Yeah another 6 hours not tied to anyone else's point of view. Let's see how Edward handles this. And I don't own these characters and dialogue and would gladly sign a release to Stephenie Meyer.

Seth finished his breakfast and Alice took his plate in the other room. He started to leave but Alice encouraged him to stay a little while longer, so did Bella. It was easy to understand why they wanted him to stay, he was young and optimistic, full of life and easy to get along with.

Seth thoughts never betrayed his actions. Although the smell of vampires bothered him, he never complained – he felt it was just something that was a part of who we were just like our skin and diet. There was no need to hold those differences against us, therefore, he was very comfortable sitting with Bella and a house full of vampires. Had he been in wolf form, then his basic instincts would have made it more difficult to handle those differences, but he would have overcome them.

"Why don't you all just leave now, not stick around for an attack?" He asked, not because he was tired of being around us but because it was safer for us.

I answered him as directly as possible, "Well, Carlisle has the medical supplies and credentials to access supplies available here in Forks. It takes time to build up and set up those same professional relationships in other places."

"I guess that makes sense, but you can always take that stuff with you or have it delivered wherever you go, right?

"Yes, but there is a lot of equipment that would have to be moved; and there isn't really enough time to get it all set up." I looked over at Bella, she had dozed off to sleep. Her stomach trembled with the movements of the half-breed killer. She was sweating a little around her brow. I gently wiped off the moisture and moved my arm around her shoulder and Seth automatically knew to withdraw his.

"But you can always steal the stuff or buy it—with enough money, you can have it all set up probably in a day."

"Your concern for us is very kind Seth." I looked straight ahead, knowing I had to give him the ultimate reason why we would not leave. "Bella isn't really in any condition to be moved. The fetus is very active."

As if on cue, she began to moan. Her entire stomach changed shapes from one large mound to an elongated oval. As the arch of the oval formed at the top of her stomach, I heard a crack on the same side as before. I called for Carlisle just as Bella's face lost all color and she began to pant out muffled cries.

"It's another break, possibly the same rib bone." I told Carlisle as he came to the couch.

"I. think. Edward. is. right." She said slowly, in between shallow breaths. Tears began streaming down her cheeks.

"Let's get you upstairs and take an X-ray." There really isn't much we will be able to do for her, if it's the same rib. It's almost better if it isn't.

Rosalie and Alice moved away from the couch and I lifted Bella from her seated position. I gently rolled up the blanket to place in between my body and her broken ribs. She gritted her teeth, refusing to let out her cries of pain. "Bella, I'm so sorry, but I'd feel better if you'd just release your anguish."

She didn't respond, instead she laid her head against my neck and cried silently. Her tears quickly covering my t-shirt. I held her closer to me, hoping the pressure would keep her side better formed and help her to breath.

The X-ray machine made its passes and sure enough it was the tenth rib, same as before. The break was an extension of the first, but still a hairline fracture. Carlisle taped it again and Bella was able to breathe normally.

I took her back downstairs to the couch, but she wanted to take a moment in the bathroom. I placed my wife in Rosalie's arms, careful not to listen to Rosalie's thoughts.

I resisted the childish urge to make a snide remark to Rosalie, but she had no qualms with irritating me. "Bella, don't feel badly about this, pregnant women often crack ribs during the last month. Everyone knows that." She shut the bathroom door a little harder than necessary, jarring me from the growl that was rising in my throat. I promised myself that the next stupid remark would cause Rosalie to lose a limb-Esme would just have to forgive me.

I could hear Emmett and Jasper upstairs discussing the myths that they found on the Internet. They were the same ones, I'd reviewed when I first became a vampire and rejected when we were on Isle Esme.

The thought of Isle Esme reminded me of the wonderful solitude my wife and I shared. My precise memory brought forth images of Bella and me in our own perfect world lounging on the speedy yacht. It seemed like years ago rather than weeks. "Alice?"

"Yes?" She trilled. It was weird to have to have her answer uncertain of the question. I was so use to her thoughts being several minutes ahead of mine.

"Is the wedding DVD finished?"

"Oh, yes!" She flitted up the stairs and returned with a white ribbon wrapped around the jewel case. "This will lighten everyone's mood."

I raised an eyebrow, uncertain if she was seeing the future or wishing it so. "Is Jasper going to join us?"

"No." Her quick answer told me that I had not been very observant to the members of my family. I quickly reviewed their thoughts, starting with Jasper.

Jasper was searching the Internet trying to find any stories of strange animal attacks on pregnant women. He was intense with his concentration. Control the thirst, he thought over and over again. I was grateful that Seth's smell masked Bella's scent, and Jasper purposely was not listening for her heartbeat.

Emmett had just finished a game of on-line poker while reviewing every fiction work related to vampires. He wasn't having much success.

