I had to protect those I loved. I gave orders too quickly for Bella to understand.
"Rosalie, stay with Bella, keep her calm. Alice secure the house. Jasper, Emmett with me." I leaned over and kissed Bella on the forehead "rest, I'll talk to Jacob - even apologize." Attempting to dazzle her, I gave her a smile showing my glistening teeth.
"Thank you." Her thin fingers caressing her stomach, "Your father is dazzling." Her lips barely moved as she fell asleep.
I walked across the large room and through the glass front door, flanked by Emmett and Jasper. The three story metal barricades unfolded and were locked in place over the glass back wall of the white house before we were out of the door. Alice swiftly activated the security cameras and motion sensors on the grounds.
We waited on the porch and I listened as Jacob then Seth began their frantic warnings.
Circle the wagons, bloodsucker. You've got a problem.
We've got a problem. Seth corrected as they cleared the forest, into the meadow of our backyard, both in wolf form. They stopped twenty feet back.
"Jacob? Seth? What's going on?"
To answer my question, Jacob let his mind run over the confrontation with Sam – Seth filling in the gaps, showing scenes from other angles.
I don't think I can fight them either. But they won't be any happier with the idea of attacking us than we are with attacking them. That might be enough to stop them right there. Plus, there're only eight of them now. It was Seth, analysis of an attack. But who would attack them – us the Cullens?
If there aren't two packs, then why can we hear each other and not the rest? I think that when you turned your back on Sam that was a pretty significant move. A change. And when I followed you away, I think that was significant too. Seth reasoned.
You've got a point. Jacob conceded.
The scene changed to an area outside of La Push. Sam the alpha spoke, Do you belong to a coven now, Jacob?
Jacob's reply made Sam cringe backward, feeling the extent of Jacob's stronger Alpha tone, Jacob acknowledged to himself that he had been born to lead Sam and the pack; an inheritance he did not desire.
I will stand between you and the Cullens. I won't just watch while the pack kills innocent – people. The pack is better than that. Lead them in the right direction Sam.
Jacob stood tall, facing Sam – muzzle to muzzle. There cannot be more than one Alpha. The pack has chosen me. Will you rip us apart tonight? Will you turn on your brothers? Or will you end this insanity and join us again. It was Sam's voice pleading to Jacob.
Ephraim Black's son was not born to follow Levi Uley's. The double echo of Sam's Alpha command was weightless, it no longer applied to Jacob.
Jacob showed the scene of him rising from the forced kneeled position demanded of him by Sam's Alpha command
We need the whole pack for this. Jacob, you are our strongest fighter. You will fight with us tonight. I understand that this is hard for you, so you will concentrate on their fighters, Emmett and Jasper. Quil and Embry will fight with you. You don't have to be involved with the other part. . . Whoever has a clear line on the creature will take it. Destroying the creature is our first priority.
The scene moved to an earlier time, Jacob was standing in wolf form, the pack gathered in a small clearing. How are you going to kill the creature without killing Bella?
She's dying anyway.
Jacob running slowed as he came into the clearing and he trotted toward Sam. Now you're planning an ambush when the treaty is still intact?
This is not something our treaty anticipated, Sam said. This is a danger to every human in the area. We don't know what kind of creature the Cullens have bred, but we know that it is strong and fast-growing. And it will be too young to follow any treaty. Remember the newborn vampires we fought? Wild, violent, beyond the reach of reason or restraint. Imagine one like that, but protected by the Cullens.
Jacob was running through the forest now, heading to the gathering place. He was listening to the thoughts of the rest of the pack.
We have to kill it.
Not safe. Not right. Dangerous. We cannot allow it.
Unnatural. Monstrous. An abomination.
I had seen enough, a leapt from the porch, "They want to kill Bella?" I asked Jacob. Emmett and Jasper followed me and crouched to attack Jacob and Seth, they had not seen. Seth began to back away. Whoa, call 'em off.
"Em, jazz – not them! The others. The pack is coming." Both settled back into an upright stance, neither taking their eyes off of the wolves.
"What's their problem?" Emmett asked.
"The same one as mine, but they have their own plan to handle it." I began giving orders again. "Get the others. Call Carlisle! He and Esme have to get back here now."
Seth volunteered to run the perimeter of our land for signs of an attack.
"Will you be in danger, Seth?" I asked.
Don't think so. Jacob and Seth answered together. Then Seth disappeared into the woods on patrol. Jasper stared at the direction Seth vanished. Brave wolf-child.
I nodded at Jasper's thoughts. Emmett was on the phone with Carlisle. "We need you and Esme here."
"What's wrong? Is Bella alright?" Carlisle's medical training started to kick in.
"No, it's not Bella. The werewolves want to kill her, destroy the baby. Alice says they will attack in forty-five minutes."
"We will be there in twenty."
Alice came outside into the darkness, she's the same, Edward, still bad. She gazed at Jacob. I can't see him, those half human half werewolves so elusive – that's why I couldn't see the danger only the result . . . She flitted to Jasper's side – waiting.
"This isn't the first time I've owed you my gratitude, Jacob," I would never be able to pay the debt owed for his sacrifice – loss of home, family, pack, even love. "I would never have asked this from you."
We stood facing each other in the darkness of our yard. A slight grin crossed his face, then mine. Yeah, you would.
