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 17

Waiting

Silence and foreboding enveloped the house. We huddled together, statue still like the frozen relics we were. It was a stark contrast to the flurry of activity just a few moments ago.

After Carlisle and Esme left, we stood, locked in place by our animosity until Jasper unleashed his full power on the lot of us. I sat with Bella's unconscious form in my arms while Rosalie stood across the room, keeping a keen eye on me. She was wary, knowing just how desperate I had become. With the new sense of calm that was thrust upon me, I, for the first time, got a deeper look into my sister's mind than I had been capable of since our return from the island.

The thought in the forefront of her mind was the desire to protect the life growing inside my love. Her loyalty was to Bella and to the baby. This much I knew, but my rage at my sister for getting in my way, for hindering my attempts to save Bella, prevented me from digging past the topmost layer of her consciousness to see the deeper beliefs that drove her actions.

Bella was a part of this family. She became a part of our family long before she took upon herself my last name. And just as she was with the rest of us, Rosalie was fiercely protective and loyal to her. There was a new-found respect that Rosalie felt toward Bella - respect that she knew what she wanted and took it, that she cared so much for the life growing inside her that she was willing to risk her own life to protect it, and that she was determined enough to stand strong even when I begged her to reconsider.

Of course, Rosalie still battled the demons that followed her through this life - her struggle to accept what had been done to her all those years ago, by Royce and also by Carlisle. Although Carlisle acted out of compassion to save her while Royce beat her for his own amusement, she still felt she had been victimized by them both. And the one thing she wanted more than any other - to have a child of her own - was cruelly ripped away. To her, it would have been better to die at the hands of her fiancé than to struggle through the childless existence she was granted. She would never openly admit as much, but Jasper's influence had forced her to let down her guard, allowing me a look into her most private thoughts and hidden secrets.

On the surface, it appeared that all Rosalie wanted was to have the child for herself, regardless of the sacrifice it might cost Bella. It would be so much easier to hate her if that was the case. But as I looked deeper, her motivation was more complex than the mere drive to be a mother. It was the moral obligation she felt to protect Bella's decision to have the baby. Just as the choice had been taken away from Rosalie, she was adamant that she wouldn't allow the same thing to happen again. And because Bella had made the conscious decision to trust Rosalie to help her, knowing that she would sympathize with her plight, Rosalie couldn't refuse her.

While Rosalie and I sat locked in place, subdued by artificial calm, Alice was on the phone with Carlisle, relaying instructions to Emmett on what equipment would need to be set up and ready upon his return. If Carlisle's study was serving as a makeshift emergency room, then our living room was now being converted into a care facility. Per Alice's directions, Emmett hauled equipment both from Carlisle's study and from storage in the garage. The furniture had been pushed aside, making room for the hospital bed that now took up the center of the living room. Various monitors had been set up at the bedside and long extension cords ran the length of the room.

Seeing all that Carlisle required, all of the life saving equipment he intended for Bella, a cold shiver ran through me. I knew the purpose of each machine, of all the reasons why such equipment would be necessary, and the idea that it was all here for the woman sleeping in my arms sent a jolt of panic through my heart. I knew in my mind that she was ill, that she was gradually deteriorating, but the necessity for medical intervention made what seemed like a bad dream turn into a nightmarish reality.

All was quiet, save for the unsteady beat of a single heart. Once the task was complete, Alice sat at Jasper's side and Emmett by Rosalie. And we waited. And waited. I brushed a stray lock of hair from Bella's brow and leaned down, skimming my nose across the contour if her cheek. I pressed my lips to her balmy skin as I hugged her tightly to me. I could hear Rosalie's unease in her thoughts, but she was wise enough to keep her feelings at bay and her words to herself.

"When will they return?" I asked, glancing up at Alice.

"Soon," she whispered.

I blew out a steadying breath as I watched the space between Bella's brows pucker. She whimpered quietly, but remained unconscious. As thankful as I was that Jasper could sedate her, I wished his gift would extend to her pain as well. I gritted my teeth as I watched the skin of her belly distort with the fetus' movement. Bella whimpered again and I clamped my hand over my mouth as I uttered a strangled cry. My eyes burned with the tears I could not shed.

A pair of strong hands lay on my shoulders and the blanket of calm intensified tenfold. I wondered to myself if Jasper did this solely for my benefit, or for his own as well. I knew that my sorrow weighed heavily on him. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the looks of pity on the faces of my siblings. I didn't want their sympathy or their grief. All I wanted in this moment was to concentrate on the feeling of Bella's skin against mine, of her body cradled in my arms.

Edward?