Carlisle was in his office with several books opened to various chapters on pregnancy. A couple of the books looked rather ancient and the illustrations were disconcerting, showing various complications with pregnancy.

I found Esme sitting on the couch in Carlisle's office, looking over her latest renovation project. She was going through all of our faces, like she was turning a page in a book. Each page made her stop and smile or giggle, but in my case she was pensive and for Bella she looked proud. I knew it was unpleasant for Esme to see us in such despair, but I could not deal with it now.

I took the DVD and placed it in the player, just as Bella was returned to the couch. She rested on her side, pulling her feet up around her. A blanket was placed over her and Seth sat on the floor in front of her, with his back against the front of the sofa and his arms stretched across. He fell asleep immediately.

Esme came down the stairs and went into the kitchen. She fixed a plate of egg salad and chips, along with a cup of O positive for Bella.

I handed the remote control to Bella. "I think you'll like this movie."

"What is it?" The corners of her lips curved up to a slight smile. As she took the plate and drink from Esme. "Another musical?"

"No, a love story" I said.

She pushed the forward button and the opening lines began to a tune she recognized immediately--Bella'sLullaby.

"I hope you don't mind that I played it." Rosalie said to Bella, "it seemed the perfect song for the beginning."

There were many pictures of Bella as a little girl and from the different schools she had attended. I had never seen the photographs before and I knew that no matter when I would have met her, even if she were six years old, I would have loved and waited for her.

There were exactly six pictures of me. The first was when I was an infant, stretched out, my tummy on a white rug, naked-a standard picture during the early 1900's. The second and third pictures were family pictures when I was five and ten respectively. The fourth was a school photograph from my eighth grade graduation, my green eyes and crooked smile evident. The last two pictures were photographs of me playing a piano on two separate occasions, my first recital and my high school senior performance. Although I loved music, and my mother wanted me to pursue a career in it, I wanted to fulfill my patriotic duty and join the armed forces.

Pictures then began of Bella and me together. We both gasped as we saw a picture of us in the meadow on our first date. I'd known that Alice was there, but I didn't realize that she'd taken pictures.

Bella pressed pause on the remote control. "Okay . . . how did that picture get taken?"

"I was there for moral support." Alice said. "Edward was so nervous about taking you there alone that I agreed to chaperone. He really didn't need me though."

"I didn't know you had a camera either." I added.

"Well, I knew we would need pictures from the first date."Alice chirped.

"It wasn't exactly our first date though," Bella corrected. "We had had dinner together in Port Angeles a few days before."

"Doesn't count. That was just a coincidence." Alice countered.

"Counts for me!" I said.

"Me too." Bella agreed.

"Oh just watch the DVD." Alice said in her high pitched voice, faking annoyance.

Bella obeyed, pressing the play button and the next picture was us at the restaurant, leaning close together over the table. It was our "coincidence" date. Bella giggled, there was no need to ask how that picture was taken.

More still pictures continued of the two of us, many taken for Bella's senior scrapbook. The last picture was the two of us sitting in the ancient cedar tree in our backyard. Bella was in a white summer dress, she had her back to the tree trunk and her bare feet dangled below the branch, while I sat stride the branch, facing her in a white shirt and jeans. Both of us were in the middle of a full belly laugh, our mouths wide with joy. Her head was facing up, cheeks rosy and her hair to the side. I was leaning forward with my eyes on her, my hands braced against the tree trunk. You could almost hear the laugh coming from the picture. Bella'sLullaby ended and the background faded to black with a white rose phasing into view. The video paused.

"Edward, what were we laughing about?" Bella asked as she readjusted her body so she could sit up to face me. Her face grimaced, Rosalie was there assisting.

"I'll tell you later." I got up from the foot of the couch and went to sit next to her. I picked up her hand and kissed it. She looked at me and smiled.

"I remember." A rose color covered her cheeks. "It was a very good laugh."

"Yes, it was." I said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"Oh, come on now." Alice teased, "aren't you all going to share."

"No." We both said in unison. Bella pressed the play button and videos of the wedding rehearsal and dinner began. Everyone chuckled when Bella lifted her hand to close my mouth as I gawked at her beauty in the black dress. We weren't surprised to see video of Bella and me sitting at a piano later that evening.

There was quiet reflection as the wedding ceremony played. After the traditional activities, we saw all of us sitting in the great room staring out of the back window at Bella as she danced with guests and the picture faded to her dancing with me.

"I never knew I could dance so well." She said.

"I did." I answered.

Too soon the video ended with still photos of us departing for our honeymoon mixed with comments from our guests.

"I don't suppose you all have pictures from your honeymoon to add to the DVD?" Rosalie asked.

"A few." Bella answered, "But I think we left the camera on Isle Esme." Bella turned to look at me. I shrugged my shoulders, I wasn't sure if I packed the camera—too distracted.

