xxx

Needless to say, Esme laid into me pretty good. Sometimes a few short sentences, and an overpowering look of disappointment and concern are all that is needed to lay down the nastiest guilt trip known to all mankind. It is also all that is needed to put the guilty party under strict house arrest, IE, Esme grounded me.

Seth did his best to keep a straight face when I returned to the garage and explained that in a day or so I'd be allowed back into the garage, but for the time being I was to stay in the house. I was impressed, he kept a straight face all through that, but when I explained I was well, grounded, that did it, he burst out laughing and literally hit the floor he was laughing so hard.

Of course he wasn't laughing when he realized that my grounding at least initially meant I wasn't even allowed in the garage, I was just out in the garage long enough to let him know what was up. I knew Esme would slowly let me back into the garage as this whole thing blew over, she just wanted the backlash from my decision to be felt hard and quick.

Giving him a quick shoulder shrug, I headed back into the house. Bella in the hospital bed Carlisle had brought in, wrapped up in all the blankets we have in this house, which is to say, not many. She was kind of staring at the TV screen, but not really seeing it when I walked in.

The couch had quickly become non-productive to Bella's care, the hospital bed made her as comfortable as she could possibly be in given the situation. It also allowed us to control the heat and keep her as warm as possible, she was so weak her body was having trouble controlling her temperature and even the mild temperature of our house might as well have been the artic.

I was trying to be as quiet as possible, but she still looked up the moment I neared the bed. She gave me a weak smile and held out a hand to me.

"Chris are you okay?" she asked, her words forced as she tried to ask that simple question. I quickly gave her a reassuring smile

"Of course Bella," she raised an eyebrow "why would you think otherwise?" now she took my hand and held it tight.

"Christian," she said, Bella only used my full name maybe once, twice in the time that I've known her so it was a little weird to hear it now. "Come on you can tell me,"

"I swear Bella, nothing is wrong, I'm just worried about you is all."

"Liar, what did Esme have to talk to you about? She sounded upset."

I winced, Esme and I had both been under the impression that Bella had finally managed to fall asleep, even so Esme reprimanded me in a low tone hoping that she wouldn't wake Bella, clearly Bella hadn't been as sound asleep as we thought.

"I did something stupid and childish," I admitted "so Esme kind of grounded me, which is fine because I wasn't planning on leaving the house anyways."

"What did you do?"

I sighed, I wasn't really used to Bella being this prying, maybe it was the hormones, talking, I'd heard that term used in the past, it sounded like an apt description of what was going on.

But that look in Bella's eyes, a look that hadn't been there before, a look I'd only really seen on…on mothers in my life, my own mother, my aunt and grandmothers, my mates' mothers, Marie's mum and grandmother.

Bella now had that same look, she'd always had a caring look about her, a protective caring look, but this look was way different. In fact even her tone, she wasn't talking to me as a friend or even as a brother, she was talking to me like a mother would talk to her child.

The look was insistent as Bella's eyes narrowed a little, expecting an answer and I really didn't want to give her one. I didn't want to stress her more than she already was, worry her more than she already was. But I couldn't fight that look.

Thankfully her eyes went wide and she smiled weakly at me, placing her hands on her stomach gently.

"Bella, are you okay?" I asked getting to my knees to get a better look at her, she nodded

"He's moving around a bit," she replied "here you feel," she took my hand and carefully put it on her stomach, I made a move to squirm away, afraid that I may hurt Bella or the baby, but at the same time I was seriously curious, so my initial uncomfortableness only lasted a second.

I could feel something moving around and it was a little freaky. My mind flashed back to when my aunt was pregnant with my youngest cousin Lucy, all my other cousins I really don't remember before they were born too well, we were all fairly close in age, except for Lucy.

I remember her kicking my hand and being weirded out back then. It was just one more excuse I was able to give my father about why I had no desire to be a doctor when I grew up.

But this time, I didn't feel weird, I felt like I finally got it. All this time I've been protecting Bella, on Bella's side because my profile was telling me it was the right side to be on.

The baby, was just that a baby, sure it was the whole basis for this thing, but I hadn't really thought of it in the being sense.