I looked up instinctively, although I knew the voice in my mind didn't emanate from anyone in this room.

Hey, Edward. If you can hear me – circle the wagons, bloodsucker. You've got a problem.

We've got a problem.

If Jacob was returning with news of a problem, that could only mean one thing. I stood abruptly. Rosalie was instantly on her feet, but looked puzzled as I gently lowered Bella onto the hospital bed.

"Rosalie, look after her, please. Emmett, Jasper – Jacob's on his way and he's not alone."

"What do you mean he's not alone?" Jasper hissed. The pack?

"I don't think so. I don't know." I shook my head. "I only heard one other voice."

I went to the door, Jasper and Emmett both following closely behind me. A moment later, two wolves ran across the yard to stand at the foot of the steps.

"Jacob? Seth? What's going on?"

Both Jacob and Seth began relaying the events that had occurred since Jacob's departure from the house - Jacob's refusal to listen to Sam and subsequent split from the pack, the wolves' uncertainty over Bella's pregnancy and the possible dangers it may pose to the town and to the tribe, their plan to put a stop to it before the abomination could be born.

Seeing the pack's fear, their blind intolerance, their disregard for Bella's life, drove away my sorrow and filled me with a sense of rage. I bounded down the steps, coming face to face with Jacob as I searched his eyes and his thoughts, praying he had left out some detail that would counter what I had heard. But there was none.

"They want to kill Bella?" I growled.

Tonight.

They're here to kill Bella.

They're not getting anywhere near her!

Jasper and Emmett appeared at my side, crouched defensively, teeth bared.

Hey now, Seth thought.

I tore my eyes from Jacob long enough to glance at my brothers who had misunderstood my words. "Em, Jazz – not them! The others. The pack is coming."

Their stances relaxed marginally. "What's their problem?" Emmett demanded.

"The same one as mine, but they have their own plan to handle it. Get the others. Call Carlisle! He and Esme have to get back here now." Although the pack and I shared the same fear of the thing growing inside Bella, our methods of handling it varied greatly. If they were on their way with the intention of killing Bella, we needed to muster as much force as possible to fight them off.

They're separated, Jacob thought, echoing my sentiments.

"They aren't far," I assured him. Emmett had already pulled out his phone and was speaking to Carlisle, relaying what he could.

I'm going to take a look, Seth thought. Run the western perimeter.

"Will you be in danger, Seth?"

Jacob and Seth exchanged glances. Don't think so, they replied in unison.

But maybe I should go just in case, Jacob added. I could see in his thoughts that he had not intended to be a pack leader and Seth's presence added a factor of responsibility he had not been prepared to bear.

They'll be less likely to challenge me, Seth argued. I'm just a kid to them.

You're just a kid to me, kid.

I'm outta here.You need to coordinate with the Cullens. With a swish of his tail, Seth bounded for the tree line before Jacob could protest. I watched him go before turning back to Jacob.

"This isn't the first time I've owed you my gratitude, Jacob. I would never have asked for this from you."

His mind went back to our conversation earlier in the day. It felt like a lifetime ago. Yeah, you would.

After all I had already said to him, all I had asked of him, would I have asked him to leave his pack in order to help us? To save Bella? "I suppose you're right about that." I nodded. There was nothing I wouldn't do for her.

Well, this isn't the first time that I didn't do it for you.

"Right."

He shook his head slowly. Sorry I didn't do any good today. Told you she wouldn't listen to me.

"I know," I sighed. "I never really believed she would. But..."

You had to try. I get it. She any better?

Not that I could forget, but the reminder of Bella's dire health sucked the breath from my lungs. "Worse," I managed. I could feel that imaginary line that tethered me to Bella tugging at my heart, pulling me back. It took everything I had to fight it. As much as I needed to be by her side, to cherish the seconds that were rapidly ticking away, my place was here.

"Jacob," Alice called over my shoulder. "Would you mind switching forms? I want to know what's going on."

Can't,he shook his head.

"He needs to stay linked to Seth," I explained.

She placed a hand on her hip. "Well, then would you be so kind as to tell me what's happening?"

"The pack thinks Bella's become a problem. They foresee potential danger from the...from what she's carrying. They feel it's their duty to remove that danger. Jacob and Seth disbanded from the pack to warn us. The rest are planning to attack tonight."

Alice hissed at the news, once again cursing the wolves' ability to negate her gift. Emmett and Jasper exchanged a worried glance at the full explanation.

Esme and Carlisle need to hurry. We're going to need everyone if we have to fight them off.

We need to establish a perimeter, determine the likely direction they would choose to attack from.

Nobody out here, Seth called. All's quiet on the western front.