"Too bad." Rosalie replied. It would be nice to have pictures of the two of you pregnant too. Rosalie thought.

I resisted the urge to kick Rosalie in her head. But I remembered it was my fault for listening to her vile thoughts.

"I think I'll call Charlie." Bella announced.

"Honey, that's not a good idea." I answered.

"But, I am doing better and he is so worried, he called twice yesterday."

"And we will give him an update today."

"He needs to know that I'm going to be fine."

"You don't know that Bella." I tried to speak evenly, so as not to upset her with her fantasy.

"I know Alice has seen me as a vampire, and I have faith in her vision, even if it is all blurry right now." She countered.

"I'll let my dad know I'll have a long recovery somewhere out of the country and in a year after I finish being a rookie vampire. Then when he sees me he can guess or imagine anything he'd like—never explaining to him the truth, because he won't guess it. Our family doesn't follow traditional vampire myths. It can happen the same way it happened when Jacob wasn't allowed to tell me and I had to guess his secret. It will keep Charlie safe. But I can still talk to him now. I miss him Edward."

I knew there was little chance that I would deny her anything, especially if it would make her happy. There was so little time left. I would handle Charlie and all of this later.

Seth woke up and moved to the other side of the room. He watched as Rosalie passed Bella a phone.

"Hi Dad." She said when he answered the phone.

"Bella!" The excitement was in his voice. I felt remorseful at the damage I was causing to his only child, knowing the pain it would cause him to lose her. I had broken my promise to bring her back safely.

"I'm doing better Dad, but not quite out of the woods yet." She told him.

"Where are you?" He asked frantically.

"I'm still out of town, the doctors here are doing everything to make me better and I think its working. Don't I sound better?"

"Well, yes. I'm just so worried about you. When will you be back in Forks?"

"It's a long recovery time Dad."

"Are they treating you alright then?"

"Yes, they've given me this weird liquid to drink--it's not too bad." She joked.

"Well, be sure to follow their instructions. I don't want to ground you again."

"I don't think my husband would put up with that too long." She chuckled.

"Is he treating you alright?"

"Yeah, he's wonderful, never leaves my side. I'm wondering if he doesn't have a career in medicine." She smiled as she said it, knowing that I'd already attended medical school twice and was in no hurry to go again. She was trying to distract Charlie.

"Well, he's too thin to be an athlete, so he'd better choose another career."

"Dad, he's a very good baseball player and quick." She countered, "but he'll never play like Phil."

"Probably not. Speaking of Phil, have you talked to your mother?"

"No." She hesitated. "You know the less Renee knows the better. I don't want to worry her unnecessarily. I am going to get better." She looked at me, her eyes insistent.

Right Bella I thought. That was a new born half breed vampire she was carrying. It would have no control; no reasoning and its only desire would be to satisfy its thirst.

"I miss you Bells." Her father said.

"I miss you too. I'll call you soon."

Her stomach began to lurch forward and she bent forward in pain, a muffled groan came from her lips and she dropped the phone.

"Sheeze." I muttered softly as I caught the phone before it fell. I would have to talk to Charlie—not good.

"Charlie, this is Edward."

"Edward?"

I talked slowly "Bella is in a lot of pain right now and the nurse is here to take her down for more tests. I've got to stay with her—so we'll call you back as soon as we know something." I hung up the phone before he could ask any questions. I'd have to apologize the next time I'd see him.

"Bella are you alright?" I was back to asking stupid questions again. The creature had given her a stiff punch and she had nearly passed out. I examined her quickly, noting that her blood pressure was normal and I didn't see any new trauma around her stomach. The pace of her heart had not changed.

"I'm okay." She began to rub her stomach. "The baby is just stretching."

"Do you want to lie down?"

"No, I'm fine—I think I better eat something though, that seems to calm the baby down."

Actually that made the life sucking leech stronger and more active. I looked around the room and everyone who had been on high alert, now relaxed.

I continued to hold her free hand and because she was now sweating, I placed my arm around her shoulders. I didn't take my eyes off her while she finished her drink, barely touching the plate of food.

I glanced at the television and saw a picture of us, in our wedding attire. Our entire family surrounded us, all of us were smiling. I looked away, not wanting to acknowledge the number of people I had disappointed.

Bella didn't want to sleep, she seemed like she was waiting for something. She entered the extra section on the DVD and found an icon for a game. The object was to answer the questions correctly in order to advance to the wedding night.

Bella, smiled. "Did you do this?"

"Yes, Emmett and I, it wasn't made for the DVD—it was just some fun we had a few days before the wedding." I wasn't in the mood for games and I'm sure I spoke coldly. I continued to watch my wife.

"Well this should be interesting."

She started the game and picked the bride avatar. The first question was an easy one 'Where was Edward born?' It listed three cities, including London, England. She picked correctly, Chicago.