Now suddenly it was no longer an it to me, it was he, it was the baby. I slowly grinned and looked up at Bella who weakly returned the smile

"Whoa," I breathed

"I think he likes the sound of your voice Chris, he seems to move around a lot more when you speak." I rolled my eyes at that "don't roll your eyes Chris, it's true, you're going to make a wonderful uncle." She insisted. I heard Rose giggle a little and saw her nod in agreement, and Edward snorted and his snort was definitely sarcastic so I glared at him, still refusing to speak to my brother. Bella saw the look pass between us and clearly wanted to know what was going on, but she didn't say anything about it. Instead she let go of my hand "believe what you want Chris, I know it is true."

Bella's words moved deep in my mind and throughout my body, one word in particular, the word uncle. It wasn't something I had really thought about since we found out Bella was pregnant, the idea that when this baby was born, whether it was a boy like Bella was sure or a girl, this would for all intents and purposes make me, Jasper, and Emmett uncles…that was something I had never expected in my life, not my human life, and certainly not this life.

I was an only child, there wasn't really much chance for me to be an uncle, but as a kid you don't think about that unless you're put in the situation where it happens. Becoming a vampire it was also never part of my thoughts, it wasn't something that was important, nor was it something that could actually happen anyways.

But now, hearing Bella say that one word, 'uncle' it gave me a funny feeling, kind of a chill mixed with pride.

"Right," I said softly to Bella's expectant look

"You are so stubborn Chris," Bella replied

I was about to argue with her when Rose who had been reading a book and half listening to the conversation not far from us looked up, just as Edward stood up, as if he had heard something that caught his attention.

I gave the air a sniff and realized that Jacob was close by, like right outside close by. He must have been out on the front porch with Carlisle or something.

"I'll be right back, Bella. I want to speak with Carlisle for a moment." Edward said, not even looking at me now and it was all I could do not to growl, he was mad at me? What the bloody hell, it should be the other way around here. Bloody Prat. "Actually Rosalie would you mind accompanying me?" he asked

I exchanged a suspicious look with Rose who shrugged, I started to stand up as well, but Edward's glare told me all I needed to hear, I was to stay here, it was just a matter of if I was going to listen to him or not.

"What is it Edward?" Bella asked, still very much aware that there was serious tension between Edward and me.

"Nothing you need to worry about, love. It will just take a second, Chris stay with her please. Rose would you mind?"

Rose sighed and gave me a comforting smile, she like the rest of the family had heard about my adventure and of course the backlash that came from it and believe me I was not exactly out of the woods just because Esme had already laid into me. Rose, Alice, Jasper and Carlisle are all waiting to give me a talking too, and even Emmett backing Rose up on that.

"Esme," Rose called patting my shoulder as I sunk back to the floor "Esme could you mind Bella for me?"

I snickered back a laugh at the idea of Bella being minded, Bella shook her head at me

"Hush," she replied softly as Esme came down the stairs

"Of course," she said, she gave me a gentle look, silently asking if I was upset with her and I shook my head, no matter what I could never be mad at my mother, annoyed at being grounded like a kid yes, but not angry, I deserved this punishment and we all knew it.

Carlisle pushed open the front door and exchanged a look with Jacob who looked confused, Carlisle however did not. He may not be a profiler, but he seemed to know what was on Edward's mind.

I looked over at my mother, as the trio joined Jacob on the porch shutting the door behind them, and she nodded, I moved closer to the door to listen in better, they were talking in such hushed voices even with my hearing it would have been difficult from the couch. So I moved to the front door and knelt down, listening carefully.

"Carlisle," Edward started

"What is it Edward?"

"Perhaps we've been going about this the wrong way. I was listening to you and Jacob just now and when you were speaking of what the…fetus wants, Jacob had an interesting thought."

I blinked, an interesting thought? What kind of interring thought?

"Me?" Jacob kind of squeaked, which was pretty comical in my opinion. I could hear it in his voice, he wasn't sure what thought he may have had that might interest Edward.

"We haven't actually addressed that angle," Edward went on. "We've been trying to get Bella what she needs." Duh I thought "and her body is accepting it about as well as one of ours would. Perhaps we need to address the needs of the…fetus first." It wasn't lost on me on how much my brother was struggling even with that word, and I realized I had not heard him refer to the baby as such or anything else besides it or even this stretch of calling the baby a fetus. "Maybe if we can satisfy it, we'll be able to help her more effectively."

"I'm not following you Edward," Carlisle admitted and I sighed, I seriously had thought that Carlisle maybe knew what Edward was going on about, but my father was just as confused as the rest of us.

