Chapter 16

I'll Run

"I'll run, this is where we both break free. I'll bring you home you home you home." – The Cab

Bella P.O.V.

"What's in Rio?" Edward's thoughts echoed mine and several others.

"I'm not sure. I think it has to do with the baby though…" my voice trailed off when I recollected why I thought that. I pulled my family into a memory of a little vacation in South America.

"Please Isabella, slow down. Not all of us can run as fast as you," a laughing voice echoed behind Bella in a clearing as she ran. She stopped running abruptly and turned to her follower.

"Oh come on Alice, you should be used to it by now," Bella taunted her sister for all intensive purposes. "Hey Alice, did you hear that?" Bella's head turned to the direction of the noise. Footsteps came closer and at a speed only a vampire could obtain. They both leaned into a protective crouch. "Who is there?"

"Easy, I mean no harm. I am a local," said a voice as the speaker appeared from the darkness of the forest. Bella and Alice eased and the stranger bowed lightly. They returned the gesture and glanced at each other.

"Your name, please sir?" Bella kindly asked.

"Joseph and may I ask for yours?"

"My name is Isabella and this is my sister Alice," Bella introduced themselves. "We did not mean to intrude on your territory; just passing through."

"No worries, I thought I would warn you though," Joseph's face turned dark as he thought of something. Bella's head tipped to the side curiously.

"Of what?" Alice asked the obvious.

"Up the mountain," he points to a mountain in the distance, "lives a vampire who makes Halflings. Or so the legend says."

"Excuse me?" Alice was confused at his words.

"He has sex with humans and when they get pregnant, they climb the mountain and die as the baby is born. The baby is a Halfling: half vampire, half human."

I pulled away from the memory as I realized that I probably should have left the dying part out. Emmett instinctively moved to wrap his arms around Rosalie and patted her stomach protectively.

"I would never let that happen to you baby," Emmett whispered lovingly in her ear. I had to turn my head so my face couldn't betray me. There was nothing he could do about it. I had seen what a woman looked like as she made her way up the mountain. She was sickenly pale, not like a vampire. Her body was nothing but skin and bones except for the bulge at her stomach. I had asked to see her stomach and when she pulled her dress up I had nearly screeched. Her stomach was covered in scary looking bruises. At the time I thought it was something else. I hadn't believed the legend. I just thought that they were ridiculous stories and women went to the mountain when they knew they wouldn't be able to live through pregnancy. But I was wrong. I didn't touch that women's belly what Rosalie's now felt: cold and hard. I had run when I saw it. It sickened me to think that a man would do that to his wife and unborn child for that is what I thought it was. But now I knew.

"That is why I should leave for Rio as soon as possible. Next week is a little late for me but we must get everything ready," my voice did not betray the strength I tried to show. Inside I was scared that Rosalie would not make it. What if she didn't? Edward's body shivered as I remembered that my shield was still around some of my family. They had all seen my thoughts and they all wore the same scared expression. Rosalie was left out of the shield so she was not scared, but confident.

"I will be fine, I can sense it. Everything will work out for the best, I just know it," Rosalie's smile was enough that we couldn't deny one in return. But none of us were put at ease. All of us were filled with the same grief and terror at the thought of what would happen if Rosalie didn't make it. Emmett would never live with himself. I grimaced at the image of Emmett if he lost Rosalie; his life. They were perfect for each other in every way. While yes, they did bicker, but it was too cute and they knew they weren't serious about it. Rosalie was just as crazy about Emmett as he was of her. Emmett just had so much more life to him when she was around. They couldn't possibly live without each other if something were to happen; as with Edward and I.

I excused myself for a run. I felt Edward's presence behind me, but he didn't speak. We ran aimlessly through the forest for hours in silence. He didn't seem to mind though and didn't interrupt my thoughts once. For that I thanked the stars for sending him to me. He simply was a good soul. I started to think how I used to believe once you became a vampire you lost your soul. But with Edward at my side as one of my kind, there was no doubt in my mind that we kept our souls.