'Which Shakespeare play is Edward's favorite?' was the next question. Bella, picked Hamlet and got the question wrong. I whispered, "Ever since I saw you cry during Romeo and Juliet, it has been my favorite."

She successfully progressed through the next series of questions, all relating to me and was at the final round. I glanced at the question, and it had been changed from the one I'd originally written.

"Emmett" I muttered. "He changed the final question. It was supposed to be 'How long will Edward and Bella be together.'"

"Should I assume Emmett's riddle is a trick?"

"Probably."

It read. 'Edward has kept his for years, it's shorter than most men's, the pope doesn't use his and Edward gave Bella his after they were married?'

There were no multiple choice answers.

Bella thought for several minutes. "It's definitely a trick but I'm not thinking straight. Anyone else want to guess?"

"Not me." I said.

"Fine, I'm not afraid of Emmett's humor." She entered the word 'car'.

An avatar picture of Emmett popped up "Wrong, wrong, wrong!" The avatar shook its head from side to side and then looked up. A drum roll began and the avatar announced the answer, "His name. Welcome to the family Bella Cullen!" Canned laughter followed.

"Not too bad, huh?" Bella smiled.

We could hear Emmett's booming laughter from upstairs. "It's not my fault you all have dirty minds!!"

It seemed as if everyone in the house was laughing, except me. They were way too cavalier.

"I think I need a bathroom break." Bella said. Rosalie was there and carried her to the bathroom.

"That's my funny man!" Rosalie grinned as she shut the door to the bathroom.

"Seth would you mind sitting with Bella for a few minutes? She has chills." I asked.

Carlisle hearing my request, came downstairs, "Did you say she has chills?"

"Yes, I was just about to call you. Over the last hour her body has gone from sweating to chilly several times." I looked at him.

"I'm not surprised. Her body is not compatible with the fetus, its attempting to regulate itself." Carlisle placed his hand to his chin. "I'm not finding very much information on this, Edward. Actually I haven't found anything."

I told him about Kaure and her legends of the Libishomen. I shivered at her comments that Bella and the half-breed beast were both doomed to death or should be killed.

"We'll figure something out Edward." Carlisle's words were meant for comfort.

"Seth, would you be so kind as to let Jacob know that we will need to pick up some more medical supplies for Bella from town."

"Not a problem, when do you need to get them?"

"As soon as possible, Bella's needs are decreasing the blood supply quickly. I need more on hand just in case."

"More blood?" Seth wasn't sure how the stores of blood were obtained.

"Carlisle's medical license allows him to purchase from the blood banks. It would cause too much trouble if we were to steal items."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

Esme came into the room, it was late afternoon and she started to cook. "Seth how about some steak?"

"Sounds good." Seth smiled. "I guess I'll eat and then go back on patrol."

"Seth, can you ask Jacob to stop by?" Bella came out of the bathroom. It looked like the fetus had changed locations again.

"Yes, please have him come by." Alice chirped in. "When you leave, I'll have to go back upstairs and I'm tired of hanging on the third floor—like the vampire bat in the belfry."

Bella sat up on the couch. She was fighting sleep. Her body was tired, but I guess she wanted to stay awake to see Jacob. It didn't make sense, but it made her happy and Jacob didn't mind being miserable around us.

Bella picked up the remote control and started playing the wedding game again—this time as the groom. Emmett didn't tamper with the ending so it was pretty boring for her—all the questions related to her. She continued to drink from her cup, she wasn't getting any better, but she wasn't any worse either, although her appetite for human food had waned.

She was fighting sleep. The half-breed leech was beating her from the inside and her body was exhausted, but she didn't want to sleep. Esme brought a plate of food in to Seth and for Bella as well. I tried to help her eat.

"Bella, your body needs the iron, please take a few bites." I was glad she cooperated, probably because the steak was cooked rare.

"It's really good."

I was hoping that her appetite would return. Soon she was asking for a spinach salad. Esme immediately complied. I again helped her to eat.

"Just cause you're feeding me doesn't mean I'm worse." She challenged.

"I know." I told her as I placed another forkful of food in her mouth. "Thanks for humoring me."

"I wonder if Jacob will come back."

"I'm sure he will."

"I don't know why he would, it just hurts him to be here."

"I think he enjoys torturing Rosalie." I answered, refusing to allow any gloating. I was wondering how I could sneak him a few dumb blonde jokes as well, but then I remembered that words would not satisfy my desire to dismember her.

"I wish he wouldn't, but at least you aren't fighting with either of them."

I froze. I looked in her eyes and shook my head. "You don't know what you're talking about Bella."

"Well, I know you and Jake are getting along better, but you and Rosalie aren't."

"You're right about Jacob and as for Rosalie, our relationship hasn't changed in eighty years, we don't fight." I was glad Jacob wasn't here to comment on my lying abilities.