"Think about it, Carlisle. If that creature is more vampire than human, can't you guess what it craves-what it's not getting. Jacob did.

"Oh Bloody hell, you've got to be joshing!" I hissed, forgetting momentarily that I was not technically supposed to be privied to this conversation. I heard a growl outside the door as Edward threw it open, glaring bluntly at me, Rose however, quickly stepped in front of me and pulled me to my feet, dragging me out onto the porch with them.

The confused look on Jacob's face should've been amusing, but all I could really think about was what I had just figured out…Edward wanted Bella to drink blood.

Slower than I expected Carlisle finally understood what Edward meant as well, he looked over at Rose and me and sighed.

"Oh," he said "you think it is…thirsty?"

Rose hissed, but it wasn't an angry hiss, she seemed pleased, she seemed to be accepting that this was the answer.

"Of course," she muttered "Carlisle we have all that type O negative laid aside for Bella. It's a good idea, she added, refusing to look at Jacob or at Edward.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I spoke up and Edward growled at me

"You're not even supposed to be out here for this conversation," Edward spoke up "aren't you supposed to be grounded to the house?" he pointed out, and I didn't miss the sneer nor the tone in his voice. I growled back, moving slightly towards him, even though he wasn't fazed. Rose putting an arm around my shoulder, she gave Edward a look that clearly said 'stop instigating him,'

Carlisle however was so deep in thought he hadn't even noticed our little exchange as he rubbed his chin.

"Hmm," he muttered "I wonder…and then, what would be the best way to administer…"

"Carlisle you can't be serious, there has got to be another way,"

"Chris, we've exhausted all avenues except this one, we have to at least try,"

"we don't have time to be creative," Rosalie spoke up shaking her head "I'd say we should start with the traditional way,"

I felt a cold wave rush over me, something that as vampire I'm not really used to happening.

"Wait a minute," Jacob whispered "just hold on. Are you-are you talking about making Bella drink blood?"

"It was your idea, dog," Rose shot back.

Jacob seriously looked green and I didn't blame him, it is one thing for us to drink blood, it is what we are designed to consume, we're not human once the venom completes its work on our bodies so drinking blood as unfathomable as it is in the beginning, is soon replaced by instinct and that instinct is to drink blood. But Bella is human, despite what the baby she is carrying may be, Bella herself is human and it made my stomach hurt a bit thinking of her drinking blood, especially human blood.

"That's just," Jacob started to say

"Monstrous?" Edward suggested "repulsive?

"Pretty much,"

"But what if it helps her?" Edward explained, in probably the gentlest tone I have ever heard him use with Jacob

But Jacob wasn't about to be soothed

"What are you gonna do, shove a tube down her throat?"

The image of that flashed through my mind and I stopped breathing, my body tensing. Rose felt the tension and hugged me a little tighter.

"I plan on asking her what she thinks. I just wanted to run it past Carlisle first." Edward explained

Rose nodded

"If you tell her it might help the baby, she'll be willing to do anything. Even if we do have to feed them through a tube."

"Rose you can't be seriously going with this," I said softly "we're talking about Bella drinking blood, a human drinking blood, for the baby or not, the repercussions of this…" I stopped, realizing I had just stepped in front of a fork in the road and I wasn't sure if I was making the right decision or not, my profile was no help, because it kept telling me, I was right.

I saw Edward nod at Jacob and I wondered for a second what the pair of them were thinking and agreeing about, then Edward looked at me, his eyes not as hard as they had been, he was asking me if I thought Bella was strong enough mentally and of course physically to do what we…they were about to ask of her.

My brother for all his mind reading greatness has no access to the mind of his own wife and I know that frustrates him, especially given the fact that thanks to my ability I can get a more accurate read of Bella than he can.

I glanced back at the house and sighed. I remembered Bella's issue with blood, how she could smell it and went green at the smell, and nearly swooned at the sight. It was something that had been a pretty lengthy discussion between Emmett, Jasper, and I.

Him and Jasper had a bet going on how many people Bella would kill in her first year as a vampire and I really didn't agree with that particular bet, especially since Jasper was wagering high numbers. I was pulled into the bet by my brothers and simply declared that Bella would come close to slipping, but she was actually stronger than my brothers were giving her credit for and would be able to stop herself.