I knew where I wanted to go. I made my way to our meadow. Edward kept his distance as I sat in the middle. He knew just when to leave me to my thoughts.

Edward, I called out for him in my mind. He was at my side in a moment. I felt his arms wrap around me and pull me to his chest. I stayed there for quite some time. Edward rocked me back and forth until my sobs stilled. What if I can't save her? What if we are too late? I heard a sob escape Edward's lips as he realized what I had been thinking about.

Bella, you did not know.

But I did. But I was so stubborn and foolish thinking that it was impossible when the proof had been right in front of my own eyes. I could have taken her to Rio as soon as we discovered she was pregnant and we could have found a way to save her.

Love, do you know that Emmett has the same thoughts? He feels even worse than you. But Rosalie believes with all of her heart that everything will turn out fine. Take some comfort in that.

I will, just not enough to satisfy my thoughts. I sighed, looking up to meet his emerald orbs. They were cold and hard. A mask was placed on his face, hiding me from his true feelings. Edward Cullen! Do not hide your face from me!

The mask fell instantly. I smiled at my easy victory. Distract me. His lips found mine and we spent the night at the meadow.

Emmett P.O.V.

"Rosalie?" I gently moved her shoulder. Rosalie was sleeping on my bed. She has been very tired lately along with a lot of pain. I wish I could make the pain stop. I was over excited for the baby. Little Lillian was my angel. Rosalie and Lillian are my life and will always be the center of all my affection. Nothing would ever happen to them under my watch. So the recent discovery that Rosalie is in great danger of dying during birth; something that scares me very much.

"Rosalie, sweetheart," I cooed in her ear. She rolled over and snuggled into my chest. I chuckled and I heard her giggle.

"Five more minutes," Rosalie whined into my chest. I chuckled again and tickled her sides. She kicked and rolled over to her other side. The cup she was drinking from spilled. "Oh no," she mumbled reaching for it. I heard a loud crack. Her face contorted and went white before she screamed and fell off the bed.

"NO!" I yelled and reached for her. I caught her before she hit the floor. "Rosalie? Rosalie?!" Her face was blank, but still white as a sheet. I heard another cracking noise and she flinched. "ESME, ALICE, SOMEBODY!!!!!!!!" I yelled even though I knew they weren't there.

I reached for my cell phone and dialed Bella's number. It rang and rang, but no answer. She always answered on the second ring. "NO, NO, NO…" I dialed Esme's number but not answer. I went to call Alice but she was already calling me.

"Alice, please, I need your help," I sobbed into the phone. If I was human I would have tears running down my face profusely.

"Emmett, I know. But we won't make it back in time. I am so sorry; Bella will be there in ten minutes. Go to the kitchen and get it ready for Rosalie to give birth. She will come around in 90 seconds so I will call if something changes. Emmett, you can do this." I muttered my thanks and flew down to the dining room. I sat up the table as a bed and placed her down. Her body jerked and I was met with her blue eyes. Rosalie starting screaming out in pain and shaking all over.

"Rosalie, it is okay. Please, calm down baby," I cooed in her ear. I waited on Bella as Rosalie's screams grew. She was sweating profusely and I figured several ribs were cracked. I kept a palm on her forehead to help the fever. Her grip on my hand was strong for a human. I was sure if I was human I would have been bleeding. On the outside I'm sure I looked just as crazy and distraught as on the inside. Carlisle had tried to run regular pregnancy exams. But he concluded the sac was made from a material too strong for the monitor to see through. Bella had the thought that it was vampire sac that is on impenetrable by our teeth. I raised Rosalie's shirt, something I hadn't done in a week because she wouldn't let me, and screeched at the site. Bruises covered her stomach and I instantly knew why she hadn't let me. "Oh Rosalie," I murmured in her ear. I leaned my forehead against hers. She had to make it through this. She just had to. I knew I would never be able to go in if she didn't. Rosalie changed everything in my life. Everything revolved around her and now Lillian. I heard another crack and Rosalie went still. OH NO! Her spine! "BELLA!" I screamed, knowing she would hear me now that it had been 9 minutes since Alice's call.

