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 19

Decline

Two howls echoed through the forest just as Jacob stepped outside the door. I heard him curse under his breath before the sound of ripping clothing reached my ears.

Oh my…

Is something wrong? What's happening?

Bella's eyes met mine, her brow furrowed in concern. "What happened?"

Jasper and Emmett appeared at the top of the stairs, Alice trailing just behind them. "What's going on?" Jasper asked. Is it the pack?

"I don't know yet," I said, shaking my head. "Seth said that three members of the pack are in his vicinity. Leah and Jacob are running to join him."

"An attack?" Esme fretted.

"I don't think so." I stretched my ability. The structure of the unified pack consciousness simplified matters as I only had to listen to one stream of thoughts in order to hear them all. I focused on Jacob as I was most familiar with the workings of his mind.

Someone's phasing?

They're coming. Slow. Walking.

Four. Three wolves, one man.

I took Bella's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "There are only four of them," I explained. "One of them is in human form."

"A delegation," Jasper murmured.

I nodded in agreement.

"They're likely trying to either gain information or entice the defectors to rejoin their pack," Jasper speculated. "It could be a trap, but it's doubtful that Sam would sacrifice four men as a diversion when his numbers have already been depleted."

"So they're not attacking?" Carlisle asked.

Jasper shook his head. "Not yet."

"They want them to come back," I offered, hearing the conversation through Jacob's thoughts. "They think Jacob is overreacting to Sam's strategy for dealing with…us."

"You mean me," Bella whispered, the corners of her mouth turning down in a frown as she clutched her belly protectively. I cupped her cheek in my palm, wiping away a stray tear with the pad of my thumb.

"They will never hurt you," I promised. "I would never let that happen."

…talked to the Elders. They've decided that immediate action is in no one's best interest at this point…we can wait for Bella to be separated from the problem.

I felt a small sense of relief knowing that the pack had decided to hold back until after Bella gave birth, but I doubted that they would wait a moment longer. Whether lying helpless under the clutches of venom or struggling to protect our offspring, I feared that Bella would be far from danger once she was separated from the problem – if she even survived the process.

Leah, make a circuit – just to be sure. I'm going to have to talk to him…

"Jacob's going to phase," I murmured.

"He's what?" Bella asked.

"Jared is in human form," I explained. "Jacob is going to phase so he can speak with him. I'm sure they're just trying to convince him to come back."

"He should," she whispered. "I hate that he's had to give up everything for me. Can he go back?"

"I don't think so. He seems to think that accepting his birthright was an irrevocable choice."

"He never wanted that." She frowned again. I supposed she felt guilty for the situation he had been placed in, for being forced to make such a rash decision he would likely regret the consequences for later.

"He did it for you," I whispered, reaching for her hand. "He would do practically anything for you. We all would."

The familiar blush crept up her cheeks as she looked away. "I just wish things had turned out differently."

"I know."

You don't have a home here. You're already out of clothes…Sam is sorry about what he did to you.

"What's happening now?" Carlisle asked.

"They're playing on his sympathies, reminding him that he, Seth, and Leah are, in essence, destitute."

"Oh my," Esme gasped. And they're right. They have no food, no shelter, no…that won't do. We have to help them. Esme disappeared from the room with her mind set on a new mission. True to form, she was the very essence of a maternal figure, feeling the duty to care for everyone around her. She and Bella were so alike.

We're going to wait and see how it plays out, too. And we're going to watch out for the Cullens for as long as that seems necessary. Because, despite what you think, this isn't just about Bella. We're protecting those who should be protected. And that applies to the Cullens, too.

I cocked my head to the side, surprised by Jacob's words. If I hadn't been able to hear his thoughts at the same time as his words, I would have believed he said them merely for show. It seemed that Jacob was beginning to have a change of heart. I had a feeling that it was Carlisle more than any other that had triggered this shift.

Their conversation continued, manipulative words delivered with the intent of causing Jacob enough guilt to abandon his defection. It was evident in their thoughts that Sam had ordered them to say anything they had to in order to convince their pack mates to rejoin them. I could sense the unease in both Leah and Seth at the mention of their mother, but it was quickly replaced by anger at Sam's feeble attempt to entice Leah to come back into the fold.

