Disclaimer: I am NOT Stephenie Meyer and I don't own any of the Twilight series' characters or stories. I borrowed the dialogue and storyline from Breaking Dawn, but the rest is my own take on the story, as seen through Edward's eyes.

Chapter 12

Return

The ocean water sprayed up around us as the boat glided over the choppy waves. The pace was frustrating – slow enough that I wasn't pushing the craft to its full speed, but still too fast for Bella's comfort. Although I tried my best to steer the boat along the calmest route, it did little good. Her pallor was tinged a shade of green as she held her head over the edge, heaving the contents of her stomach overboard.

I looked out ahead, willing the land to approach at a faster pace. The sun was just beginning to set, casting brilliant hues of orange and pink across the sky. The colors reflected across the water, creating an elegant painting, a watercolor of the sky above. It was a shame that we were leaving Isle Esme under these circumstances. Bella would have appreciated the sunset.

I breathed a small sigh of relief when we reached the mainland and I had secured the boat to the dock. Bella was still slumped on the edge, her hair dangling precariously over the water. Her eyes were closed, her cheek resting against the cool fiberglass of the boat.

"Bella?"

She slowly opened her eyes and raised her head.

"It's time to go," I whispered. I knelt down beside her and brushed the hair away from her face. She nodded weakly and began to sit up. I scooped her up in my arms and carefully set her on the dock. As much as I would have liked to carry her, it would look conspicuous if I were to carry both my bride and our luggage through the streets of Rio.

I took her hand and placed it on my arm. She willingly leaned into me, too unsure on her feet otherwise. We walked the short distance down the dock and through the port until we reached the taxi that was already waiting for us. I helped Bella into the car while the driver loaded our luggage into the trunk.

Scooting in beside Bella, I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her to me. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily as the car began to move through the busy streets. I stroked her hair, wishing I could do more to ease her discomfort. Gazing out the window, the city passed by in a blur of vibrant colors. Our last day spent in this tropical locale was a dim shadow of the day I had imagined. Our honeymoon, perhaps her life, cut short by my own foolishness.

I pulled Bella tighter to me, wondering how many more moments like this we would have left, unsure if there would be anything we could do to save her. Carlisle would think of something. I had to believe that. It was the only hope I could hold onto. Bella had barely said a word since we left the cottage. I couldn't be sure if her silence was due to exhaustion or fear. I expected it was the latter.

After a short while, the taxi pulled to a stop in front of the airport terminal. I pressed a wad of bills into the palm of the driver's hand as he set the last suitcase on the curb. He smiled and tipped his hat before climbing back into the car.

Bella resumed her grip on my arm as we walked through the airport. I had half a mind to request a wheelchair for her, but she would likely balk at the notion. After passing through security, we finally reached our gate and Bella gingerly lowered herself into a chair. It was alarming how much she had changed in such a short time – even carrying herself in a more careful manner. Even more alarming was the small bump that was now clearly visible under the thin cotton of her clothing. It seemed to be growing larger by the hour.

"Where's the food?" she asked.

I turned to face her. Her eyes were brighter than they had been since we left the house and she was rummaging through her tote bag. She pulled out an apple and a hunk of cheese that I had packed for her.

"Do you think that's such a good idea?" I asked. "I mean, just a short while ago…"

"I'm fine," she cut me off, "just hungry."

I shrugged, not willing to spend what little time we may have left arguing over something as trivial as her appetite. She ate greedily, eating the apple down to the core and licking the juice from her fingers. I took the remnants from her hand and walked several feet to toss them into the garbage. She smiled when I returned and leaned her head on my shoulder.

The wait for our flight wasn't long. As we boarded the plane, I said a silent thank you to the passengers who sacrificed their seats so that we could get home. I wondered what would await us when we arrived, what equipment Carlisle had acquired or what tests he was prepared to run. A small part of me held onto the hope that the part of me Bella was carrying was the good part, the human part, untouched by evil. But that small hope was overshadowed by the unyielding feeling that she was carrying something else entirely – something horrid and cruel – the very essence of the monster that I am.

"Oh," Bella exclaimed as the plane shuddered.

I turned just in time to see her jolt out of her seat, her hand clamped firmly over her mouth, as she walked briskly through the aisle to the lavatory. I watched after her, utterly helpless. I knew she shouldn't have eaten while her stomach was still so unsettled, but I wouldn't dare say as much.

A light tap on my shoulder diverted my attention.

"There's one on every flight," the flight attendant whispered, smiling sympathetically. She held out a cup of ice and a can of ginger ale. "This should help."