"He's right Bella." Rosalie chimed in. I've always thought of you as an idiot.

"We feel the same way about each other." I agreed with Rosalie, she was an idiot, who I would gladly destroy . . . later.

"None of us has ever understood why the two of them don't get along." Alice chirped. "I gave up forty years ago. Esme is the only one who still tries to improve their relationship."

"You try too Bella." Esme said. "We are eternal optimist I believe—too much sibling rivalry, I suspect."

I gave Bella another forkful of salad and she chewed slowly. She was about to say something when the monster in side started torturing her body. All I wanted to do was smack the leech—reason would not allow, it would have caused more problems. She held her breathe through the thrashing and straightened her legs in hopes of creating more space.

"Breath, sweetheart." I attempted to help her with a calming voice.

Carlisle came into the room. "Is she having contractions?"

I looked at him as if he had lost his mind—how would we know???

"Bella, is this pain different?" Carlisle asked her. "Or does it feel the same as it did yesterday."

"The same," Bella panted. "There is pressure on my lungs but once the baby settles back down, I feel fine." The exhaustion was on her face, but there was optimism as well. There was sweat across her forehead.

It's late, I'd better go or Jacob will have a fit. Seth thought. "I'm going to go relieve Jacob so he can come back here. Bella I hope you feel better. Thanks for the food, Esme. It was good." Edward—man, hang in there!

"Thanks, Seth." I said, "Don't forget to ask Jacob to stop by and see Bella."

"I won't forget, but he'll come by even if I do." Seth left and I tried to keep his thoughts as long as I could. Alice also left the room, returning to the belfry.

"I want to give you a quick exam, Bella." Carlisle said as he started taking measurements, temperature and other vitals. "You seemed to have grown another couple of centimeters around your waist, but your weight has leveled off." He announced. "I really want you to keep eating as much as possible; you both need the extra nutrition."

"Edward seems to shove some food down my throat every two hours." She was still making jokes; I guess it helped that she could count the days left of this torture on one hand. I counted them as the last days of her life. She didn't have to do this.

"I'm still concerned about your heart. While you're asleep your heart doesn't have to work as hard. When was the last time you slept?"

"She slept for an hour earlier this morning." I answered.

"I'll go to sleep, soon."

"I think your body is trying to adjust to the rapid changes by fluctuating temperature. I know Edward and Seth were trading off to keep your temperature constant, they can keep doing that."

"Are you having any other problems?" Carlisle asked.

"Just going to the bathroom a lot."

"Well that's normal. Let me know if you have any more pain." Carlisle left the room to resume his research. I found some of the ancient myths from South American Indians, you told me about. I've got to translate them before I know whether they will be helpful.

"Thank you Carlisle."

"Bathroom break." Bella sang out, even though they had just returned. Rosalie and Bella were in the bathroom quick as a wink.

I sat on the couch with my hands covering my face and Esme's arms around me. I looked like a grieving man—my wife's body removed. My mother comforting me. Jacob came into the house, noticed Bella was not around and was immediately frightened.

She's all right," I whispered. "Or, the same, I should say." I continued to cover my face. I was counting the days until this all would end. I was counting her heart beats. I ignored Esme's soothing embrace, I didn't want comfort.

"Hello, Jacob," Esme said. "I'm so glad you came back."

"Me, too," Alice said coming down the stairs.

"Uh, hey," Jacob said. This showing manners to vampires is getting weird. "Where's Bella?"

"Bathroom," Alice answered.

I heard Bella moan as Rosalie carried her out of the bathroom door. I listened to Bella's heart and it was working hard to push the excess blood to her and that monster she was carrying. Bella would be glad to see Jacob, but so was I, Bella would rest now.

"Jacob," she breathed through the pain. "You came."

"Hi, Bells." She lit up like a Christmas tree, just to see me—why does she have to do that? It's not fair.

I touched Esme's arm to help her off the couch so Bella could lie down. I watched Bella, her face wasn't filled with joy, but pain and she was holding her breath, as if she could suck up the pain in silence. Even Jacob noticed that she was trying to hide her suffering.

I wanted to take away the agony, but all I could do for now was to gently wipe away the frown across her pale forehead and push the stray hair behind her ear. The corners of her lips began to twitching; she was trying to distract me from noticing how cold she was.

"Are you cold?"

"I'm fine."

"Bella, you know what Carlisle told you," Rosalie said. "Don't downplay anything. It doesn't help us take care of either of you."

"Okay, I'm a little cold. Edward, can you hand me that blanket?" I already had the blanket in my hand and placed it around her legs, there wasn't much point in covering up her stomach. She pulled her legs up and I adjusted the blanket to cover her shoulders as well as her legs.

"Isn't that sort of the point of me being here?" Jacob offered.

"You just walked in," Bella said. "After running all day, I'd bet. Put your feet up for a minute. I'll probably warm up again in no time."