Disappointed and angry, the pack members gave up their attempts to sway the fledgling pack. Jacob was firm in his convictions which seemed now to include protecting us as well as Bella. I felt a new-found respect for Jacob in that moment. After all we had been through, after all the ways he had manipulated and attempted to steal Bella's heart, who knew, we may end up becoming friends after all.

"It's over," I whispered.

"Over?" Bella asked.

"They tried to convince Jacob and the others to come home, but they refused to divert from their current objective. They've given up…for now."

I guess we know why Embry wasn't allowed to come.

Not allowed?

Jake, did ya see Quil? He's pretty torn up…I'd put ten to one that Embry's even more upset…there's no way Quil can just pick up and walk away from La Push. Embry might.

"There's dissension in the pack," I offered.

"How so?" Jasper asked.

"There is at least one other member who seems to have wavering loyalty. Sam wouldn't allow him to be included in the party that met with Jacob."

"Wise decision on his part." Jasper nodded. "If any of Sam's pack members are entertaining the idea of defecting, he is smart to keep them away from Jacob's influence, whether Jacob intends it or not."

"For now, it appears that we don't need to worry about the pack," Carlisle sighed, relief flooding his thoughts.

"But it's important to remain vigilant," Jasper reminded him. "If they do still intend to attack, this could have been a ruse to encourage us to let our guard down."

I could feel Bella's hand quivering in mine. "You have nothing to worry about, love," I soothed. "Nothing will happen. We'll be fine."

The stress can't be good for her. Perhaps a distraction… "Bella, would you feel better without all this equipment?" Carlisle whispered. Now that she's improving, it's hardly necessary, don't you think?

Bella and I both nodded together, although her nod was a bit more enthusiastic. Carlisle smiled – the first true smile I had seen in a while – and he began the task of unplugging the equipment.

"I would like to maintain the IV for a while."

"But why?" Bella complained.

"If the fetus is getting nourishment from the blood, I'm hoping that your body will now be able to absorb the nutrients from the IV. It's just for a bit longer – until you are able to eat at regular intervals."

Bella's shoulders slumped slightly at the prospect of retaining her IV, but even disappointed, she still looked better than she had in days. The flush in her cheeks I had grown to love so much had returned and her heart had seemed to find a somewhat steady rhythm again. I leaned in to kiss her forehead and she squeaked as I picked her up in my arms.

"Let's make you more comfortable." I smiled.

Rosalie stepped up behind me, moving the metal pole that held up the bag of lifesaving fluids along with us. Esme was waiting with a thick quilt draped over the couch. As soon as I laid Bella down, she was promptly swaddled in the blanket's warmth.

"Thank you." Bella smiled, burying her face in the blanket's folds.

You want me to explain to the Cullens? They're probably still kinda tense.

I got it. I want to check things out anyway.

I lowered myself to the couch, propping Bella's feet in my lap. Emmett and Jasper assisted Carlisle in moving the medical equipment back into his office and the hospital bed into storage. Alice and Esme began rearranging the furniture in the living room so that it resembled something near to the arrangement that had existed before everything had been moved. Bella yelped in surprise when they picked up the couch to move it while we were both still sitting on it.

I snickered under my breath. Even after all this time, Bella still seemed to underestimate us. She may be quite surprised at what she would be able to do when she became one of us. The thought, although still difficult to accept, had begun to settle in my mind as the inevitable conclusion to our seemingly doomed romance. Whether I was willing to admit it or not, I knew that she would either die at the hands of the creature inside her or be changed. There was little choice in the matter at this point.

"Edward," Bella whispered. My gaze met hers and she averted her eyes, a deep blush creeping up her cheeks.

"What is it?"

"What did you say to Jacob?" she asked.

"When?"

"When he first came to the house, when you left to speak to him, he told me that you offered...did you really say ask him to..."

I nodded weakly, knowing exactly what she was asking. Her mouth gaped and her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and sadness. Why? she mouthed.

