I'm sorry that I haven't updated in about three days. I got sick. =[ Like .. barfy sick. I did a lot of sleeping. So I'm sorry. D: Please don't pelt me with rocks, books, or anything hard. D: I'll start writing now.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Carlisle Point of View

As I watched Edward's lanky form slink back into the shadows, I sighed again. I knew how much Bella hated blood. She wasn't going to enjoy this. Well, at least I had until morning. We couldn't do anything while she was as bad as she is now, for risk of something happening. I ran a hand through my hair before I headed back inside.

"What was that about?" Esme asked quietly. I decided it would probably be best not to let her know that Edward was back—if that's what he is, anyway—and get her hopes up.

"Nothing," I said, still running my fingers through my hair. "I just needed some fresh air."

"Who were you talking to?" She placed her hand on my forearm, trying to calm me down, for I was quite stressed.

"Myself."

She let it go, and I sat down by Bella's side and stroked her hand, waiting for morning.


When Bella woke up in the morning, she looked up at me and smiled.

"Good morning," she said, putting her fingers on my face.

"How do you feel?" I asked, leaning into her hand.

"Still pretty bad." She grimaced.

Bella lay flat on the hospital bed, her belly a mountain under the sheet. She looked like wax—colorless and sort of see-through. You'd think she was already dead, except for the tiny movements of her chest, her shallow breathing. And then her eyes, following every movement I made with exhaustion, and the fact that she was talking to me. It broke my heart into tiny pieces to see her like this.

"I'm sorry, love." She frowned.

"It's not your fault," Bella protested.

"It is, and don't fight back," I murmured, pressing a finger to her lips. She sighed, and nodded, knowing that it wasn't worth it. "Now, I thought of something that could help the baby, and you." I didn't want to tell her who really came up with the idea, because she wasn't exactly fond of Edward at this particular moment in time, as I was well aware. "It won't be.. pleasant, but—"

"But it will help the baby," Bella interrupted, blinking.

"Yes. But it most likely won't be pleasant."

Bella's eyelids fluttered. Then she coughed out a weak chuckle. "Not pleasant?" she whispered. "Gosh, that'll be such a change." She eyed the tube stuck into her arm and coughed again.

I smiled. She looked like she only had hours left—I flinched at the thought—and she had to be in pain, but she was making jokes. So Bella. Trying to ease the tension, make it better for everyone else. "Bella, love, I'm going to have to ask you to do something.. Repulsive." I knew how much she hated blood, so asking her to drink it seemed like a severe sin.

She took a shallow, fluttery breath. "How bad?"

"I think the fetus might have an appetite closer to mine than to yours. We think it's.. thirsty." A look of realization came across her face.

She blinked. "Oh. Oh."

"Your condition—both of your conditions—are deteriorating rapidly. We don't have time to waste, to come up with more palatable ways to do this. The fastest way to test this theory—" She cut me off.

"I've got to drink it," she whispered. She nodded slightly—barely enough energy for a little head bob. "I can do that. Practice for the future, eh?" Her colorless lips stretched into a faint grin as she looked at me. I didn't smile back. "So, who's going to catch me a grizzly bear?" She asked. I blinked. "What?" Bella asked.

"It will be a more effective test if we don't cut corners, Bella," I said. "If the fetus is craving blood, it's not craving animal blood."

"Oh." She blinked again.

"We have blood on hand. For you—just in case. Don't worry about anything at all. It's going to be fine. I have a good feeling about this, Bella. I think the baby will be so much better," I murmured, running my hand over hers.

Her other hand ran across her stomach. "Well," she rasped, barely audible. "I'm starving, so I'll bet he is, too." Trying for another joke. "Let's go for it. My first vampire act."

"I'll be right back, love," I said, kissing her forehead. I took off upstairs. I debated on whether to warm it up or not. I decided against it. I grabbed a bag of blood, and darted downstairs, and into the kitchen, grabbing a white cup with a lid and red bendy straw. I sat back next to Bella and hesitated, my hand with the cup in question half-extended. Bella eyed it, looking slightly scared.

"We could try another method," I said quietly.

"No," Bella whispered. "No, I'll try this first. We don't have time.." At first I thought she'd finally gotten a clue and was worried about herself, but then her hand fluttered feebly against her stomach. I sighed.

Bella reached out and took the cup from me, her hand shaking slightly, and I could hear the sloshing from inside. The blood didn't bother me, except for a very dull ache in the very back of my throat. She tried to prop herself up on one elbow, but she could barely lift her head. A whisper of heat trailed down my spine as I realized how much more frail she had gotten over night.

I put my arm under Bella's shoulders, supporting her head, too, like you did with a newborn. That's how weak she was.