"Thank you," I said with a nod as she turned to assist another passenger.

The remainder of the flight was without incident. The soft drink did appear to help settle Bella's stomach. She slept peacefully in my arms for the duration of the flight. At least one of us could be at peace – I, on the other hand, was only growing more nervous with the passing minutes. What if there was nothing we could do? What if this was beyond even Carlisle's expertise? The possibilities swam through my mind, taunting and tormenting me.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, listening to the thoughts around me, trying to reacquaint myself with the sensation of trying to balance my own stream of thought with the hundreds around me. Such a long period of silence on the island had spoiled me and I feared it may take some time before I become accustomed to the clamor in my head.

The second flight wasn't any better than the first. Perhaps my nerves were affecting Bella because even she seemed on edge. I couldn't imagine what must be going through her mind – how terrified she must be of the thing growing inside her. She clutched the growing bulge in her belly and I had to bite my tongue to keep from repeating my inquiries about her level of discomfort.

The air between us was thick, choking off our voices as though we were both frozen in the same vacuum of terror. As the plane began to descend over Seattle, Bella sat upright, her knee bouncing nervously. I reached across, unclenching her fingers from the hem of her shirt and taking her hand in mine. I squeezed it reassuringly, although I could have used some reassurance myself. She managed a small smile and squeezed my hand in return.

I wished I could see into her mind as she fidgeted. She must be nervous about the procedure, fearful of what Carlisle may have to do. She must know that we would never do anything to harm her, but I understood that it was common for humans to fear even the most routine of surgical procedures. If not for the bloodlust, Jasper would most certainly have been a welcome addition to Carlisle's medical team, if for nothing else than to keep the patients calm.

The plane came to a stop at the gate and I rose to gather our bags from the overhead compartment while the other passengers did the same. I held Bella's purse out for her and she took it, clutching it to her chest as though it were a life preserver. A wave of concern crashed over me as I watched her eyes dart about the cabin, her knuckles turning white as her fingers gripped the bag.

I offered her my arm, but she shook her head, unwilling to let go of her bag. She stood to follow me and we began the short walk down the jet way into the terminal. It took no time at all for me to pick out the thoughts of my family members among the hundreds of other passengers in the airport. What I found odd was not the thoughts, but the family members they emanated from. This was not the welcoming party I had expected.

I wasn't sure whether or not Carlisle would be present, but assumed he would rather be at the house making preparations as he couldn't very well begin his examination in a busy airport. I was surprised, though, that Alice wasn't here. Of all my family, she was the one I fully expected to see waiting anxiously for her best friend. Perhaps she was helping Carlisle with his preparations, looking ahead and advising him on what he may need. And Emmett would have stayed behind to help with the heavy lifting.

Esme, the doting mother, was here as anticipated, her thoughts full of concern for both Bella and myself. Jasper, although not the first member I would expect to see, was also a welcome sight. If I ever had need of his ability to manipulate emotions, it was now.

But probably most surprising of all was Rosalie. Of every member of our family, she was the coolest toward Bella, the only one who still felt a twinge of unease that Bella has been so warmly accepted. Her mind was aloof, as though she were trying to focus on something else, something she didn't want me to see. Had Alice seen something? Was she guarding her thoughts because Alice had seen something horrible, something happening to Bella? Would we fail in our attempt to save her? Kaure's words haunted me, fueling the doubts that consumed my heart.

Looks spanning from relief to concern crossed the faces of each of my family members as we came into their view. Esme's eyes flitted between us, worried both about Bella's health and my own mental state. I could feel the tendrils of Jasper's ability reaching into my mind, measuring my temperament. But it was the look on Rosalie's face that sent a shiver through me. She didn't look at me, not even so much as a glance – her eyes were fixed on Bella, her thoughts were still hidden.

Esme smiled tentatively and opened her arms to us. I reached for her, longing for the solace I would find in my mother's embrace, but my attention was torn when Bella brushed past me and into the open arms of my sister. I stood dazed for the briefest moment before Rosalie's mind opened and her objective became alarmingly clear. We have to protect the baby.

Perhaps even more disconcerting was the fact that Bella seemed to be privy to Rosalie's intentions prior to our homecoming. In my haste to leave the island, had Bella snuck away to conspire with my sister? The more important question was why? I could see the edges of my world begin to crumble and fall. Everything we had fought for beginning to slip through my fingers and, like Alice, I could envision the tragic outcome that would result from this newly forged alliance. Just like my life, the bag I was holding slipped from my fingers and crashed to the floor.

"Edward, are you all right?" Esme asked, her brow furrowed as she reached up to touch my cheek, clearly oblivious to what was happening just a few feet away.