"Because I would have done anything to save you – even if that meant giving you up. If you wanted a child, I hoped that a less extreme option might suffice."

She shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "But it's not just any baby that I want," she sighed, reaching for my hand. "It's yours. Nothing could ever replace that."

"I know."

"But you had to try," she offered.

I nodded, bringing her hand to my lips. "You are my everything. I can't lose you…especially not like this, not by my own doing."

"You won't," she spoke with conviction. I imagined it was easier to feel confident now that her health had begun to improve. It was staggering how quickly she had recovered when, just hours ago, she seemed to be knocking at death's door.

With the room back in order, a tentative sense of calm and relief settled over the house now that at least one threat seemed to have been eliminated. Jasper, Emmett, and Alice returned to their research. Rosalie returned to her post at Bella's side, offering her a fresh cup of blood and now exuding a haughty sense of satisfaction that Bella was improving.

Carlisle hovered nearby, cautiously optimistic. Esme smiled as she passed, her arms loaded with a stack of clothing that she laid on the porch. For Jacob, she thought. It's the least we can do. She joined Carlisle and he wrapped her in his arms, kissing her briefly on the forehead.

Everything's cool, I heard Jacob think, although his reassuring words were hardly necessary. Perhaps he didn't realize that I could hear him while he met with the other pack members. I could hear his paws as they padded the rain-soaked earth just outside the house. He hesitantly took the clothing and trotted back to the tree line.

A few moments later, he appeared in the doorway, cautiously determining whether or not to enter. His face was haggard, his features weary. I wondered when he had last slept. He immediately noted the changes that had occurred since he was last standing in this room. Admittedly, everything seemed to change quite drastically with Jacob's inadvertent revelation about the nourishment the fetus sought.

Oh goody, he's back, Rosalie thought.

He looks exhausted, Esme worried.

His eyes met mine and I smiled, seeing Jacob in a different light than I had before. It seemed that everything had changed, including him. His shifting loyalties and compassion for our plight softened my heart toward him.

Bella looked up and smiled. I can't remember the last time she looked so excited to see me, he thought. What's with her? For crying out loud, she's married! Happily married…why does she have to be so damn thrilled to see me? If she would just not care…it would be so much easier to stay away.

Watching Bella's expression and listening to Jacob's reaction, I had to agree with him. There was some inexplicable connection between them that I still didn't understand. I probably never would. I wished I could see into her thoughts and know her intentions, know her true feelings.

"They just wanted to talk," Jacob murmured. "No attack on the horizon."

"Yes. I heard most of it," I replied.

His eyes snapped from hers to mine. We were a good three miles out. "How?"

I shrugged. "I'm hearing you more clearly – it's a matter of familiarity and concentration. Also, your thoughts are slightly easier to pick up when you're in your human form. So I caught most of what passed out there."

"Oh…good. I hate repeating myself." He frowned, his thoughts jumbled and slightly unsettled.

"I'd tell you to go get some sleep," Bella said, "but my guess is that you're going to pass out on the floor in about six seconds, so there's probably no point."

He shook his head and turned toward the door. "One Mississippi…two Mississippi…"

Speaking of rivers… "Where's the flood, mutt?" Rosalie sneered.

"You know how you drown a blonde, Rosalie?" he asked, not bothering to turn to see her reaction. I snickered under my breath as she bristled.

"Glue a mirror to the bottom of a pool."

What? How dare he speak to me like…

I laughed as the door clicked shut. Rosalie turned to glare at me before yelling over her shoulder. "I've already heard that one."

As I listened to Jacob's thoughts grow more distant, I was struck by his thoughts. The clothing he now had on his back were all he had left. He couldn't go home. Esme had made an offering of hospitality, but I feared Jacob's pride may prevent him from accepting. After all he and his pack mates had already given up for us, it wasn't right that they should suffer unnecessarily.

Edward, please speak to him, Esme thought. He needs to know that they're welcome to anything we have. They should think of our home as theirs. It's only right – they've sacrificed so much for us already.

I moved to stand.

"Where are you going?" Bella asked.

"There was something I forgot to say to him."

"Let Jacob sleep – it can wait."