"Thanks," Bella whispered. She lifted the cup to her face and sniffed the end of the bendy straw. She flinched, and then made a face.

"Bella, sweetheart, we can find an easier way," I said, reaching for the cup.

"No, that's not it. It's just that it—" Bella sucked in a deep breath. "It smells good," she admitted in a tiny voice. I swallowed hard, fighting back a flinch. Well, at least it doesn't make her want to throw up.

"That's a good thing," I said, trying to keep my voice from wavering, giving my real thoughts away. "That means we're on the right track. Give it a try."

Bella shoved the straw between her lips, screwed her eyes shut, and wrinkled her nose. I could hear the blood sloshing around again as her hand shook. She sipped at it for a second, and then moaned—actually moaned—quietly with her eyes still closed.

"Bella, love—"

"I'm okay." She opened her eyes and stared up at me. Her expression was.. apologetic. Scared. Pleading. "It tastes good, too." I swallowed again.

"That's good. A good sign," I managed to choke out.

Bella sighed and put her lips to the straw again, taking a real pull this time. The action wasn't as weak as everything else about her. Like some.. instinct was taking over.

"How's your stomach? Do you feel nauseated?" I asked. Bella shook her head.

"No, I don't feel sick," she whispered. "That's a first, eh?" I nodded, and she took another mouthful of blood. "Does this screw up my total? Or do we start counting after I'm a vampire?" She was referring to a talk we had a few weeks ago, as we both realized she would most likely have to become a vampire right after birth. Emmett had bet her that she would slip up at least once and drink human blood.

"No one is counting, Bella. In any case, no one died for this." I smiled slightly. "Your record is still clean."

Bella chugged a few more ounces, staring past the furniture that was still pressed against the wall and through the window, watching the rare sunlight filter through the trees, and maybe pretending that she wasn't doing what she was. She took another swig from the cup. I flinched when the straw pulled at empty air, making a loud sucking noise that I wasn't expecting.

"I did it," she said, sounding pleased. Her voice was clearer—rough, but not a whisper for the first time in two days. "If I keep this down, Carlisle, will you take the needles out of me?"

"As soon as possible," I promised. "Honestly, they aren't doing that much good where they are." Sadly, it was true. The fetus—I was still having trouble saying that without sounding angry—wasn't letting her get anything out of the various things she was attached to. I could see that the cup full of human blood had made an immediate difference. Her color was returning, and there was a tiny hint of pink in her waxy cheeks. Already she didn't seem to need the support I was giving her so much anymore. Her breathing was even easier, and I could swear her heartbeat was also somewhat stronger. Everything accelerated.

She looked up at me. "..Carlisle, you look awful." The second person to tell me this in seventy-two hours.

"Look who's talking," I said, smiling lightly. She laughed.

"True." She looked at the cup.

"Do you want some more?" I asked, helping her sit on her own.

Her shoulders slumped.

"You don't have to drink any more if you don't want any, love," I assured her, rubbing her back. I could feel her spine.

"I know, it's just.. I want to," she admitted glumly. I pulled my fingers through her lank hair.

"It's alright. I'll go get you some more." I pressed a kiss to her forehead before going to refill the cup.

When I came back, Bella reached out for the cup, absentminded, as if thinking about something else. With the same distracted expression, she started sucking it down.

She really was looking better. She pulled herself forward, being careful of the various tubes and needles, and scooted herself into a more proper sitting position. I stayed by her side, ready to catch her if need be. Bella didn't need it, though. Taking deep breaths in between swallows, Bella finished the cup quickly.

"How do you feel now?"

"Not sick. Sort of hungry.. but I'm not entirely sure if it's hunger, or thirst."

"Alright. We should wait a little while to see how this affects you, and then maybe we can try food again. Does anything sound particularly appetising to you, Bella?" I asked, seeing her smile.

"Eggs," she said immediately, and smiled.

I sighed, smiling lightly back, and helped her lay back down.

This was getting better, and yet more difficult. I wondered vaguely how those two fit together, but it seemed that they did.

Alright. I'm betting you're all screaming, "STOP USING SHIT FROM THE BOOK!" I'm SORRY ! D: I'm working on it. And then Carlisle is so.. "ew" on the blood thing because he feels like it's not right. He's just special that way, okay? DON'T QUESTION MY MOTIVES! XD I need to follow the story line until birth, and then it's gonna change, except for when Charlie meets the baby. Only I know what gender it will be! ;D And you're probably wondering where everyone is. Well, they finally all went hunting. They couldn't take it anymore. So it was just Carlii-kinz (My nickname for him xD) and Bella-Baby (I get bored, okay?! XD). Review please? :(