Chapter Twenty Six

Rose

Bella had eaten breakfast, dry toast and cold milk and so far, fingers crossed, it had stayed down. Jazz had rung to say he and Peter were about six hours out and Carlisle to say he was in the air. It looked like they might arrive around the same time. Bella wasn't happy I'd rung Carlisle but softened a bit when I told her I'd cleared it with Jazz first. Emmett had disappeared, promising he'd be at the Airport to meet Carlisle, I think illness made him nervous. Bella was struggling to do her jeans up and complaining they'd shrunk as there was a knock on the door. I motioned Bella to step into the bathroom before answering it. A young lad in uniform stood there holding a huge bouquet of flowers.

"Miss Swan?"

"No, but I'll take them for her"

I signed his paperwork and gave him a tip before calling Bella out. She looked at the flowers,

"What did Emmett do that he had to buy that many flowers? He must have really annoyed you"

I laughed and held out the card which she took from me, colouring as she read the message,

"I'll be with you soon, love you. Jasper xx

"Looks like someone cares"

She took the flowers from me and looked round for a vase. In the end we took the rubbish from the plastic bin in the bathroom and filled it with water.

"Well it's not cut glass or crystal"

"Thank God!"

Bella shuddered and I suddenly remembered,

"Oh Sorry"

She surprised me with a hug,

"Thanks for everything Rose, you've been a real friend.

Suddenly her eyes widened and she ran for the bathroom, hand over her mouth. As I put the bucket of flowers on the coffee table.

"Rose"

I heard panic in her voice and ran for the bathroom, wondering what now?

Emmett

Carlisle landed early and I filled him in on what we knew. He was very upset that Alice seemed to be implicated although he was withholding judgement until he was sure. When I asked about Esme I saw his grimace,

"She doesn't feel any differently about Bella I'm afraid. I might have to go home with more than a bouquet of flowers after this"

He was trying to make a joke out of it but I knew Esmes attitude hurt and upset him. We got held up in traffic so I rang Rose to let her know.

"Put Carlisle on Emmett, Jazz wants to talk to him"

She sounded worried so I handed the phone to Carlisle

"Jazz is already there"

"Carlisle we have a problem. Bella is pregnant and we have no idea what to do"

"I see, I take it you are the father?"

"What kind of question is that Carlisle? Yes, I am, if that's even possible"

"Theoretically yes, although I've never heard of a real instance. So we can assume this baby is at least part vampire"

"Is that going to be dangerous?"

"Lets wait until I've examined her, Emmett tells me we'll be with you shortly"

As I handed Emmett back the phone I saw the grin on his face,

"So Jazz a daddy. Awesome!"

"We have to get Bella through the pregnancy first. There's a lot that could go wrong"

I'd never heard of a human woman giving birth to a hybrid except in legends and they always ended tragically. It would take all my skills and Bella's strength to prove the legends wrong.

Rose

When I got to the bathroom, expecting at the very least to see a few limbs missing from the blood curdling scream Bella had uttered, she sat on the edge of the tub looking at the weighing scales in horror.

"What? You frightened the life out of me Bella"

She looked at me indignantly,

"I've put on almost a stone since I went into that place. With all the throwing up how is that possible?"

"Don't ask me, you'll have to take it up with Carlisle"

I heard footsteps approaching the door

"It sounds like they're here now"

I opened the door and was almost knocked over in Jaspers eagerness to see Bella. Peter stood looking at me with a grin.

"So Rose, how's our mum to be?"

"What!"

Then it all fell into place, the tiredness, throwing up, weight gain,

"Bella doesn't know does she?"

Before he could answer I heard an excited squeal from Bella.

"I think she does now."

We all sat together while Jasper, with Bella in his lap, asleep on his shoulder, explained what Caius and Alice had told him.

Carlisle

I thought the best thing would be to talk to Jasper and Bella first so Rose and Emmett went to hunt with Peter and Charlotte, leaving us alone.

"Right, now before I do anything I want you both to realize we are going into uncharted territory here. I have no experience with delivering babies, outside of an odd occasion and never this kind of baby. There's no manual, no guidelines so I want you to know I will do my best, working on instinct. Having said all that I need to be sure it's what you want, Bella? Jasper?"

Bella looked at me with eyes full of happiness, she didn't need to speak.

"Carlisle, Alice said something that worries me, it may have been spite but I'd like to hear what you have to say on the subject. I've already told Bella. Alice told me that I had to choose between the baby and Bella, is that a possibility? Because I'm telling you what I told her. I'd wait till the last possible moment before making a decision but she always comes first. There won't be any messing around, Bella comes first."

"I won't lie to you, there is always a danger with a pregnancy and with this its going to be much higher but I will do all I can. Have you had any problems so far?"

She shook her head colouring but Jasper touched her flushed cheek and she looked at me,

"Only the sickness and putting on so much weight so fast"

" When I've examined you I'll know more. The sickness isn't unusual in pregnancy but we have to make sure you get something inside you."

"Carlisle, is Bella in any danger at the moment?"

"I don't think so. Can I examine you Bella? There's no need to be embarrassed. Would you like Jasper to stay or would you rather I examined you in private?"

She clutched Jaspers hand tightly,

"Do you mind staying with me Jazz?"

He looked at her so tenderly it made me smile.

"Bella I want to be with you all the way. You are giving me something I never thought I would get, a family and a child of my own."

He sat beside her holding her hand and talking softly as I examined her. She was definitely pregnant but much too advanced for the supposed dates. This could be awkward, I had to speak to Bella alone.

"Jasper I think it would be a good idea if you hunted now, Bella will want you close soon."

He looked at me suspiciously but at a smile and nod from Bella he got up and kissed her before walking to the door

"I promise I won't be gone long."

She threw him a kiss and as we heard the outer door close the silence hung between us. Finally I started the conversation I was dreading.

"Bella you aren't going to like my question but I have to ask it anyway as your doctor and not judgementally. Are you sure this is Jaspers baby?"

She looked at me aghast before answering, tears flowing freely down her flushed cheeks

"How could you even think that Carlisle? How dare you think I would deceive him like that?"

"Bella please, I only ask because the pregnancy is far too advanced. This baby is at least four months into its gestation period so you see why I'm asking"

"I think you'd better leave Carlisle if that's the way you are thinking."

That's all she managed before dissolving into sobs. The door flew open and a very angry Jasper stood there. "Carlisle I swear if you aren't out of my sight in seconds I will kill you"

He looked as if he meant it so I walked out leaving him to cool off and Bella to compose herself. Later I would explain my question to him. I had no idea how this pregnancy should go on, maybe the vampire part of the baby was accelerating the growth but I didn't want Jasper taken in by anyone even though I doubted Bella would be so unkind. But if she were pregnant and knew it she might panic and grab at any opportunity to have a father for the baby.