Copyright declaration: The Twilight series and its characters are the creation of and copyright of Stephenie Meyer. I own nothing and this story is purely a not-for-profit work of fan fiction. No copyright infringement intended.

Author's note: I have made this as creative and imaginative as possible and if it bears resemblance to any other fan-fiction story it is entirely coincidental. There is such a huge amount of Twilight fan-fiction out there that it would be impossible to trawl through it all to see if someone has already had this plot idea and I assure you that if there are any similarities to other Twilight fan-fic stories, they are completely unintentional and inadvertent.

Warning: this chapter contains brief, non-explicit references to controversial and potentially upsetting issues.

Author's note 2: huge apologies for the long delay in getting this chapter to you. I've had a lot of disruption in my own life and it's been difficult to find the time for fanfic. I know I've said this before but I'm going to update this story again soon and you won't be waiting too long for Chapter Sixteen! I'm planning some drama...

oh yeah, and it would be AMAZING if you guys took the time to post a review. I know you're reading my story because my stats are high but why the lack of reviews? Come on, take a little time to make a girl smile and post your thoughts! :)

Chapter Fifteen

– Unexpected –

I was pregnant. There was no doubt about it. My first impulse was to throw the little plastic stick into the bathroom trash but then my eyes flickered to my watch. Jacob would be home very soon and I did not want him seeing this evidence. He didn't even suspect anything; he just thought that I was tired out from a winter virus and the endless reams of college papers I had been writing. I jumped in my car and drove a few miles down the road before stopping to throw the hateful thing into a dumpster, almost as though by ridding myself of the evidence I could avoid the truth. I sat in my car and stared out the windshield when I arrived back at the house where Jacob and I were slowly, carefully beginning our life together. Last week we had planned what to plant in the garden. I wanted to create a peaceful space with plants which would soak up the wet Pacific Northwest climate and flourish. I envisioned spending lazy summer days with Jacob, without a care in the world. But now I knew this summer I would be achy and huge, probably irritable and fed-up too.

What if my marriage couldn't survive? Negative thoughts kept entering my head until I started to feel unpleasantly dizzy, my mind running riot with the possibilities. It would not be the first relationship ever to collapse because of an unexpected baby. How could I expect Jacob, who wasn't even legal drinking age, to start wrapping his head around the notion of providing for another human being for the next eighteen years? Then there were my feelings. I felt like my life was finally going someplace after two years of despondency and uncertainty. I was acing my college course, I had plans to start a business and I had absolutely no desire to settle down into motherhood in the near future. I knew it would change me but for once in my life, I didn't want change. I wanted everything to stay exactly as it was; I was comfortable in my newly wedded life.

When Jacob arrived home that evening, I greeted him with my usual cheery smile and kiss.

"Hey, honey, how was your day?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Good," I lied. "How was yours?"

"We're nearly ready for the grand opening!" Jacob grinned at me.

"Can't wait!" I said. Something in my tone must have sounded different because Jacob turned to me, "Is everything okay, Bells?"

"Yeah, sure," I said lightheartedly, as I began serving up our dinner. "Why wouldn't it be?

Later that evening, I lay sleepless beside Jacob. The moon was full and bright as it shone down over the mountains. It illuminated the garden, making ghostly shapes out of the shadows and shining through the thin drapes in our bedroom. Jacob's sleep was undisturbed as I slipped out of bed and down the stairs to the kitchen. I flipped on a light and sat down at the kitchen table. The only sound was the ticking clock, reminding me of my own helplessness, my vulnerability to external forces that no one could change. With every second that ticked its way into minutes, hours, days and weeks, my situation would progress.

A thought crept into my mind. What if it didn't HAVE to progress? A daytrip to Seattle, maybe even Portland, a brief procedure… I let myself be drawn into the possibility. Jacob need never know. We could go on with our marriage as though nothing had happened and I would have learnt a lesson to be more careful about taking precautions next time. I never thought I would find myself in this position, thinking these thoughts, but desperation can drive you to extreme lengths. I took a deep breath and stared out of the window at the full moon, which was now falling behind the horizon as the first light of dawn appeared. A few minutes ticked by and I stood up from the table. I had made my decision.

A/N: Don't hate Bella too much. She's not thinking clearly...