They may go around,Jacob warned.

I'll make a loop.Seth darted back toward the trees.

"Carlisle and Esme are on their way," Emmett offered as he shoved his phone back in his pocket. "Twenty minutes tops."

"We should take up a defensive position," Jasper suggested. Fortify the house.Put Bella somewhere safe. Draw up contingency plans.

I nodded. "Let's get inside."

I'll run the perimeter with Seth. If I get too far for you to hear my head, listen for my howl.

"I will."

Jasper and Alice exchanged a concerned glance before turning to go back into the house. Jasper's mind was spinning with strategies and recollections of the wolves' abilities we were witness to during our last battle. Last battle.I shook my head at the absurdity if it all. It was as though the world was conspiring against us. Our relationship, although filled with the type of love one could only hope of one day finding, it was also fraught with peril. Why did fate deem it necessary for us to struggle so? Perhaps the true test of love was its ability to survive hardship. A love like ours was certainly something worth fighting for.

Jasper and Emmett were already making preparations, lowering the protective shutters at the rear of the house to prevent the wolves from crashing through the windows. Alice wrung her hands nervously as she paced the length of the room. Rosalie sat at Bella's side, whispering soothing words as Bella continued to whimper. I wondered to myself how long Jasper could focus on keeping her calm while his attentions were elsewhere.

I knelt beside the bed, taking Bella's frail hand in mine and placing it on my cheek. I closed my eyes, heartbroken to think that our dwindling time together could be further cut short by the interference of the pack. Her eyes pinched tightly and she curled in on herself as another wave of pain shook her body. I wish there were something I could do, but I could only hope that Carlisle could ease her suffering.

A loud howl echoed through the forest.

The pack's coming.We need to be ready.

Was that a warning? Are they coming?

Have to keep them away from Bella and the baby. That's what they're after.

Rosalie stood, ready to snatch up Bella and carry her to safety. Emmett and Jasper appeared in the room, prepared to fight. A second later the door flew open and Emmett would have gone barreling toward the door if Jasper hadn't held out a hand to stop him. Carlisle and Esme appeared in the doorway, each carrying two overfull duffel bags. Carlisle glanced nervously between us before immediately setting to work.

Seth stopped us on our way back and explained the situation. I pray it doesn't come to that,Carlisle thought. If the pack does come, we will have to focus our efforts on defending the house. Bella is far too weak to move.

I tried to shut out Carlisle's thoughts as his medical training took over. I crossed the room, unable to bring myself to watch. The faint aroma of blood mixed with the sterile scent if alcohol carried itself to my nose as Carlisle inserted the potentially lifesaving intravenous lines. I stared out the window, watching for any signs of the pack. I listened intently, stretching the limits of my ability in search of Jacob. After a few seconds had passed, I heard him. False alarm, false alarm. Sorry. Seth is young. He forgets things. No one's attacking. False alarm.

A moment later, he sprinted through the trees toward the house. There's nothing out there - you got that? he asked.

I nodded in response and watched as Jacob recounted his thoughts on the status of our situation. The sound of flicking switches echoed through the room followed by the resonance of a steady drip. The noises converged in a symphony of pain. I hazarded a glance back and the sight nearly brought me to my knees. To see all of the equipment in the room was one thing. To see it attached to Bella, unnatural tubes stuck in her skin, monitors strapped to her body, was another experience entirely. Words could not describe the helplessness I felt in that moment. A shiver ran through me as in hastily looked away.

I could feel Jacob's eyes on me. See him searching for a glimpse of Bella. I waved him on and stood aside.

"It was a false alarm," I murmured.

Oh, thank heavens.

But what about the signal? I thought...

"Seth was upset about something else, and he forgot we were listening for a signal," I explained. "He's very young."

"Nice to have toddlers guarding the fort," Emmett growled.

"They've done us a great service tonight, Emmett," Carlisle reproved. "At great personal sacrifice." Carlisle moved across the room, carrying several vials of Bella's blood in his clenched fist.

"Yeah, I know," Emmett grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just jealous. I wish I was out there."

You may get your chance soon enough, Jasper thought.

"Seth doesn't think Sam will attack now," I offered, relaying what I had gleaned from Jacob's thoughts. "Not with us forewarned, and lacking two members of the pack."

"What does Jacob think?" Carlisle asked.

"He's not as optimistic."

Mustering the strength I had left, I returned to Bella's bedside. Her face was ashen, her mouth set in a near permanent grimace of discomfort. I gently took her hand in mine; taking great care to avoid disturbing the tubes that were now attempting to supply her body with the nourishment it craved. My eyes closed in silent prayer, knowing that this may be our last hope of sustaining her until the birth.