I shook my head. "It will only take a moment."

I hurried out the door. Jacob turned to me as I approached, a look of irritation on his tired face. "Jeez, what now?" he groaned.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. It was likely that he would turn down any offers of help, but I had to try. It wasn't right that they were giving so much to us, but taking nothing in return.

What's on your mind, mindreader?

"When you were speaking to Sam's delegates, earlier, I was giving a play-by-play for Carlisle and Esme and the rest. They were concerned – "

He raised his hands to stop me. "Look, we're not dropping our guard. You don't have to believe Sam like we do. We're keeping our eyes open regardless."

"No, no Jacob." I shook my head. "Not about that. We trust your judgment. Rather, Esme was troubled by the hardships this is putting your pack through. She asked me to speak to you privately about it."

"Hardships?"

"The homeless part, particularly. She's very upset that you are all so…bereft."

"We're tough," he scoffed. "Tell her not to worry."

"She'd still like to do what she can," I pressed. "I got the impression that Leah prefers not to eat in her wolf form?"

His eyes narrowed. He appeared offended by the question, or perhaps the reminder of my intrusion into his thoughts. "And?"

"Well, we do have normal human food here, Jacob," I explained. "Keeping up appearances, and, of course, for Bella. Leah is welcome to anything she'd like. All of you are."

"I'll pass that along."

I doubted that merely relaying the message would do any good. "Leah hates us."

"So?"

"So try to pass it along in such a way as to make her consider it, if you don't mind."

He rolled his eyes. "I'll do what I can."

"And then there's the matter of clothes."

He gave himself a cursory glance. "Oh yeah. Thanks." …probably not good manners to mention how bad they reek.

"Well, we're easily able to help out with any needs there," I continued. "Alice rarely allows us to wear the same thing twice. We've got piles of brand-new clothes that are destined for Goodwill, and I'd imagine that Leah is fairly close to Esme's size…"

"Not sure how she'll feel about bloodsucker castoffs," he scoffed. "She's not as practical as I am."

"I trust that you can present the offer in the best possible light. As well as the offer for any other physical object you might need, or transportation, or anything else at all. And shower, too, since you prefer to sleep outdoors." I felt the need to impress upon Jacob as thoroughly as I could that we were willing to offer anything available, that we felt true gratitude for all they had done for us – for me. As unconventional as the notion might be, until this crisis was over, and probably even long after, Jacob and his friends would be considered family. "Please…don't consider yourselves without the benefits of home."

He stared at me for a moment, sensing the emotion in my words. "That's, er, nice of you. Tell Esme we appreciate the, uh, thought. But the perimeter cuts through the river in a few places, so we stay pretty clean, thanks."

I nodded. "If you would pass the offer on, regardless."

"Sure, sure."

"Thank you."

Just as he began to turn, I heard a deafening cry from Bella's lips. I sprinted toward the house at the sound, panicked that something had gone horribly wrong. I burst through the door. Bella was curled in on herself, her face contorted in pain as she rocked back and forth. Rosalie had her arms wrapped around her in an attempt to soothe her. Carlisle and Esme stood by nervously.

I heard a crack. I think something's broken, Carlisle thought.

I dropped to my knees at Bella's side, reaching up to touch her face. I felt completely helpless. Even in the short span of time where she appeared to improve, I had become complacent, lulled into a false sense of calm.

"Give me a second, Carlisle," Bella breathed.

"Bella, I heard something crack. I need to take a look."

Bella winced. "Pretty sure – it was a rib. Ow. Yep. Right here." She pointed to her left side, her face still cringing in pain.

It's breaking her bones now.

"I need to take an X-ray. There might be splinters. We don't want it to puncture anything."

"Okay." Bella nodded.

Bella winced as Rosalie lifted her up. I reached for her, but Rosalie shot me a warning glare. "I've already got her," she hissed.

So Bella's stronger now, but the thing is, too. You can't starve one without starving the other, and healing works just the same. No way to win.

Jacob was absolutely right and we should have considered the possibility earlier. Now that the fetus was receiving the blood it craved, it would grow stronger – as strong as us. I shivered as I imagined a small vampire wreaking havoc inside the body of the woman I loved.