But the whole blood thing was also a topic the three of us had discussed intently. Would Bella's aversion to blood continue into her vampire life and if so would that be her ability? The first vampire to actually have the ability to faint at the sight of blood? It was comical at the time, but now our conversation gave me the creeps, especially with the very real possibility that Bella might be drinking blood…as a human.

Where did I stand on this that was my biggest question. I had made it my mission, my duty to protect Bella because I could profile her, and knew she wanted the baby, she was willing to do anything for it…to protect it, and being able to see that I stood by her. But now the very thing that I was on the opposing side against my brother and even my father for, was inadvertently destroying Bella, slowly.

I didn't know if drinking blood would solve anything, but I knew I had made a silent promise that I would stand by Bella and her decision, and if drinking blood, as much as I hated to admit it, was the answer, if it would save Bella's life, then I had no choice but to go along with my brother and father's decision.

"Well, we don't have time to sit around discussing this," Rose spoke up bringing me back to reality "what do you think Carlisle? Can we try?" she asked

Carlisle looked just as uncomfortable with this prospect as I assume I did. He took a deep breath

"We'll ask Bella," he said.

Edward and Rose headed into the house first, up the stairs towards the family room, followed by Carlisle. I looked over at Jacob, expecting a death look or something, instead he kind of gave me a half grin.

"Thanks for the snacks kid," he said "and I'm sorry no one told you what was going on, it was a judgment call."

I shrugged

"Whatever, don't worry about it." I paused "and it really should be me thanking you," I added and he raised an eyebrow as we began taking the stairs after my family. "You've saved my arse twice now and somehow I will find a way to repay that debt."

Jacob really looked confused now

"Twice?" he asked

"The first time was when we were fighting the newborns, one of them had me pinned, you jumped in and tore him off of me."

"Oh yeah, forgot about that,"

"I didn't,"

"Look kid it was nothing, we were all helping each other out, it looked like you could use some backup so I gave it. And as for this last time, Seth went out to the garage to ask you a question and realized you weren't there, he came to find me to ask if I'd seen you and when we realized your bike was missing we knew you might run into the pack. Anything happens to you I'd be a dead man, between Bella, your parents, Seth, your siblings." Jacob paused

"Seth?" I asked,

"Seth acts all goofy and full of life, but losing his dad was tough on him, then this whole wolf thing and his sister joining the pack. He's one of the youngest in the pack, besides Brady and Collin, but he's still two years older than them, he really doesn't have anyone to talk to. But you two have a lot in common and you're the kind of friend he really needs right now, and from what your brother and father have said, you were pretty much in the same boat, looking for a buddy."

I shrugged

"Yeah I guess so,"

"Besides, if you did get eaten who is going to help me fix Bella's truck, it's gotta be the one who killed it to begin with."

"For the last time I did not kill her truck and another thing you're helping me fix up the truck, not the other way around. My garage, my tools, my rules." I added, walking into the family room, leaving Jacob on the landing.

I walked over to Bella who had her hand protectively over her stomach. She looked at me, then at Rosalie for an answer,

"What's going on?" she demanded.

"Jacob had an idea that might help you," Carlisle explained "it won't be…pleasant, but-"

"But it will help the baby," Rose interrupted "we've thought of a better way to feed him. Maybe."

My stomach turned again, I still wasn't completely sure on this whole thing, it still made me feel uneasy.

"Not pleasant?" Bella coughed out a weak chuckle and that was enough for me, uncomfortable with this or not, if it helped Bella, it had to happen. "gosh, that'll be such a change."

I know Bella was trying to make us laugh, trying to help ease the tension in the room, but Rosalie was the only one who laughed.

"Bella, love, we're going to ask you to do something monstrous," Edward said, taking Bella's hand.

"How bad," she asked

"We think the fetus might have an appetite closer to ours than to yours. We think it's thirsty."

Bella blinked as she comprehended that.

"Oh, OH,"

"Your condition…both of your conditions…are deteriorating rapidly." Edward explained though I knew for a fact Bella really didn't need that explained to her, she was quite aware of her situation. "we don't have time to waste, to come up with more palatable ways to do this. The fastest way to test the theory-"

I winced as Bella nodded

"I've got to drink it," she whispered "I can do that. Practice for the future right?" she tried to smile at Edward who couldn't smile back. "So, who's going to catch me a grizzly bear?" she asked, looking over at me "you or Emmett?" Edward and Carlisle exchanged a look and I ran my hand through my hair, here it comes, moment of truth. "What?"