Bella flew through the back door, not bothering to open it. "Oh my," she took in a sharp breath at the sight. Edward was just behind her with a pained look. I saw my reflection in their eyes. My features betrayed my strength and showed the scared boy inside of me with hurt eyes.

"Please Bella, please help her, her… spine… it…" I couldn't finish as I collapsed beside her bed, holding her hands in mine. Bella rushed to the other side and cut open her belly. She pulled out the sac and threw it to Edward. At the moment I didn't care. It was half vampire, it could handle it. Rosalie was a weak human and needed help now.

"Emmett, I need your help," Bella placed a hand on my shoulder. I noticed it was covered in blood. I looked down to see my beautiful angel cut down the middle with blood everywhere. My throat burned and I stopped breathing. I WAS NOT GOING TO BE A MONSTER! I nodded my head at her to say that she had my full attention. "Okay, I need you to start placing venom in all of her major arteries. I have some syringes made with my venom in them. Start sticking," she handed me four syringes with clear liquid inside. I saw that it was starting to eat at the plastic so I hurried to my destinations. I stuck a syringe into her neck and pressed down. I placed the next one into her underarm and then another in her thigh. Bella had taken the last and stuck it in her heart. I started following Bella's lead and biting Rosalie over and over again and then sealing the spot to keep the venom in. I wasn't sure what we were doing exactly but I did it anyways.

I could feel her slipping fast. Rosalie's heart was beating slowly. I could barely make it out. I continued putting my venom into her system. I would not give up on her. I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder and pull me back. I shrugged them off and picked Rosalie up into my arms. Somewhere in all of that mess, Bella had sealed her belly back together. I rocked us back and forth. But I couldn't hear her heartbeat anymore. No, no, no, no. I wouldn't let her go. She can't leave me. She can't leave us. She just had a baby. No, not now; please, not now. I sobbed into her hair. I heard other sobs coming from another room. But I paid no attention. I placed kisses all over her face. I kept whispering her name over and over again. She wasn't dead. No, we saved her. Venom could repair anything. I mean, look at me. I was on my death bed but here I am: still kicking. I was not going to leave her because if I left her that means I was admitting she was gone. But she wasn't; she couldn't be.

"NO! NOT ROSALIE! TAKE ME!" I yelled to the sky. I heard louder sobs but ignored them still. I cried out over and over again her name. "DON'T LEAVE ME ROSALIE! DO NOT GIVE UP! REMEMBER IT WAS ALL SUPPOSED TO WORK OUT! PLEASE," I cried out again. "I JUST FOUND YOU! THE REASON TO MY EXSISTENCE! YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME ROSALIE!" I felt someone place a hand on my back and I yelled, "GET AWAY!" I had no idea who it was, but I didn't care. Rosalie was gone. She was gone. She was gone. My angel was gone.

A/N that was so hard to write. I'm sorry for a short chapter and a long absence of updating. I hope this kind of makes up for it? You know that double header I was talking about last chapter? Yeah, well, I got hit will a softball during the second game while batting. I had to go to the ER to get an X-ray. I was there till 2! But luckily it was only deep tissue bruising. Sorry I am rambling…

Review and tell me what you think! I know none of you saw that coming. A lot said they thought it would play along with BD, but sadly no. I had the thought when I started this that someone was going to die. Maybe someone(s). But who knows? I want to hear your predictions. I am very sorry though.

Lyrics game: Congrats to edwardsince1901, heathercullen, australiantwilight95, JollyElfDance554, angelplusbuffyequals4ever, Midnight Freesia, Tj09, simplyvamped for guessing The Climb by Miley Cyrus. I'm not a huge Miley fan. Just like the song. That song and Butterfly.

This chapter:

Bruce Springstein Madonna

Way before Nirvana

There was U2 and Blondie and music still on MTV

Her two kids in high school

They tell her that she's un-cool.