Chapter 14: Fluttering

"Edward, can you hear her?" I heard my mother's urgent voice through a thick haze.

"She's okay, Bella, just give her a second," his words slicing through the fog. I groaned as I lifted myself up to my elbows.

"What happened? What's going on?" I heard myself say. The room slowly came into focus. The soft glow of light surrounded me as the faces came into focus. My parents sat on either side of the bed in the hospital wing. My eyes scanned the room and settled on a distressed looking Jacob standing anxiously in the doorway.

"Alice saw had a vision of you collapsing in the woods... Alone," my Mom said as she shot an angry look behind her, "It didn't take me long to find you. You were only out for a couple minutes. What happened?"

"Um... I was running and I heard Jake coming up behind me and I heard something else," I stopped myself, "...I don't know, I must have just blacked out or something." I reached my hand up, rubbing it over a tender spot on the back of my head. My Mom's eyes flicked to my father's. The two of them stared at each other as if in silent conversation. Flames glistened in my father's eyes. He flashed out of the door at full speed, giving Jake an angry shove as he passed him.

"Edward, wait!" My mother called after him. She sighed heavily and gave me a chastising look. She shook her head and stood to go after him.

"Bella," I heard Alice's voice, almost before I saw her, "You need to stay, Edward will be fine. Nessie needs you right now." She lay a reassuring hand on my Mom's shoulder. My mom nodded and sat back down next to me. "Hey Ness, how are you feeling?"

"Better," but I wasn't actually convinced of that. Moments before I passed out I was happier than I could ever remember being, and now, well now I'm lying on a bed in the hospital wing and awaiting a horrifying discussion with my parents. Better just didn't really seem to be the right word.

I turned my head catching my mom's gaze for a moment before looking down, shamefully at the ground. "So, I guess Daddy knows?" I felt like a child. The thought of being chastised for my actions started to slowly heat my blood.

"Don't worry Nessie," Alice said, "He knew it was coming, it's just not easy for him. He will be fine in a little while, trust me." Her words helped a little, but I was dreading the look in his eye.

"Nessie," my mom said in a serious tone, "we really need to talk about this." I hated the look on her face. So condescending, what does she know? I didn't do a very good job of hiding my irritation.

"Why do we need to talk mother?" I sneered at her, "This is between me and Jake and I can hardly see how our sex life is any of your concern." The words stung her and for a second I was glad. I was on my feet and out the door, pushing past Jake almost as hard as my father had done. I collapsed in a heap of pillows and downy softness as the door slammed behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut tight trying to get the image of her steely eyes burning into me out of my head. It didn't work. I opened them again and stared blankly at the lavender walls around me.

A tiny tapping sounded on the door, "Can I come in?"

"Yeah Alice, come on in," I buried my face in the pillows. She sat down lightly on the bed beside me. "Nessie, I know this sucks, but really, try to understand that this isn't easy for them either. A year ago you were just a little girl, and now... Well, now you're a woman that has her own thoughts and opinions and way of doing things. It's just a little much for new parents to take in." I pulled my face out of the pillow, my hair draped over my face. I peered out from behind the locks, I could feel the hot tears searing in my eyes. I hastily wiped my face, the blood tricked down my palms. "And Edward, he's just old fashion, you know? He has this crazy idea about marriage and all that. Nonsense, in my opinion. But you are his baby girl and he is a little bit put off about the pre-marital sex thing on top of the fact that his baby girl is now an adult."

The tears were now dripping down my cheeks that were already scarlet from embarrassment. "But Alice, I love him, he imprinted on me. What's the damn difference?" She just stared at me sympathetically.

"I know baby, don't worry, this will all blow over. I promise." She reached her hand up to wipe the tears from my cheek.

Lightening struck, a bolt surged through my body. The misty air was cold and damp. I screamed a blood curdling scream that roared through the forest around me. The pain was immeasurable, unbearable. Jake's hand was in mine, panic blanketed his face. His beautiful features twisted in torment. I felt the bloody tears streaming down my face. The pain. There was blood all around me. I felt weak, exhausted. My jaws clenched together, the torturous throbbing coursed through me. Thunderous screams ripped from my lips. I threw my head back in agony. Swirling black water surrounded me and then... Nothing.

I awoke from my trance screaming. Alice was stunned, obviously shaken. Her pretty features knotted up in sorrow and confusion, "What did you see?" I didn't answer, I just sat, staring at her in horror. "Ness, what did you see?!"

I drew my knees up to my chest, sobbing. Before I could compose myself enough to answer, Jacob came barreling through the door. His arms wrapped around me. He rocked gently back and forth, "Shhh... baby, its okay." I lost myself in his warmth. I kept my eyes steadily locked with Alice's for fear of closing them and seeing everything all over again. I felt my heart slow and my breath return. I leaned up and kissed Jake reassuringly as I pulled away from him. I sat up and extended my hand toward Alice. She hesitated, but placed her dainty hand in mine. I shoved the vision back into her mind, hoping that in the process it might leave mine.

When her eyes flashed back open, her hands covered her mouth and she shook her head, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to show you that," she said quietly. "Do you understand what happened?"

"I'm... I'm not sure," I managed. Her stare lifted, glancing at Jacob who sat silently.

"You need to show Jake," she said gesturing toward him.

"Why?" it will only cause him pain," but Alice just shook her head.

"Nessie, I'm not sure that you really got all of it," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Show him." Jake looked as hesitant about it as I did. I reached my hand out for his. He looked at me warily, took a deep breath and grasped my hand in his.

"Noooo!!!!!" The pain overtook him and his face almost matched the one in my vision. Alice grabbed him steadily by the shoulders and forced him to look her in the eye.

"Jacob, listen to me," she snapped, "this is not final. This is just a vision. The outcome can... will change." Jake nodded, composing himself. I could see his hand twitching as it hung by his side. A snarl crept from his throat, but I could see him pushing it back down, calming himself with deep, rhythmic breaths. His expression was hollow, as if he was merely a soulless replica of his former self.

Alice turned back to me, my confusion must have been apparent, "Sit down Nessie, I will explain it. I don't think that Jake is up to it right now." He nodded gratefully.

She spoke almost annoyingly slow. The words fell from her mouth at an easy pace, clearly trying to brace me for the outcome. "You see, Jacob was there when you were born. He remembers what Bella looked like just before," she said gingerly looking at Jake as if the very words may leap from her throat and rip him to shreds. "You know that she was in an immense amount of pain and that Edward saved her by turning her into a vampire." Guilt. I did that to her. I swallowed the lump in my throat. She was analyzing my expression. Her eyes raced over me, clearly waiting for me to understand. And then I heard it-- the same sound. Fluttering.

My eyes widened. The air sucked out of my lungs. I thought my heart might stop beating. The tears blurred my vision, turning everything a daunting shade of red.

"I'm pregnant?" I whispered. It was more of a statement than a question. Alice's hand reached out carefully to avoid contact with my skin. She lay it over my abdomen and closed her eyes.

"Yes."