summary | act III - or that time Bella gave birth and then died.
baby's breath
| made it out and cut it out |
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Victoria drives like a maniac on the road. During the day, it makes Bella want to throw up. But at night, when the cramps are too much and the lack of sleep makes her weak – she tells her to go faster.
"I might not make it, you know." It's one of those days where Victoria steps on the gas pedal and breaks at least fourteen different laws. Bella's nausea has gone down. She doesn't have much left to throw up anyways.
"I know that." And then the vixen is blinking, a momentarily lapse before red eyes are focused on the road again. "I just don't think about it." Bella wants to smile, but she's weak – she's so weak.
"How do you know where he is?" The vixen drums her fingers on the steering wheel and then she hums.
"I keep tabs on all the Cullens. I told you that." There's a million questions running into her little human head. The redhead is cunning and Bella doesn't doubt that she always gets her way. "I have my ways."
"What are you going to do when we find him?" Bella feels pathetic, holding on to the idea that the girlfriend of the man her ex-boyfriend killed because he wanted to kill her will stay. But she's just so tired of people leaving and never coming back.
"Probably hunt down the mind reader." No, please stay. "Unless, you have other plans for me." Bella rests her head on the window. The roads are empty at night, long stretch of desert that make her think she knows where they are headed. She hasn't bothered to ask; she doesn't care about that anymore.
"This baby needs a godmother, doesn't it?" It's a slow process, the vixen taking in the words that were whispered. It's weird, thinking of Victoria as anything other than an enemy (but then, she'd become sort of a rock these last few weeks, more resourceful than anyone Bella ever met before).
The drive in silence – Bella tries to nap, not noticing that the vixen is smiling and that it makes her look even more beautiful than ever.
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"Do you smell that?" Jasper takes the whole lonely cowboy thing a bit too far. Peter teases and Charlotte rolls her eyes and he sits on the porch with his hat tilted to the side and a guitar in his lap. It's quite pathetic.
"Probably just another vampire passing through." It has to be close if they can smell it. Jasper doesn't even blink at Peter who's joined him. His eyes are bright crimson, the smell of his dinner drenching his skin.
"I know that scent." And then Charlotte seemingly appears out of nowhere, wet hair fresh from her shower and a summer dress that is loose fitted. She has a towel on her shoulders and she raises an eyebrow at the scene in front of her – two blond men looking far too serious at this time of night.
"I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about." Maria has been dealt with for years now – who else could the trio fear? It's so weird that they are all back together again. Jasper had tried to forget, so Charlotte can't really be mad when he shows up after being absent for almost a century, eyes matching her own.
"I'm not so sure about that Char." They can hear the car from miles away, the person driving clearly having no regards for speeding limits. The wonderful thing about Texas is that the neighbor houses are miles apart, they can hear an intruder long before he even reaches them.
Jasper remains seated on the porch even as the car pulls up the street. It's a black jeep, the lights almost blinding in the dead of the night. Peter moves towards Charlotte out of habit, protecting his mate.
The car reaches the house soon enough, parking in the open space as if they are expecting a guest. The engine is killed soon enough, a mass of red hair coming into view.
"Well, didn't know we had a greeting comity." Jasper moves fast, but not fast enough to reach the vixen before she raises an eyebrow that stops him dead in his track. "I wouldn't do that, handsome. I didn't come here to pick up a fight."
"Then why are you here?" He's calm – it's not like the Major would be afraid of a snarky nomad vampire. One false move and he could tear her limb from limb and set her pretty little corpse on fire. And with Peter and Charlotte on his side, it'd be even quicker.
"I brought you a gift." The four vampires turn their eyes towards the passenger door which has opened and a very pregnant and livid Bella stumbles out with pain. At the four pair of eyes eying her, one amused beyond belief, one disbelieving and the other two with curiosity, Bella rubs her head.
"Hi." Well, that's start.
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They should make greetings cards for this – is the only thought that runs through Bella's mind as the blonde woman in front of her makes tea. Jasper is still recovering from the shock of their reunion, stunned into silence and Peter is making all kind of jokes that aren't really appropriate.
"Why do you have tea if you can't drink it?" The woman – Charlotte – let's out a surprised laugh and then turns towards her, red eyes sizing her up.
"I thought one day it would come in handy." The kettle boils, steam pouring out. "I guess I was right." It's nice to sit in a chair. It feels like days since she's been in a house. "And I suppose I should go grocery shopping for you." Bella shakes her head, slightly touched.
"Don't bother. These days all I can keep down is blood." And then, not forgetting her manners she smiles faintly. "But thank you – you're nice." Again, there's laughter that bubbles inside the vampire. It's weird, being with another person. Victoria leaves to hunt when the general shock is over – not counting Jasper. Bella hates to admit it, but she misses the red hair even if the blond woman is hospitable.
"Here, drink this. Apparently, it calms the nerves." Bella snorts.
"I'm dying. I'm already calm." The woman pushes the cup in front of her and Bella holds onto it liking the warmth that spreads inside her frail body. She already felt weak when she wasn't pregnant, but now it's a huge blow to whatever remains of her ego.