My chest constricted and I could feel myself begin to panic. With wide eyes, I looked past Esme, directly at Rosalie. She still would not look me in the eye, but was whispering something in Bella's ear.

I took a step forward, hand outstretched. Rosalie's eyes darted up to mine and she hissed under her breath, wrapping a protective arm around Bella. Jasper and Esme's heads snapped to the side to stare at her.

"Rosalie…what?" Esme began.

"Bella," I whispered.

She slowly turned to face me, her eyes cast downward, the guilt evident on her face. She didn't even have to speak the words – I could already see that my worst nightmare was coming true.

"Bella, please…what's going on?" I pleaded.

She moved from Rosalie's grasp, but remained linked to her by holding her hand. She placed her other hand over her swollen belly and looked up, defiance flaming in her eyes. "Edward, I'm keeping the baby."

What on earth is she talking about? "Well, of course dear…" Esme began, but Jasper placed a hand on her arm, halting her words.

"Bella, we don't even know what it is."

"I do," she insisted, her brow furrowing.

"Honey, what is she talking about?" Esme whispered in a tense voice.

I stood motionless, staring with disbelief into the eyes of my beloved. In the span of minutes, we had turned from newlyweds, allied in our love for one another, to adversaries locked in a struggle between life and death. Although, I was beginning to come to the realization that we had been placed in our newfound roles hours before I was even made aware of her plans.

"Edward?" Esme asked again.

"He doesn't want me to have the baby," Bella whispered.

"He what?" Esme gasped. An abortion? No, he can't be considering…

"It could hurt you, Bella," I entreated. "Please."

"I won't let you. I've made my decision."

This must be a misunderstanding. "Bella, what gave you the impression that he doesn't want you to have the baby?"

"He said so. He said that we were coming home so that he and Carlisle could take it out."

"I can't imagine Carlisle would have agreed to such a thing without your consent, Bella," Esme reasoned. "Surely, this is some sort of misunderstanding."

My growing anger was quelled by an overpowering quiet that settled over our small group. Silent up until this point, Jasper opened his mouth to speak. "This is not the place for this conversation," he said in a low voice. "This is a private matter that should be dealt with at home."

"He's right," Esme agreed. "Let's get you two home and we can sort all this out."

Rosalie lifted her chin and spun on her heel, linking her arm with Bella's, and began walking through the terminal, taking Bella with her. Esme began to follow, but I stood frozen, trying to make sense of what had just happened. I watched as Bella and Rosalie grew smaller in the distance. How could this happen? Bella had to know that what was growing inside her was not human, not normal? Had she no sense of self-preservation?

I felt a hand on my back, gently, yet forcefully, pushing me forward. Edward, let's go, Jasper thought. I complied, following Jasper in a stupor, still shocked over what had just happened. Bella's silence during the journey from South America began to take on a new meaning and it was the exact opposite of what I had expected her to be thinking. I should have known better. She wasn't afraid for herself at all, wasn't worried about procedures or tests. She had been wordlessly steeling her resolve and waiting for Rosalie to be there to back her up.

Esme and Rosalie were pulling our bags off the conveyor belt when Jasper and I reached them. "I've got them," he said, holding out his arms to take both bags.

Esme gave me a sympathetic look and linked her arm in mine, rubbing it soothingly as we walked toward the parking garage. "Everything will work out, sweetheart," she whispered. "Carlisle will know what to do."

I sucked in a deep breath, hoping with everything I had that Esme was right. If something happened to Bella, I just couldn't bear it. I lost her once; I wouldn't survive it a second time. I watched her as she walked several paces ahead of me. She turned her head slightly, taking a glance back at me, but quickly turned her head to face forward again. Rosalie tugged her along, all the while imagining what it would be like to hold a baby in her arms.

If it was Bella's intention to carry to term, whatever the creature may be, she chose the perfect family member to support her insanity. The only thing Rosalie wanted more out of life than a chance to regain her humanity was to have a child. I believe she would have preferred death to the frozen, childless existence she was doomed to all those years ago.

When we arrived in the parking garage, our group began to split apart – Rosalie and Bella walking toward Bella's Guardian and Jasper walking toward Carlisle's Mercedes. I stood there for a moment, glancing between the two cars. Esme looked up at me, a small pucker between her brows as she thought. Edward should be with Bella, but I don't know if Rosalie will let her out of her sight...

"Rosalie," Jasper called.

What does he want? Rosalie stopped abruptly, nearly causing Bella to tumble forward, but Rosalie caught her easily and steadied her on her feet. She turned to Jasper, a look of irritation on her face. "What?"