The birth. I didn't even wish to contemplate the damage the spawn inside her would cause when the time came for it to emerge. Carlisle was right. We needed a plan. For now we only had to wait to see if her body would survive long enough to necessitate a birth plan.

Carlisle busied himself by reading the monitors, keeping watch for signs of distress or any indication that his intervention was helping. He approached the bedside, reaching for Bella's wrist.

"Don't touch her!" Rosalie hissed quietly. "You'll wake her up."

Carlisle breathed a heavy sigh. "Rosalie." I was merely checking, as a doctor tending to a patient.

She shook her head. "Don't start with me, Carlisle. We let you have your way earlier, but that's all we're allowing." I'm watching you...both of you.

Carlisle shook his head sadly as he turned to me. I need to run a battery of blood tests – CBC, LFT, U&E… His mind was still running through a litany of tests he intended to run on the blood he had extracted as he ran up the stairs to his study. I tried my best to block him out, unsure if I wanted to know the results of his findings. I knew in my heart that they would only confirm my worst fears. What was the point of seeking proof for what we already knew to be true?

I thought, perhaps, that this was his method of coping, of doing what he could to help. It must be a relief to have such an endeavor to distract oneself from the overt possibility of death coming to visit. There would be nothing on this earth that could divert my attention from her.

Time seemed to stand still. The unsteady rhythm of Bella's heart that had marked the passage of time was now replaced by the steady drip of fluids in her IV. Like the swinging arm of a metronome, the drops of lifesaving fluid resounded through the room, ticking away the seconds of her life that remained.

We sat in awkward silence, the air thick with discomfort, and accentuated by the quiet whimpers emanating from the bed at the center of the room. I shuddered with every utterance from her lips, feeling my strength gradually vanish along with her. With the exception of Bella, the only other movement was the anxious pacing of the wolf outside our window.

Bella's body convulsed, spasms pulsing outward from her pregnant belly. Rosalie's movements matched my own as we stood, watching the shuddering form on the bed for signs of acute distress. Her breathing was labored and I listened intently for any indication that the creature had punctured one of her lungs.

Baby's kicking, that's all, Rosalie thought as she tucked a wayward strand of hair behind Bella's ear. I grit my teeth and the metal bedrail groaned under the pressure of my grip. Don't even…

No matter Rosalie's intentions, she had so far removed herself that she didn't even acknowledge the implications of Bella's pain. How could she be so cold? My hands trembled as I struggled with the urge to try once again to steal Bella away, despite my family's protests.

But before I could move a centimeter closer to my wife or my sister, Emmett was standing beside Rosalie, his hands up and his expression pleading, like a negotiator in a hostage situation. "Not tonight, Edward," he implored. "We've got other things to worry about." Please.

My shoulders slumped. I could feel the will to fight seeping out of my pores. Every effort extended had collapsed in defeat. What else could I do? I turned my head, my anger giving way to the sense of despair that had been steadily encroaching. With my will gone, I succumbed to the blackness and it engulfed me fully. I lifted my eyes ever so slightly and was met with the concerned gaze of a russet wolf.

She's worse, he thought. And with those words, I crumbled.

-x-

I don't know how long I sat at the foot of the bed, rocking helplessly as the waves of sorrow crashed over me. My mind had shut down, perhaps protecting itself from the trauma of my harsh reality.

Edward?

I raised my head just as Emmett's large frame knelt beside mine. He rested on his heels, nervously wringing his hands. I really am sorry,he thought.

I shrugged, lowering my head back down onto my knees. I had no need for empty apologies.

You may not want to listen to me, but I have something to say.

I didn't respond, hoping he would just go away.

I know you think that I'm not on your side, but I'm not on Rosalie's side either. I'm on Bella's side. She may be your wife, but she's also my little sister. I hate watching her go through this ,but what kind of brother would I be if I didn't support her?

I wanted to yell at him, to argue that he wasn't helping her, only enabling her insanity, but I didn't have the strength to quarrel any longer. I looked up at him. His expression was so despondent and I could see in his eyes that, even though he was respecting Bella's wishes, he was terrified of losing both a sister and a brother in the process.

I love you, you know that. I'm trying my best here to trust in Bella's decision and have faith that you and Carlisle will find a way to get them both out of this safely. It's not easy for me either, you know. If the roles were reversed and Bella didn't want to take the risk, I would be the first one to help hold Rosie back so you and Carlisle could do what you had to. She'd hate me for it…for a while…but she'd come around.