We ran up the stairs to Carlisle's study. He brushed past me, preparing the X-ray machine as he directed Rosalie. I hovered uselessly in the doorway, warring with the need to go to Bella and the understanding that I also needed to stay out of Carlisle's way and allow him to work.

He lifted Bella's shirt to examine the injury. I bit down on my fist to keep from crying out at the sight. Her stomach was worse than before – angry black and purple splotches covering most of her ivory skin. Carlisle gingerly trailed his fingers along her ribcage with the slightest pressure and she gasped when he reached the sight of the break.

I can already see that it's broken, he thought. But we need to be careful. It could puncture an artery, a lung…

The machine whirred to life, displaying digital images of Bella's inner workings. The thick membrane surrounding the fetus was visible on the screen, as well as a defined fracture in a rib on her lower left side.

"It's a clean break," Carlisle sighed. Thank heavens. "But we need to wrap it."

Unable to stay away any longer, I crossed the room to Bella's side and reached for her hand. A light sheen of perspiration covered her face and her breaths were labored. She smiled weakly at me. "He's strong," she whispered as she lovingly stroked her belly with her other hand.

I had to suppress the growl that built in my chest. We had always been so careful with her, treating her like a delicate flower. She had no idea just how strong we could be. I wanted to try, once again, to reason with her, but I knew it would do little good.

She's going to have to sit up so I can wrap this properly.

"Rosalie, would you please assist?" Carlisle asked.

I gripped both of Bella's hands in mine and kept my eyes locked with hers. Rosalie moved behind her head and carefully gripped under her arms to push her into a sitting position. Bella winced and squeezed her eyes shut at the movement.

"Bella?" I asked.

She took in several short breaths. "I'm okay," she breathed. "It's just tender."

"This may hurt a bit," Carlisle whispered sympathetically.

Bella nodded and bit her lip, waiting for Carlisle to begin. She gripped my hands tightly and squeezed her eyes shut as he began wrapping the bandage around her torso.

"Bella, I need you to exhale as much air as possible," Carlisle instructed.

She nodded and the breath rushed from her lungs in a whoosh. Carlisle worked quickly, wrapping the bandage tightly around her midsection several times. Her hands trembled as he worked and I could see her struggling not to cry out.

"Rosalie, please get some ice."

Rosalie nodded and disappeared from the room.

"In an instance like this, I would normally prescribe a strong painkiller, but due to the complications that may arise with the pregnancy, I believe a milder dose will have to do. I can administer it through the IV."

"Thank you," Bella wheezed.

I continued to hold Bella's hand, but released the other and cautiously placed my palm over her injury, hoping the coolness of my skin would alleviate some of the swelling and discomfort until Rosalie could return with the ice.

The weariness had returned to Carlisle's face as he moved around the room. He tried to shield his thoughts from me as best he could, but I caught glimpses of the trauma he had begun to anticipate that the fetus would cause until it could be delivered.

I fought to maintain my calm for Bella's sake. The urge to try reasoning with her made a resurgence, but I bit my tongue as Rosalie reappeared at her side. My hand was replaced with an ice pack and Bella shivered at the contact, but seemed relieved at the same time.

"Can we go back downstairs?" Bella asked.

"I'm sure you would be more comfortable," Carlisle agreed, "but I don't want you exerting yourself. You need to take it easy."

"I will." Bella nodded.

I carefully scooped Bella up in my arms before Rosalie could reach for her. Taking small steps, we made our way back into the living room where we were met with anxious expressions. Esme hovered close by as I lowered Bella onto the couch. I hung the bag of fluids attached to her IV and returned to her side, reaching for her hand.

"Bella, sweetheart, can I get you anything?" Esme asked.

"I'm a little hungry…and a little thirsty, too."

"Bella," I sighed.

She frowned, the space between her brows puckering. "What?"

"Don't you think it would be wise to space out your…drinks…a little more?"

She cocked her head to the side, thoroughly perplexed. "I don't understand. It's good for the baby and I don't mind it."