"It will be a more effective test if we don't cut corners, Bella." Carlisle explained

"If the fetus is craving blood," Edward explained "it's not craving animal blood."

I looked over at the door, my instinct…my profile was now telling me to get out of the room, to find another spot in the house somewhere. I was so uncomfortable with this, and reminding myself that it was a way to save Bella's life was the only reason I hadn't thrown my two cents in to argue against it.

"It won't make a difference to you, Bella. Don't think about it." Rose explained

Bella looked over at Jacob

"Who?" she asked

"I'm not here as a donor, Bells," Jacob grumbled "sides it's human blood that thing's after, and I don't think mine applies."

"We have blood on hand," Rose explained, interrupting Jacob. "For you…just in case. Don't worry about anything at all. It's going to be fine. I have a good feeling about this, Bella, Chris does too."

I looked at my sister quickly, I hadn't said that at all, I never once should that I was behind this whole thing, or that I had a good feeling about it. But Bella looked at me expectantly and I forced myself to smile weakly and nodded, reminding myself, it might help Bella, it might be the way to save her life.

"Right…Rose," I grumbled

"I think the baby will be so much better," Rose added giving me an expectant look.

"Well," Bella said softly, rubbing her stomach carefully "I'm starving, so I'll bet he is too. Let's go for it. My first vampire act."

I groaned and tried not to slap my forehead at that. Carlisle and Rosalie bolted out of the room, rushing to get the blood prepared for Bella and I winced at that. As much as I wanted to be here for Bella, I had a feeling when it came time for her to drink, I was leaving the room. Esme, who was watching from her favorite loveseat walked over to me and held me tight.

"I'm sorry I got angry with you Christian," she whispered and I nodded

"it was entirely my fault mum, I shouldn't have been so reckless." I didn't mention that I still thought Edward, Carlisle, Seth, and Jacob should've told me.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you Christian, that is the only reason I was so angry, I was frightened that you came so close to…" she stopped unable to finish that sentence and I put my head down.

"I'm sorry mum," I replied, hugging her tight "I'm really sorry,"

"I know you are." She whispered "and I know you were just trying to help your friends, just like you have been helping Bella. You've been such a wonderful support for her, I know she appreciates it and I know Edward does as well."

I heh'd on the mention of Edward, I didn't think my brother appreciated anything I'd done in the last week or so.

I winced when he looked up, reading my mind and I wanted for the glare or the nasty look, but it didn't come, instead Edward nodded at me, telling me he agreed with everything Esme had just said.

"I do," he whispered, so low that only us vampires and probably Jacob could hear.

"See," Esme replied squeezing my shoulders "told you so." We both turned as we heard Rose and Carlisle returning, with Bella's drink and I shuddered. Esme felt the shudder and looked down at me carefully "Christian are you okay sweetie?"

"I'm really not sure if this is a good idea, or if it's even going to work," I admitted "and I'm not sure I feel okay with Bella drinking…bl…blood." I stuttered and Esme nodded her understanding.

"Sweetie if you don't want to stay, I'm sure Bella will understand. I'll come find you when it's all over. Okay?"

I took a deep breath and looked over at Bella, before I nodded, accepting Esme's offer. I knew I would be able to handle the blood in front of me, hold my breath, close my eyes, no problem. But standing there, watching Bella drink human blood was beyond my threshold level. Especially when I saw Rose walking into the room, holding a plastic cup, impossible to see the contents, but with a straw sticking out of the top of the cap…

That was my cue to exit. I glanced back at Bella one more time, and silently prayed to myself that this would work, that Jacob's idea was valid and this was exactly what Bella needed to do, to get better.

XXX

A/N: I really, really appreciate how patient you guys are being with this fic, I've said it multiple times I was really dreading the Breaking Dawn version and knew it was going to be literally the problem child of the series, so the fact that you guys are putting up with these long delays in updates, these short chapters, and not exactly quality chapters, really means a lot to me and reminds me just how wonderful and awesome you readers are. So thank you, hopefully I can have the next chapter up by next Friday, I will try my hardest I promise. Thankfully we're getting closer to the hump which will mark the end of the dragging parts of these chapters.

Thank you all again,

Till next time.