Chapter Twenty-five

Rain

Rosalie's POV

It's only been a few weeks since Jacob bit Margarete. The baby is growing rapidly and I can tell it'll be any day now. Margarete is actually growing on me. I think it's only because of the child. I still can't forgive her for Emmett. That's unforgivable. She's reassured me many times that it will never happen again. I can see the way he looks at her though. There's longing in his eyes. He keeps the others away, which helps. Edward still isn't convinced the baby isn't a threat. It's his own daughter and he still wants her killed. He'll come around once he sees her.

Alice and Jasper have been staying away. Alice is trying to figure out what will happen. No luck. She can't see anything besides what she's already seen. Whenever her and Margarete try to put their powers together, the baby just shows them snow. She's messing with them. Which, of course has Edward even more worried.

Now, Margarete is sleeping. I told her I wouldn't leave her side and I haven't. I've left to feed and when I do, I make sure Emmett is there. I know he'll protect her.

I stand next to the bed in silence, listening to the heart beat of the baby. It's almost as fast as Margarete's. It's been getting stronger every day, unlike Margarete, who's only getting weaker despite her strength. I smile lightly. If Margarete doesn't survive, Emmett and I could raise the baby. Edward wouldn't want anything to do with it. It would be easy.

"Rose?" Margarete whispered softly, rolling on to her side.

"I'm here," I reply back, grabbing the wet face cloth. I lightly wipe her face.

"She gives me the strangest dreams. At least I think it's her. Could she have so many powers so soon?"

I smile, putting down the cloth, "Look at all the powers you had when you were human. How they manifested when you were changed. And now, you still have them. I'm sure the baby is very gifted."

She nods, closing her eyes, "They're very vivid. I wish you could see. It's not just seeing though. It's everything. Seeing, hearing, smelling. I forget I'm dreaming."

"Maybe she'll be able to show me when she's born."

"Has Edward been here at all? I thought I heard him."

"He was. Briefly. He wanted to check on you. I tried telling him about the baby, but he wouldn't listen."

She sighs, her eyes opening again, "Once he sees her, he'll fall in love. She's beautiful. I wish he could have seen her with me."

"Didn't he, though? In Alice's vision?"

"He saw the danger. He didn't really see her. Not like I did."

"I wouldn't count on him changing his mind, Margarete. Once that boy is set on something," I sigh, shaking my head, "he doesn't often waver."

"He protects her, though. Aro tries to convince him to let him take her."

"No offense to Alice, I love her dearly, but her visions often change."

"And now she can't even see anything involving the baby."

"But your visions… They are more accurate."

"At times they are, yes."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I brush the hair from her eyes. She looks so weak. So human. Her hands rub over her large bump soothingly, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Drained. Sore. She won't stop kicking. It's like she's trying to fight her way out."

"It's almost time then. You'll have your daughter in your arms before you know it."

She smiles, "And I'll be a vampire again. Somehow."

Edward's POV

Standing outside Margarete's room, my old room, I can hear Rosalie and her talking. Rosalie makes me sick. Pretending she actually cares about what will happen to Margarete. All she wants is that baby.

I growl and I hear the bed springs. Rosalie is now up from the bed. She mumbles to Margarete, telling her I'm here. No need, though. Margarete can hear fine. Maybe not as well as before, but she can still hear everyone in the house.

Walking in, my eyes focus on her stomach. It's even bigger than it was a few hours ago.

"Edward," Margarete whispers sweetly.

"Rose, could you leave us for a minute?"

She answers with a shake of her head, keeping her spot by the bed.

"It's fine, Rose. Even if he did try anything, she wouldn't let him."

Rosalie grins, "If you need anything, I'll be right downstairs." She leaves quickly, but not before giving me a death glare.

"Carlisle is still trying to find anyone who has gone through this."

She nods, sitting up slowly, "If he hasn't found anything yet, I don't think he will at all."

"It's not too late you know."

"Yes it is. Even if it wasn't, there wouldn't be anything you could do. She would she fling you across the room again."

"And that screams innocence, doesn't it?"

She hisses, her eyes during black briefly, "She is innocent. She's only a baby. She hasn't even been born yet. Even if the vision is of damage she has done, it doesn't have to happen."

"She said we were trying to stop her, before she did something. Do you not remember that?"

She turned her face away from me, "I remember all of it. But most of all I remember that she's ours! She's our daughter, Edward. I won't kill her because of some vision or a hallucination."

I laugh, moving closer to the bed, "Now it was a hallucination? Then how do you even know she's so angelic?"

"Stop picking apart my mind. It's not nice."

"Start thinking clearly and I'll stop. You should hear Rosalie."

"I do. I know her thoughts. And if I don't make it, I hope she does take her. Raise her. I know you won't. You won't even feel her kick. It's amazing Edward. Emmett can't get enough of it."

I scoff, rolling my eyes, "Emmett just likes touching you. It's the only way he can without upsetting Rosalie. He still wants you. Even with that thing inside of you."

"It's not like that, Edward. Feeling the baby kick isn't just touching me. It's so much more. It goes beyond lust. I can't believe you would even say that."

"You are so naïve. Rosalie just wants the baby for her own. Emmett just wants to be close to you. The baby is killing you. That's what is real. And I can't stand here and watch. The Volturi are getting closer. Aro knows now. Carlisle didn't want me to tell you, but I'm not going to keep you protected in this little bubble." I stare at her, hoping my words are affecting her, "You'll have that thing soon. Then, it will all begin. You could have prevented this, Love."

"Edward, please," she pleads, staring back at me. Her eyes now a soft blue. "Don't leave me. I need you."

"I can't stay. Not while that thing is killing you."

She reaches for my hand and I walk closer. She holds my wrist loosely and places it on her stomach, "Feel her. She needs you, Edward. We both need you."

My whole body tenses as the baby moves against my hand, "Margarete, I can't--".

She's so convinced. So convinced everything will be fine.

She stares up at me, hopeful, "Feel that?"

I nod slowly, listening harder. I didn't even think that if I got this close I would finally be able to hear. I can hear it's thoughts. "It's incredible," I mumble, trying to sound excited.

And now he'll help protect me. They won't even know. Won't even know what happened.

I hear Margarete groan and her hand falls from wrist. She grips the sheets, "Get Rosalie!"

I can't even move. My hand stays on her stomach, trying to hear more.

It's time. It's time. I don't have any more room. If I don't get out soon, I'll kill her. I can't kill her.

I run from the room and start shouting for Rosalie, for Carlisle. I hear them, my family, running towards the room.

Rosalie's POV

I can't believe she wanted to be alone with him. He doesn't even want the baby. I don't even think he wants her. He just got stuck after everything that happened with Bella. Now he's up there, trying to convince her having the baby is a bad idea. Trying to turn her against me. The only one who has really been there for her.

"Rose, relax," Emmett says calmly next to me.

"Will you be quiet, I'm trying to hear."

He sighs, "Babe, don't eavesdrop. Let them have a moment alone. Maybe she can get him to change his mind."

"He won't. You know he won't."

He stands, shaking his head, "Then how about you have Jake bite you and you can have your own little monster. How does that sound?"

"Maybe I will. And I won't need any help from you. You stay with your sweet Margarete. I'll go find me a dog."

Before he could respond, I heard Edward yelling for us. I smiled, the baby was coming.