There wasn't an iota of deceit in his thoughts. Emmett has always been forthcoming, subscribing to the ideal that honesty really is the best policy. I wanted to refute him, but I couldn't. I managed a tight smile and a nod which he responded to by wrapping his large arms around me and giving me a tight squeeze. I understood his position, even if it clashed with mine.

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed that no one was truly happy with the turn of events that occurred with the consummation of our marriage. Even Rosalie had her own reservations, although she kept them more well hidden than her pleasure at the idea of welcoming a child into the family. The question that remained was what sacrifices would we have to make? In the name of honor, what could we lose?

It looked as though I was the only one willing to go against Bella's wishes in the interest of saving her life. With an unwelcome sense of irony, my mind recalled a conversation not long ago where I was reminded…Bella wants a partner, not a protector. But could I do that? Could I force myself to break out of the mold that had defined our interactions?

It was the one aspect that I had struggled with most in our relationship – foregoing my sense of duty to protect her, of seeing her as a fragile creature unable to defend itself. It began with a skidding van in the school parking lot, a troupe of wandering vampires with an affinity for deadly games, a paper cut, the Volturi, Jacob, Victoria, newborns… The list was nearly endless and each and every time I struggled with shedding my savior persona, likely a reflection of my upbringing.

Emmett remained at my side for some time. He felt immensely guilty for the way he had treated me, but relieved that he had the opportunity to explain himself. Much like with Rosalie, I had been too angry to bother figuring out his motivations for blocking my efforts.

My thoughts were interrupted by yet another altercation between Rosalie and Carlisle. Carlisle had spent his time running tests and reading monitors and, although initially cooperative, Rosalie was fighting him every step of the way.

"I just need some more samples," he reasoned.

"That's enough, Carlisle," Rosalie hissed. "You'll wake her."

Better awake than dead, he thought, but immediately regretted his errant thought when he caught my gaze. "Rosalie, please. Be reasonable."

"Rosalie," I groaned, standing to my feet. "Carlisle is a doctor. Bella is a patient. He's only trying to help."

"So am I."

"Babe, come on," Emmett soothed, stepping beside Rosalie and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Just let Carlisle do his job."

"It will only take a moment," Carlisle assured her.

She stared at him through narrowed eyes, but finally relented with a huff, crossing her arms and stepping back to lean against the wall. Emmett remained beside her, his thoughts torn between comforting her and the possibility of restraining her.

I arched a questioning eyebrow and he shrugged in response.

Seconds later, Carlisle had a handful of fresh blood samples. Care to join me? he asked.

I hesitated briefly, not wishing to leave Bella's side, but realized I could probably be of more use in Carlisle's study than sitting idle while she slept. I reached out, cradling her hand in mine, and pressed my lips to her knuckles before lowering her hand back to the bed and following Carlisle up the steps.

"My initial findings are there." Carlisle nodded to the monitor on his desk. I stared at the glowing screen, reading the results from his first round of tests. As I feared, she had already begun to show decreased function in both her liver and kidneys. If Carlisle's latest attempt to provide nourishment failed, both she and the child within her would starve to death.

I raked my fingers through my hair as I watched Carlisle work. I didn't believe I had ever seen him so diligently focused on a task before. His stakes in this were nearly as high as mine.

"Dammit," he cried, pounding his fist on the table in frustration. Fragments of wood and glass fell in a scattered pile at his feet. What else can I do?

"Carlisle?"

He sighed heavily. "Her body's not absorbing any nutrients. It seems that no matter what we try, her body rejects it. I don't understand. I don't know…I'm at a complete loss."

"Is there nothing we can do?" I asked, now keenly aware of the possibility that Bella may not even survive long enough to deliver.

I don't know. He shook his head sadly.

"What about delivering early? How long would we have to let it go on before the fetus would be viable outside of the womb?"

"We're dealing with too many unknown variables. There is no way of knowing. And I find it difficult to imagine either Rosalie or Bella allowing us to take that chance."

"We may not have a choice," I argued. "If we don't figure out something soon, they'll both die. What good is there in that? All of this would have been for naught!"

I know.

I paced the length of the room, angry footsteps echoing throughout the house. I gripped my hair so tightly; it felt it might rend itself from my head. What else could we do? She could not ingest anything; intravenous nutrition was failing – what else was there?

Then all at once, my musings ceased with the two words uttered from the floor below that gained my attention.

She's awake.

A/N:I'm trying to ramp things up as the November 18th deadline creeps closer. Thankfully, the closer we get, the more news there is about the movie which gives me the fuel to keep going. Thanks again for following along on this journey with me. I appreciate all your continued support.

Thanks to my beta, Nellybear85, for continually encouraging me.