Considering what I had asked of him already, knowing there is nothing I wouldn't do for Bella. "I suppose you're right about that."
Sorry I didn't do any good today. Told you she wouldn't listen to me.
"I know. I never really believed she would. But . . ."
You had to try. I get it. She any better?
"Worse." I didn't get a chance to finish my statement before he attempted to finish it for me, I had hoped she loved him enough to live – separate from me and stay human. I considered that that thing growing in her was her greatest danger . . .
"Jacob, would you mind switching forms?" Alice trilled impatiently unused to being outside of the loop. "I want to know what's going on."
"He needs to stay linked to Seth." I answered.
"Well, then would you be so kind as to tell me what's happening?" I hadn't realized how little information Alice had, she was usually the source of distribution. I quickly explained.
"The pack thinks Bella's become a problem. They foresee potential danger from the" I paused knowing Alice's aversion to my referring to that thing as the murdering half monster it was. "from what she's carrying. They feel it's their duty to remove that danger. Jacob and Seth disbanded from the pack to warn us. The rest are planning to attack tonight."
Seth reported in, All's quiet on the western front. He decided to make a loop, to ensure they did not go around.
"We should take up a defensive position." Jasper said. The house is the best security we have. The metal shields are down over the back, we can also prepare the panic room - for Bella, we don't have the supplies she'll need in there.
I nodded. "Let's get inside."
Jacob decided to run perimeter with Seth. If I get too far for you to hear my head, listen for my howl.
"I will." My family and I backed into the house, scanning the woods for any sign of an attack.
Bella's heart was stuttering and she was not getting enough air. Something more needed to be done – that thing needed to be removed.
The monster awakened, I began formulating a plan. I would need a distraction, and it would only take a few seconds to cut through. I realized that cutting Bella would cause excruciating pain and I would not add to her misery. We would have to give her some morphine – but with Rosalie so close it would be impossible, she would smell it before I got it into Bella. I had no choice. I had to take Rosalie out, leave her in parts so Emmett would focus on repairing his wife. That would be enough time.
I heard Carlisle and Esme return. That would complicate things. Esme would have to be distracted. I could send them all on a quick mission. There had to be a way. The howling shook the monster and I ceased looking at the plans for battle against Rosalie. I went to the window searching for any sign of the pack. The attack.
False alarm, false alarm. Sorry. Seth is young. He forgets things. No one's attacking. False alarm. I could see Jacob through the glass window, enter the meadow. His thoughts went to Seth's reaction to Jacob's agreement to kill me once Bella died. Seth was upset, arguing that Jacob could not follow through. There's nothing out there – you got that?
I nodded my understanding, realizing he was still approaching the unlit house. He could not see her like this – so weak, vulnerable. She wouldn't care for it. I dismissed him and turned to look at Bella.
What's going on? Jacob cried. I waved him away and moved out of his eyesight. It was not the time for a visit.
"It was a false alarm." I told my family. "Seth was upset about something else, and he forgot we were listening for a signal." I droned. "He's very young."
"Nice to have toddlers guarding the fort," Emmett commented.
"They've done us a great service tonight, Emmett," Carlisle said. His eyes never leaving Bella's monitors. "At great personal sacrifice."
"Yeah, I know. I'm just jealous. Wish I was out there."
I joined in the conversation, "Seth doesn't think Sam will attack now. Not with us forewarned and lacking two members of their pack."
"What does Jacob think?" Carlisle asked.
"He's not as optimistic." I watched as Carlisle continued to examine the intricate leads monitoring Bella. He began to adjust one by lifting her hand.
"Don't touch her! You'll wake her up," Rosalie whispered.
Waking Bella up was the least of concerns to be addressed. Rosalie behaved as if Carlisle would do anything to harm my wife. Rosalie's over protectiveness was beyond exasperating, words would not come, just a puff of unused air.
"Rosalie," Carlisle looked up, conveying his frustration with her.
"Don't start with me, Carlisle. We let you have your way earlier, but that's all we're allowing."
Through me, the monster would rip her head off and launch it out the window – four or five miles away, maybe thirty. Emmett was strong, but I would be faster. He would be forced to go chase her head as it flew through the woods – gone long enough for a c-section.
I would wait for a distraction. Carlisle and Esme left to stock the panic room with medical supplies. Jasper and Alice were gathering food supplies. I watched as Rosalie stood at the head of Bella's bed, my rage began to show on my face. The pain, the death would be stopped. The monster relished the moment.
Bella coughed, the pain obvious, her body jerked and she whimpered. It was time to save her. Rosalie lightly wiped away the sweat forming on Bella's forehead. I stiffened, ready to attack, my eyes intent, when Emmett put himself in front of Rosalie.
"Not tonight, Edward. We've got other things to worry about." He growled. Relax bro. The wolf pack will be here shortly and we need everyone, Rose included, fighting.
His words were true. The hate, anger and frustration forced me to turn toward the larger enemy, Sam's pack. I walked away to the large glass window, Jacob was outside, his glaze met mine then he turned to run back into the dark forest. Worse. Yes she was worse. He thought.
I stood guard awaiting the attack by the werewolves that would end all of lives, while counting Bella's heartbeats. It was obvious that the nutrition and fluids were not helping, her heart was beating more erratic – it didn't matter, we'd all be dead soon.