"But when you drink, you're making the fetus stronger. I'm afraid that a continuous supply of blood will only serve to increase its strength, like it does ours. Look at what it's already done to you." I gestured to her bandaged rib. "We don't know how much more damage it can do."

"I've had a broken rib before, Edward. It's not a big deal. I'm not going to deprive the baby of nourishment just because he might crack a rib."

"It was merely a suggestion," I sighed, finding that my reasoning was falling on deaf ears. "Please at least consider it."

"If that's what she's craving, then that's what her body needs," Rosalie chimed in.

"But what she's craving is not only helping her, but it's hurting her," I reasoned.

Rosalie crossed her arms in defiance. "But when Bella denies the baby what it needs, it takes the nourishment from her. Do you really want her to revert back to the way she was before – barely alive?"

Rosalie was right. Echoing Jacob's sentiments from earlier, there was no way to win. If we starved the fetus, we starved Bella. If she improved, so did it. I lowered my head in my hands and heaved a heavy sigh. "I know. I just wish there was a way to keep her from getting hurt."

Bella reached across and grabbed my hand. "I'll be fine."

I wanted to believe her, trust that she was strong enough to make it through this, but I just couldn't. It was cruel for fate to allow me a small inkling of hope only to rip it away again. After making a leap of progress, we were shoved back, nearly to the starting line. At least now we understood the nature of the symbiotic relationship they shared. All that was left was to formulate a plan for delivering the fetus as safely as possible.

Esme set a small plate of cheese and fruit on the arm of the chair and handed a cup to Bella. The scent of blood assaulted my senses, causing the venom to pool in my mouth, but I swallowed it down, suffering the burn as it slid down my throat. Sensing the thoughts around me, it appeared that I wasn't the only one struggling against the hunger. I had not hunted since the night before we left Brazil and I didn't know when my family had last been. I wagered that it wouldn't be long before the thirst would become more than we could bear, but with the treaty void and the wolves' wish for a fight, it would be highly dangerous for us to venture far enough from the house to obtain adequate sustenance.

My eyes fell on Jacob from across the room. He laid against the wall, curled up with his arm beneath his head, snoring loudly in his slumber. With everything that had happened in the last several days, his mind was surprisingly quiet. I was jealous of the reprieve he was afforded that had been lost to me so long ago.

While he slept, I could hear the distant thoughts of the others while they ran their route along the boundary of our property, senses keenly pricked for any signs of attack. I absently wondered if they would be willing to assist us in the hunt for food, but the idea of asking them to serve as food delivery seemed impetuous considering the significant sacrifice they had already made to keep us safe.

The sound of a straw pulling at empty air broke me from my thoughts and I turned to Bella as she handed Rosalie her now empty cup. She stretched her arms as far as they would allow and she yawned widely. I moved over, wrapping an arm around her, and she leaned her head on my shoulder. She shivered delicately, but sidled closer despite the chill of my skin.

I leaned my head to the side, resting it on top of hers. I closed my eyes, imagining we could sleep here together, wishing that, like Jacob, I could have at least a small window of escape from the workings of my own mind. For all the advantages we had as immortals, it was something as insignificant as sleep that I yearned for the most. Without the ability to sleep, there was no chance to rejuvenate my tired mind, no means of escape from the knowledge that the woman in my arms may not survive this ordeal.

Bella's breathing slowed and I curtailed my own until we were breathing in unison, the rise and fall of her chest matching my own. I kept my eyes closed, listening to the beat of her heart. I tried to block out everything else, shut out all the daunting reminders that hammered inside my head, and focus solely on the pulsing rhythm in her chest. With the denial of dreams, I created my own fortress of solitude in my mind where the only thing that mattered was a single heartbeat. It was the closest approximation I could compose of the state of dreamless sleep. And in that haven, I slept.

A/N: Thanks everyone for your continued support. I love reading and responding to your reviews. If you review, please sign in so I can thank you and reply to any questions you might have asked. We're getting VERY close and I'm going to keep up the current pace, whether or not I finish through the birth before 11/18.

Thanks to my wonderful beta, Nellybear85, for never giving up on me.