"So, how do you know Jasper?" Small talk isn't really what she expected, but Bella is happy to talk about anything other than her pregnancy or her impending death.
"I knew the Cullens, they lived in Forks. I dated Edward for a few months."
"Edward is the mind reader, right?" Bella nods. "I never really meet any of them besides the seer, they think they are so much better because of their diets." Bella nods again – the blonde woman is spot on. "And Edward is the father?" A decent question, considering she dated him.
"No – that would imply he actually touched me." Hey, she's pregnant and she's bitter – give her a break. The woman smirks and then nods her head like she's just answered a question. "I didn't mean to impose." She has mood swings. One minute she's angry and the other she's sad. "I just thought that since it doesn't look like I'll make it at least the kid would know some sort of family."
"I understand and you're not imposing. My niece or nephew is welcomed here any time – so is his mother." Charlotte pats the spot next to her right eyebrow. "And I'm sure Jasper will come around. When you become a vampire, you sort of give up any hope of having children or a family." Bella nods, unsure of what to answer really.
"Honey, I'm home." Victoria walks through the front door as if this is her house. Her eyes are the colour of blood and she's also carrying a travel mug with her. "And dinner is served." She drops the container in front of Bella and the brunette rolls her eyes. The vixen ignores her and turns to the blonde. "This is a very nice house."
"Thank you." The blonde is wearing a curious and amused expression, obviously not used to having so many guests inside her house – not ones that are that entertaining anyways. "How'd you end up together?" Victoria cocks her head to the side and Bella takes a large gulp of the red liquid and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.
"It's a long story." Charlotte raises an eyebrow like she accepts the challenge, Victoria smirks and Bella wonders what kind of weird situation she just stepped into.
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Bella falls asleep at some point, in the nice comfy bed upstairs in the guest room. It feels like ages since she's slept in one and not a car seat. She's just so tired lately and the baby feels more impatient each day that passes.
She doesn't know how long she's out – doesn't care really – but the next time she opens her eyes a soft light is peering through the curtains and she has trouble sitting up. She's yawning and trying to stretch when she practically falls off the bed as she notices she isn't alone.
"I didn't mean to scare you." He actually looks worried for her. His voice is soft and he moves towards her, rising from the rocking chair that is placed near the door, but she shakes her head and painfully manages to sit up and place a hand on her chest to slow her heartrate.
"It's fine. I'm jumpy these days. It comes with the lack of sleep." She doesn't mean to come down on him or maybe she does because she's angry. Not at him, he couldn't have known, but at this whole mess she is in.
"Bella…" She rolls her eyes.
"I'm sure you weren't expecting this. Trust me, I wasn't either. And I've been sleeping in car and spending too much time with Victoria these days." Downstairs, she can hear the vixen shout 'you know I hear you' and she rolls her eyes again because vampires are just so infuriating. Jasper actually looks amused and if she had any strength she would throw a pillow in his face.
"I didn't even know this could happen."
"Don't tell me it wasn't in your vampire handbook – no chapters about babies, really?" Jasper rolls his eyes, but there is a smile tugging at his lips and it's nice, being with him again. It just sucks that her time is ticking away. "I spoke to a witch…" He raises an eyebrow and cuts her off.
"You spoke to a witch?" He sounds surprised and Bella sends him a pointed look that clearly tells him to shut up.
"I spoke to a witch." She repeats, keeping her eyes on him so he doesn't interrupt her. "The odds aren't in my favor right now. When I give birth, I'm going to die, unless I'm changed into a vampire." She sighs. "At this point, I sort of accepted my faith. But this baby needs a family – a nice home. People to take care of him or her."
"Of course." He says softly, too softly. He's understanding and careful and she almost misses the playful and rough him that came to her window that night. She's so tired of people treating her like she is made of glass, she might be dying quickly but she's still a human being.
"And no Cullens. I don't want this baby to know what it's like to be abandoned." He nods his head and they agree on something, which is nice. "Besides, Victoria will probably hunt Edward down soon enough." From downstairs all they hear is someone saying 'damn right' and the vixen has obviously been with humans for too long. "Oh, I want French toast, help me up?"
"I hope you know I have no clue how to make French toast." He tells her as he helps her down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Just listen to my instructions." As they pass by the vixen who is cuddle on the couch watching the Disney channel and the couple in the kitchen glowing from where the sunlight hits their skin, Bella thinks that if she dies now – well she'll at least go happy.
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"We never really talked about it, you know?" Her skin is always so cold these days. She's cuddle under two blankets even if the Texan warms up the entire house. Victoria sits with her watching afternoon cartoons. Nothing really interesting and it's mostly for kids, but they make her smile.
"About what?" She feels comfortable enough. Charlotte made sure she had enough pillows and Jasper pops in every five minutes and even Peter, who she's exchanged only two sentences with, keeps sending glances her way. That's why she likes Victoria so much, Bella thinks. The vixen would never voice her concern out loud and she jokes that make the hair on arms stands up, but at least she doesn't feel like a doll with her.