Jacob needed an excuse to stay, so he sat on the floor. She looks pretty brittle. He thought as he tried to figure out an easy way to help keep her warm, finally he just placed his left arm along hers and held her hand while his right hand touched her face.

I went to sit on the arm rest near her feet. I wasn't sure why it didn't bother me that he was touching my wife. It just didn't, perhaps it was that his thoughts were focused on his hunger. I focused on my wife who was more content.

"Thanks, Jake," Bella said, she was still shivering, but I could tell her face was warming—thanks to Jacob. She was relaxing. I started to count my wife's heart beats.

"Rosalie, why don't you get Jacob something from the kitchen?" Alice trilled from behind the couch.

I saw Rosalie's head snap up and absently I heard her thoughts. I do not fetch for dogs, if he's hungry let him eat outside, then again; maybe I should treat him like the dog he is!

Jacob interrupted, "Thanks, anyway, Alice, but I don't think I'd want to eat something Blondie's spit in. I'd bet my system wouldn't take too kindly to venom."

"Rosalie would never embarrass Esme by displaying such a lack of hospitality." Alice replied.

"Of course not," Rosalie agreed, sounding deceptively kind.

I saw the bowl Rosalie was planning to use and how she would change it into a dog dish. I sighed. Her behavior was unnecessary and I hope Jacob wouldn't leave offended.

"You'd tell me if she poisoned it, right?" Jacob asked me.

"Yes," I promised, I continued to read Rosalie's thoughts, as she banged the metal bowl. She didn't deviate from her original plan but she did add the word FIDO to the deformed bowl. I resisted the urge to smile and settled for a sigh.

Rosalie brought the metal bowl in filled with food and tossed it on the floor, like she was feeding a dog. "Enjoy, mongrel."

Jacob was a bit impressed with the joke. "Thanks, Blondie." He began to eat the steak and potatoes. "Hey, do you know what you call a blond with a brain?"

"Boring," Rosalie said.

"A golden retriever."

"I've heard that one, too," she said, smugly.

"I'll keep trying," he promised.

I certainly hoped that he would keep trying, it was the only relief I had when it came to Rosalie. I wanted her to hurt, the way Bella was hurting. I looked over at Bella and she was still awake, her fingers started petting Jacob's hair. I remembered how he liked to keep his hair long, because he thought Bella liked him better with long hair, but now he knew it didn't matter. He wasn't enjoying her cold fingers in his hair like he would have before I married her.

"Time for a haircut, huh?" Jacob asked her.

"You're getting a little shaggy," she said. "Maybe—"

"Let me guess, someone around here used to cut hair in a salon in Paris?"

She chuckled. "Probably." It was nice to see my wife still in a good mood.

"No thanks, I'm good for a few more weeks."

I could see Jacob's concern over how much longer her condition would last. He wanted to be polite, but he hated the thing that was killing her almost as much as I did. "So…um…what's the, er, date? You know, the due date for the little monster."

I looked away from her face. She wouldn't want to answer him with my hurt staring her in the face and she should be the one to tell him. He deserved to hear it from her.

"I'm serious, I want to know how long I'm gonna have to be here." Jacob pressed.

"I don't know," she murmured. "Not exactly. Obviously, we're not going with the nine-month model here, and we can't get an ultrasound, so Carlisle is guesstimating from how big I am. Normal people are supposed to be about forty centimeters here"—she ran her finger right down the middle of her bulging stomach—"when the baby is fully grown. One centimeter for every week. I was thirty this morning, and I've been gaining about two centimeters a day, sometimes more. . . ."

He did the math—about four days. That is a hard pill to swallow. I'd thought there would be more time, but there isn't. Four days! He didn't say anything and I couldn't look at him either. It was my fault. Bella might have hurt him, but I was killing him too. I deserved to die and he would be my executioner.

"You okay?" She asked him.

He didn't answer. He was trying to reconcile Bella's last days with him and his need to be around to watch her die. It's not my imagination that my need for her is stronger than ever. Why is that? Tears rolled down his cheeks and she wiped them away.

"It's going to be okay." She whispered.

"Right," He sounded defeated.

"I didn't think you would come. Seth said you would, and so did Edward, but I didn't believe them." I turned when she said my name. Her head was on his shoulder. I didn't want to see her touch him, but I wasn't angry that she was.

"Why not?" He asked trying to distance his feelings for her.

"You're not happy here. But you came anyway."

"You wanted me here."

"I know. But you didn't have to come, because it's not fair for me to want you here. I would have understood." Bella took a deep breath, she felt the pain. "Thank you for coming."

Why can't I leave? "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why do you want me here? Seth could keep you warm, and he's probably easier to be around, happy little punk. But when I walk in the door, you smile like I'm your favorite person in the world."

"You're one of them."

"That sucks, you know."

"Yeah." She sighed. "Sorry."