"I was going to suggest that you and Esme ride together in Carlisle's car. I can drive Bella and Edward in the Guardian."

"Absolutely not," she said, shaking her head vehemently.

"And why not?" I spat, feeling my temper flare.

"Because you can't be trusted. You've made your feelings toward the baby quite clear. Bella needs someone with her who will protect her interests," Rosalie sneered.

"And I suppose that someone is you?" I shot back.

How long are they going to go on like this?

We need to get Bella home. This arguing is getting us nowhere.

"Well, she called me..."

"Enough!" Esme hissed, her tone just a fraction lower than a full-bodied yell. She

stepped between us, her hands on her hips in a display of maternal authority.

"Rosalie, get in the car," she ordered, pointing to Carlisle's Mercedes.

She has got to be joking. Rosalie stared at Esme for several beats, absolutely fuming as she mentally gauged how serious she was. Bella bit her lip, looking between the two of them.

Bella angled her body toward Rosalie and placed her hand on her forearm. "It's alright," she whispered. "I'll be fine."

Rosalie's lips formed a tight line as she looked nervously between Bella and myself. To think that I would do something to purposely harm my wife was preposterous, but I doubted that it was Bella's safety she was concerned with. Rosalie's thoughts were consumed with the anticipation of holding a tiny baby in her arms. She had already conjured an image in her mind, although she didn't have any facts to support it. In truth, we knew absolutely nothing about the thing growing inside of Bella. I prayed that my previous preconceptions were wrong, but only Carlisle could help us to determine the answer to that question.

Bella began walking toward me as Rosalie looked on in defeat. I wrapped my arms around her, needing to feel her close. Jasper was already in the driver's seat when we reached the car. I followed Bella into the backseat, taking note of the loo of exhaustion on her face.

The stress isn't good for her, Jasper thought. I nodded in agreement, taking note of the exhausted expression on Bella's face. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, encouraging her to rest. She briefly smiled up at me as she tucked her legs up underneath her and lay against my chest. Jaspers calming ability surrounded us both like a warm blanket and Bella was asleep before the car had barely begun to move.

I traced the contours of her face as the Seattle skyline disappeared in the rearview mirrors. My sweet Bella...what on Earth was she thinking. After all our time together, after all our discussions of what she would be sacrificing to become like me, not once did she express a desire to be a mother. Why the change? Why now?

Jasper continuously glanced back at me, his mind tasting the temperament of my own. It's understandable that you would be worried, he thought. This is a lot to take in...for all of us. He opened his mind, displaying the worried expressions of my family members. I shivered, seeing the frightened expression on Carlisle's face, how the possibility that I could impregnate Bella had eluded him. I saw Alice's frustration that she had not foreseen this and the accompanying guilt. Even Emmett, although more lighthearted in his commentary, was just as disturbed as the rest of them by this unprecedented development.

"Have you found anything?" I asked.

Jasper shook his head sadly. Not yet, but we're not giving up. Carlisle seems to believe that this can't be an isolated incident, that this has to have happened at least once before. We'll figure something out. We don't want to lose Bella any more than you do.

"And Rosalie?"

Jasper blew out a slow breath as he kept his eyes trained on the road. Bella must have called Rosalie shortly after you spoke to Carlisle. Esme and I were just as surprised as you when Bella ran to her in the airport. She made no mention of this prior to your arrival, although in hindsight, she did seem more on edge than would have been expected.

It was a brilliant strategy, asking Rosalie. We all know of Rosalie's obsession with motherhood, so of course she is the perfect ally. And with her on Bella's side, it is much less likely that you or Carlisle could force any course of action. Bella must have known of your intentions to terminate the pregnancy and decided to make a plan of her own. I fear that if we begin choosing sides, it will cause some division within the family.

I squeezed my eyes shut, reaching up to pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. I couldn't argue with Jasper's logic, although I wish I could. Bella had made a decision, albeit a rash one without my knowledge, and stubborn as she is, sought out the means to ensure that her desire to carry the baby to term was met. It was a brilliant strategy. I almost wished I had had the foresight to ask Carlisle to fly to Rio to take care of the problem rather than flying Bella home. If I had any inkling that this was a possibility, I never would have allowed it.

Pulling Bella tightly to me, I took in a shuddering breath, overcome once again with the foreboding sense that I may lose her. In that moment, I swore to myself that if anything happened to her, I would hold Rosalie personally responsible. I would never forgive her if I lost Bella as a result of this insanity. I could feel Jasper's eyes on me, the concern in his mind over my own mental state.