"About you becoming a vampire." Bella keeps her eyes on the television. "I'll do it you know. I'll change you if that's what you want." Bella hums.
"That's the thing really." On the screen, one of the characters falls down and everyone around it laughs. "I don't know if it's what I want." When Edward had dangled it in front of her, it had seemed like the perfect answer. Bella was so scared of growing up, of fading away, of giving up her youth and rotting away in her corpse.
She liked the concept of forever – now she doesn't know. She's carrying a child who will have love and family and care even if she leaves the world behind and now dying doesn't seem scary anymore. It seems like the perfect answer, it would make the pain and the tiredness go away for good.
"Then think about it. Because if you haven't made a choice, I won't give you one." Bella thinks she should feel offended, really. But Victoria stares at her, eyes turned to slit, so cold and manipulating and Bella knows it's the only way the vixen knows how to show she cares.
So she does the only logical thing at that moment – she laughs.
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"Here." Jasper is handing her a cup and sits down next to her. These days, she barely leaves the guest room, it's too much of a hassle for her to get up. Everyone treads carefully, Victoria is the only who tells her she looks like shit – even worse than before.
"Thanks." Even talking is painful. Charlotte makes Peter move a television upstairs and Jasper makes sure she's got plenty to read, but most of the time she just stares the walls or sleep. Even the blood they feed her isn't doing much anymore. It's stale in her mouth and taints her teeth red.
"How are you feeling?" She snorts, the move making her ribcage hurt like hell.
"Like death warmed up." It's coming soon, they can all sense it. She hopes it's sooner rather than later because this has just become pure torture. Jasper sends her what is meant to be a comforting smile – not much comforts her these days. Jasper has also taken permanent residence in the rocking chair that he's moved closer to her bed. He stays there even when she's in and out of sleep, these days it's the only thing she can really do.
Sometimes he reads to her, sometimes he holds her hand, but most time he just looks at her.
"You're beautiful you know?" Again, she snorts.
"Is that your way of telling me my pregnancy is making me glow?" Oh, the irony of it all isn't wasted on her. Pregnant women always tell stories about how it's the best moment of their lives. She's ready to disagree. He has a small grin on his face and he places his hand on her forehead.
"You'll make it." And he says it with so much determination that part of her actually believes it. Too bad she won't make it out alive.
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The day it actually happens, almost fourth months into it – Bella is frantic and screaming and crying.
"Get it out of me, now." Victoria has a butcher knife in hand and Charlotte pushes the red head away, opting for a scalpel instead (and how did Charlotte find a scalpel in the first place is a terrifying question to Bella, but she's otherwise preoccupied). Jasper's hands are fisted by his side, everyone's emotions making him a cranky painful mess.
"Victoria, move out of the way." The redhead keeps pushing the blonde, both vampires not hesitant at all to cut her open in pieces. It's not like they've never done something like before.
"Charlotte, if you don't start cutting I'll rip your head off." And then the blonde finally plunges the knife inside her stomach; careful not to tear at the baby and Bella's scream is so loud that it makes the house shake.
"You're hurting her!"
"I have to cut her open, Jasper. Of course I'm hurting her." Victoria is looking at Charlotte as if telling her to hurry the fuck up. And Charlotte is too careful and too precise and Bella is still screaming at the top of her lungs.
Peter sits this one out, the guest room already too crowded. And his wife is quite scary with a scalpel in hand, through he'd never tell her that. He waits outside instead.
"Move." Bella feels tears rolling down her eyes, but the pain somewhat subsides until it's only a buzz running through her entire body. "We're losing her." She never got to make her choice, she just thought she had so much more time.
"I'm making the choice for you." And it's at that exact moment, as Jasper hovers over her and his voice rings in her hears, she can't see him properly, that Isabella Marie Swan dies.
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"She won't be mad at you – she'll understand." Jasper cannot actually believe it – that he's holding a baby, his baby and that he's rocking him to sleep. They haven't named him yet. The one who should name him isn't quite awake just yet.
"You know her the best." Victoria nods her head and stares at the infant in his arms. Out of all of them, she's the one who'd spent the most time with a pregnant Bella. If he hadn't made the decision to turn her, she would have stepped in to do it her own damn self. She's selfish and still hurt over James, she would never let Bella slip. "Thank you, for taking care of her." The vixen is uncomfortable with any display of affection. She can feel he means it, his power even reaching her cold, un-beating heart.
"I should go back to her." Bella's heart is slow, the only one still beating in this house – but not for long. Jasper is left alone again with his son. He knows if he holds him too hard, he'll crush him.
a/n: I find this chapter rather boring, but essential. I think that Jasper would accept Bella rather easily, especially if she was pregnant with his child. Anyways, I've never written the word pregnant so much. Next chapter should be more interesting, with Bella as a vampire and with her baby. Maybe the Cullens might make an appearance and you can't forget Victoria and her revenge plan. I want to thank everyone who reads this story, you guys are awesome for all your reviews and support. Check out the first chapter, I re-wrote it. Once again, thank you for reading and drop a review, always appreciated. Thanks for reading.