I wanted to be invisible, give them time alone, to say the things that needed to be said. But I couldn't leave anymore than Jacob could. In fact, no one in the room would leave, we were all drawn there. All I could do was turn my face away.

"Why, though? You didn't answer that."

"It feels…complete when you're here, Jacob. Like all my family is together. I mean, I guess that's what it's like—I've never had a big family before now. It's nice." She smiled for half a second. "But it's just not whole unless you're here."

"I'll never be part of your family, Bella."

"You've always been a part of my family," she disagreed.

His teeth made a grinding sound. "That's a crap answer."

"What's a good one?"

"How about, 'Jacob, I get a kick out of your pain.'"

I heard her heart skip. "You'd like that better?" she whispered.

"It's easier, at least. I could wrap my head around it. I could deal with it."

I turned to look at my wife. She was hurting not just physically, but also from the pain she was causing Jacob. Her eyes were shut and she was frowning.

"We got off track, Jake. Out of balance. You're supposed to be part of my life—I can feel that, and so can you." She paused for a second without opening her eyes—she was fighting sleep "But not like this. We did something wrong. No. I did. I did something wrong, and we got off track. . . ."

She drifted off to sleep. Her voice trailed off, and the frown on her face relaxed until it was just a little pucker at the corner of her lips.

"She's exhausted," I told him. "It's been a long day. A hard day. I think she would have gone to sleep earlier, but she was waiting for you." I placed a blanket over the goose bump arm that Jacob wasn't touching.

Pretty crazy to let her talk to Charlie. It's just going to cause him more grief.

"She thinks she's going to survive, Jacob. . . be able to see him from time to time, at least until he notices that she isn't aging."

"Insane."

"Yes, but I'm not going to make her unhappy now." I answered. I could not let her be unhappy under any circumstances. She was being beat up hourly by that monster growing inside of her, I wouldn't add to her pain.

You don't expect her to live? Keep her happy for four more days, huh?

"I'll deal with whatever comes. I won't cause her pain now." I didn't want to discuss this further. Her happiness was all I could give her now. I placed my face in my hands, too ashamed that I wouldn't stop anything that brought her happiness; be it Charlie's distress, Jacob's tortured unrequited love or a murderous child. She deserved her happiness.

"Four days?" He asked.

"Approximately."

"Then what?"

"What do you mean, exactly?"

How does that thing get out? It's wrapped up secure inside of her.

"From what little research we've been able to do, it would appear the creatures use their own teeth to escape the womb," I whispered through my hands.

"Research?" He sounded like he would be ill.

"That's why you haven't seen Jasper and Emmett around. That's what Carlisle is doing now. Trying to decipher ancient stories and myths, as much as we can with what we have to work with here, looking for anything that might help us predict the creature's behavior."

Stories? If there were myths, then…

"Then is this thing not the first of its kind?" I finished his thought. "Maybe. It's all very sketchy. The myths could easily be the products of fear and imagination. Though your myths are true, are they not? Perhaps these are, too. They do seem to be localized, linked. . . ."

"How did you find…?" Where are these myths from?

"There was a woman we encountered in South America. She'd been raised in the traditions of her people. She'd heard warnings about such creatures, old stories that had been passed down."

"What were the warnings?" Jacob asked.

"That the creature must be killed immediately. Before it could gain too much strength."

Just like Sam thought. Was he right?

"Of course, their legends say the same of us. That we must be destroyed. That we are soulless murderers."

Two for two. I looked up and laughed at Jacob.

"What did their stories say about the…mothers?" He didn't pause.

He didn't know? Couldn't he figure it out? My face changed--agony ripped across my face—I put my hand over my face again.

It was Rosalie—who'd been so still and quiet since Bella'd fallen asleep that answered him. She was brutal and uncaring. "Of course there were no survivors," she said. "Giving birth in the middle of a disease-infested swamp with a medicine man smearing sloth spit across your face to drive out the evil spirits was never the safest method. Even the normal births went badly half the time. None of them had what this baby has— caregivers with an idea of what the baby needs, who try to meet those needs. A doctor with a totally unique knowledge of vampire nature. A plan in place to deliver the baby as safely as possible. Venom that will repair anything that goes wrong. The baby will be fine. And those other mothers would probably have survived if they'd had that—if they even existed in the first place. Something I am not convinced of." She sniffed disdainfully.

I looked up from my hands, that vile egotistical psychopath would be dismembered before she could put her sick plan into action. I clutched my fingers and moved forward into a crouch position.

Allow me, Jacob offered.

I agreed, reading his thoughts. Then he quietly lifted the doggy bowl off the floor and slung it forcefully across the room and hit Rosalie in the head. A loud bang was heard as the bowl smashed flat before it ricocheted across the room and snapped the round top piece off the thick newel post at the foot of the stairs.