"And Alice?" I asked. "Why was there no warning?"

Jasper sighed. She's been asking herself the same question. When you spoke to Carlisle on the phone, it was Alice who had called. She was troubled by a vision, or lack of vision. She saw you in a state of shock, but became panicked when she couldn't see Bella. She was terrified something had happened to her.

Alice couldn't see Bella? Were her visions failing? "What do you mean she couldn't see Bella?"

We don't know. We don't know why she didn't foresee the probability of Bella becoming pregnant either. Believe me, she's beat herself up quite a bit over that. She blames herself for trying not to see anything, for attempting to allow you both as much privacy as she could while on your honeymoon. But when something happened to you and Bella disappeared, I guess it was too much for her to ignore.

Was Alice's lack of vision merely an oversight on her part or was there truly something wrong? And why could she see me, but not Bella? The only time I could recall Alice having difficulty seeing Bella was when she went to La Push, but that certainly wasn't the case here.

Don't be angry with her.

I shook my head. I shouldn't be angry for my sister for her lack of vision, but there was a small part of me that was furious that she didn't see this before it could have been prevented. I knew in my heart that it wasn't her fault. We relied far too heavily on Alice's visions for guidance. It was bound to fail us at some point.

The rest if the drive was spent in silent contemplation. There was so much to do, and with the quick progression of the pregnancy, we had little time to accomplish it all. Our first priority was to confirm the pregnancy and run the proper tests to see exactly what we were dealing with. I only prayed that if we determined that the fetus was a danger to Bella, she would see reason and allow Carlisle to do what was necessary to save her.

But what if she didn't? Was she the type of person who would sacrifice her own safety, or even her life, for the sake of another? I didn't even need to ask that question - I already knew the answer. She was willing to give up her life in exchange for her mother's when she went to the ballet studio. She was willing to follow Alice to Volterra in order to save me. She was ready to spill her own blood in the presence of three vampires to save me from destruction. Was she the type of person who would sacrifice themselves for someone else? The answer, unfortunately, was an unequivocal yes. A noble trait, but one that caused me great distress.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, hoping against hope that it wouldn't come to that. Did I dare to hope that what she carried inside her was a perfect child? Did I dare to hope that I could have everything I ever dreamed of but never thought would be attainable – a wife, a child, a family – everything I wanted to give Bella, but never believed I could?

No. I pushed the thoughts away, filed them away in the drawer of forgotten dreams and failed aspirations. I couldn't allow myself to become distracted with empty promises. They would only crush me if things went badly.

The surrounding trees gradually gave way until our house came into view. It felt like a lifetime ago since Bella and I were last here, since we said our farewells to our family and friends as a newly wedded couple. Could it really have only been a few weeks? Would Bella be my wife for such a short span of time?

I gritted my teeth and forced my mind to focus. Alice, Carlisle, and Emmett were waiting anxiously on the front steps. I had barely begun to awake Bella when Rosalie was opening the door and reaching in for her.

I hissed reflexively and pulled Bella tighter to my chest. Rosalie narrowed her eyes at me and reached for Bella's hand, patting it softly, but kept her gaze on me. "Bella, we're here," she said.

Bella's eyes slowly opened and I had to release my grip as she began to move and stretch. Alice appeared at Rosalie's side, looking on with great concern, but not before she took a moment to glare at Rosalie. I'm so sorry, Edward, she thought. I didn't know. I didn't see. If I had…

I nodded slightly. It wasn't Alice's fault. I had no one to blame in this situation but myself. I was naïve to believe nothing could happen. I was ill informed about our physiological ability to procreate with humans. As much as I wanted to blame Alice or Rosalie or even Bella, the only one I could truly blame was me.

Bella took Rosalie's hand and eased herself up out of the car. Already, the protrusion in her stomach appeared even larger and seemed to be affecting Bella's center of gravity as she tried to upright herself. I rose from the car and Carlisle shot me a worried glance as he did a visual assessment of Bella's condition from where he stood.

I can't believe it, he thought. I never thought it was possible.

Without needing to hear his thoughts, I could already see it written all over Carlisle's face. Bella was indeed pregnant. The tests would be a mere formality. I took in a deep breath and held it as panic welled in my chest. Now what?

A/N: You guys continue to blow me away with your kind words. The favorites, alerts, and reviews mean a lot and really keep me going. I'm really excited about the coming chapters and with the first movie coming in 100 days, I'm hoping to write through the birth before November 18th.

Thanks to my beta, Nellybear85, for her feedback and general awesomeness. And thanks to misticbutterfly who keeps me writing with our WC sessions.