"Dumb blonde," He muttered.

Bella didn't move. I watched Rosalie turn her head slowly, her black eyes full of rage. She spoke slowly and maniacally, "You. Got. Food. In. My. Hair."

Jacob busted up laughing so hard that tears ran down his face. Alice's tinkling amusement joined in. The laughing woke Bella up.

"What's so funny?" she mumbled.

"I got food in her hair," Jacob told her in between his laughter.

"I'm not going to forget this, dog," Rosalie hissed.

"S'not so hard to erase a blonde's memory," He countered. "Just blow in her ear."

"Get some new jokes," she snapped.

"C'mon, Jake. Leave Rose alo—" I stood up quickly, pulling the cover off as Bella broke off mid-sentence and sucked in a sharp breath. It was as if we'd given the monster instructions, and now it was following them. Her body trembled and her back arched off the sofa, I expected to see the creature ripping through her body.

"He's just," she panted, "stretching."

This was more than a stretch, her lips were white, and she was softly grunting back a scream. Her heart began to beat erratically and I placed my hands on either side of her face, she needed to focus on breathing. "Carlisle?" I called.

"Right here," Carlisle's senses were examining Bella even before he touched her. It's not time, Edward. The fetus is just stretching, like Bella said.

"Okay," Bella said, still breathing hard and shallow. "Think it's over. Poor kid doesn't have enough room, that's all. He's getting so big."

It was useless for me to feel anger and frustration over her sympathy for the monster that was beating and thrashing her from inside. Bella's loving tone and Rosalie's callousness made me want to . . . I stopped my silent rage as I heard Jacob think I want to throw something at Bella to make her see reason. Of course he wouldn't. I wouldn't allow it; I would understand if he did though.

"You know, he reminds me of you, Jake," she said—still gasping. Bella said ignoring the disgust on his face.

"Do not compare me to that thing," He was angry and wanted no part of murdering her.

"I just meant your growth spurt," she said explaining her affection. "You shot right up. I could watch you getting taller by the minute. He's like that, too. Growing so fast."

I didn't take my eyes off of my lunatic wife. She took an easier breath and then relaxed back into the sofa, her body going limp with sleep.

"Hmm," Carlisle murmured. Edward did you hear what Bella said-- similarities with Jacob. I turned my head to Carlisle's thoughts.

"What?" Jacob wanted to know.

"You know that I was wondering about the fetus's genetic makeup, Jacob. About his chromosomes."

"What of it?"

"Well, taking your similarities into consideration—"

"Similarities?" he growled.

"The accelerated growth, and the fact that Alice cannot see either of you. Well, I wonder if that means that we have an answer. If the similarities are gene deep?"

"You don't know that." Jacob countered.

"No. But it's interesting to speculate," Carlisle said in a soothing voice.

"Yeah. Just fascinating." Jacob's ended his discussion with us, no longer interested.

"Twenty-four pairs," I understood. "Humans have twenty-two pairs for physical make up, the autosomes and the twenty third for determination of sex, the sex chromosome. But the fetus has an extra pair, just like Jacob. What's it for?"

"Well, it could mean that the fetus has only one vampire chromosome." Alice joined in the discussion.

"Yeah, but that wouldn't make sense, because now we know that vampires, well at least you Edward, are capable of reproducing—the somatic cells come from both you and Bella . . . " Carlisle corrected as he looked at me.

"Right. And with Edward providing half of the fetus' gene make up, we can surmise that it will have dominate vampire traits like skin, strength and digestive tract. The weaker human pairing would disappear or mutate."

Carlisle began to rub his chin.

"Well, what about that extra pair? If Jacob's additional set makes him transform, then isn't it reasonable to conclude that the infant has an unknown ability as well?" Alice pondered.

"No, it's extra pair makes it more vampire, less human. Look at how it is devouring Bella." I surmised.

"But don't you see Edward, the fetus is acting the same as it would if it was entirely human—it's needs are met first, a woman's body obeys that law of nature." Carlisle said.

"Unless the woman's body rejects the fetus," trilled Alice.

"But Bella's body hasn't rejected it, she has adapted to its needs. So maybe we should look at this on a more basic level. Consider that the fetus has the same lubricant that runs through our veins. If that were to cross into Bella's bloodstream what would happen?" I already knew the answer; it would immediately stop her heart.

"That is all the more reason for a c-section." Alice interjected.

"If we extrapolate further then the pair of chromosomes relating to growth has mutated." Carlisle continued to talk excitedly about the possibilities, but I was no longer involved.

Bella slept oblivious to the danger posed by the fetus. She'd consider our discussion was just pure conjecture. There was only one certain thing—that fetus would not stay inside forever. It had to come out and I knew exactly how Rosalie would get it "safely" out.

E/N Please comment, I've got 5 to 6 chapters to go and I'm losing interest and trying not to quit.