Summary: There's a two week gap in Breaking Dawn, before Jacob comes onto the scene. I wrote this to fill that space.

Rosalie snapped her cell phone closed with one hand. "Bella's keeping it." She announced without affect. A smile of superiority spread across her face as she floated down the stairs. "She asked me to protect her."

"Protect her?" Esme echoed from the arm chair in front of the fireplace. "From who?"

"All of you." Rose answered, spreading her arms out, encompassing the room at large. "Anyone who tries to kill that baby has to go through me."

"We don't know what it is!" Alice implored and chanced a look at Carlisle. "I can't even see Bella anymore!"

"Doesn't matter," Rosalie intoned, "She decided she's keeping it. Edward doesn't have a say. None of you have a say." Rosalie hissed, "I guess this means Bella and I will be friends now."

Alice jumped up and bolted for Rosalie, "You don't get to just walk away from this! Rose, this is serious!"

An hour later, Alice and Rosalie were still arguing. Esme didn't bother knocking on the white, wooden door. "Knock it off. You're going at each other's throats for no reason." Esme scolded, standing on the white fluffy carpet of Alice's room.

Alice and Rosalie paused their arguing long enough to look at Esme.

"Stop this." Esme demanded, with a hand on her hip. "Edward and Bella are almost home and this–" She gestured at both women, glaring at each other. "Isn't helping anyone. They need us. If you can't be nice-if you can't be civil then you need to leave until you've both calmed down."

"I'm staying." Rosalie flashed a glare at Alice. "She can leave."

"You're both leaving," Esme decided, "If you really want to help Bella then you'll do what Carlisle says."

"Whatever." Alice still glared at Rosalie. "Carlisle's sending us a shopping list, we'll go do that."

Rosalie's tone was nasty when she said, "Father knows best," and hiked her purse on her arm. "I'll drive."

"No," Alice tugged on her jean jacket. "I'll drive."

"You don't know everything, Alice." Rosalie snapped, following Alice out of the room.

"I know enough to know you're not driving." Alice replied breezily and closed the front door behind them. Even with the door separating Esme from them, she heard Alice say, "Emmett and Jasper will come too and your car would fit all of us."

An hour later, Esme stood at the front door of the Cullen house, Edward and Bella were returning home from their honeymoon and Esme wanted to shield her from the chaos of the rest of the family. She hoped Rosalie and Alice called some sort of truce by the time they returned; but Esme knew neither would be the first to wave the white flag.

She listened closely, for the smooth, crunching sound of Carlisle's Mercedes against the gravel driveway, coming closer and stepped out onto the covered porch when the car pulled up.

Carlisle got out of the car first, holding a large black umbrella as he opened the back passenger side door for Bella, holding the umbrella over her in the misting rain.

"Take my arm, Bella." Carlisle offered, helping her up the stairs.

Esme watched cautiously, Bella was gray and her hair hung limp over her shoulders. "Oh, Honey…" she whispered, meeting Bella at the door.

"Tell her!" Bella demanded, with more strength than anyone would have expected, when Edward appeared behind her, with his hand on her back as she stood on the porch. "Tell Esme. Tell your mom what you want me to do."

"Carlisle already did." Edward's tone was slow and measured. If vampires could get tired, Edward would have been exhausted.

"Let's go inside," Esme put her arm around Bella's waist. "Let's talk where it's warm."

"Edward wants to kill our baby," Bella bit out and flashed her new husband a glare.

Esme didn't answer, instead she led Bella into the living room. "Out!" She pointed to the door. Emmett and Jasper, (Alice doesn't know everything,) lead Edward out of the room.

"Please find something else to do." Esme scolded the boys and sat down on the plush sofa beside Bella. Edward disappeared too, somewhere deeper into the house.

"Now that we won't be interrupted." Esme continued, "We can talk."

"You're good at that," Bella tried to crack a joke.

"I've had a lot of practice." How are you feeling?" Esme asked, suddenly serious.

Bella shrugged. "The first trimester isn't supposed to be easy."

"Bella," Esme pulled in a breath; unsure how to continue. "You know this isn't normal. It won't be what you're expecting."

Bella nodded. "I know. but Edward won't even try. He wants to kill it!" Bella's chest rose and fell with urgency, finally releasing all the emotions she'd been holding, in, in front of Edward."He wants Carlisle to strap me to a table–" Bella pulled in a ragged breath, tears rolling down her face. "I don't know how to stop them."

Esme put her hand on Bella's leg and leaned forward to meet her eyes. "Carlisle won't do that," Esme assured. "Carlisle won't hurt you, you know that."

"He will." Bella argued and Esme pulled her into a hug. "He won't try to save the baby," she choked back a sob.

"He always does his best," Esme didn't pull away. She didn't want to think about her earlier life, her tiny baby boy who couldn't be saved. She wanted to shield Bella from that deep, everlasting pain; but it wasn't worth losing her in the process. Of course, Bella would never know that last part. Esme decided then that she would support Bella, no matter what and talk Carlisle into doing the same thing.

"I want to keep it," Bella was openly sobbing against her shoulder. Her chest heaved and she shook in Esme's arms. "I want to try."

"Of course you do," Esme hummed in her ear. "I know you do…just breathe." She didn't pull away until Bella did. "It'll be alright…" Esme got to her feet and grabbed a box of tissues off the side table. "You need to eat something and get some sleep."

Bella shook her head, "I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat." Esme insisted,"I went to the store," she pressed, "there's chicken broth and a bunch of other stuff. Just try something."

"Don't worry about it. it'll come right back up."

"Maybe not. You're home now, the food is different here. Maybe you need something familiar."

Bella nodded, willing to try but only because Esme, who was still uneasy in public, had gone through the trouble of grocery shopping. "Sure, thanks."

Esme nodded and squeezed Bella's hand. "I'll be right back."

Esme went around the corner, to the dining room, where she knew Carlisle and Edward would be, "I can't believe you two," Esme closed the door to the dining room. She stood in front of Carlisle with her hands on her hips. "You haven't even tried to listen to Bella and she's terrified of you." Esme snapped, cutting her eyes at her husband.

"Of me?" Carlisle echoed, taken aback and his face was crestfallen. "Why? What did I do?"

"She thinks you're going to hold her down and force her to terminate." Esme dropped her tone. "I did my best to comfort her, but she doesn't trust either of you." She warned, narrowing her eyes between her husband and son.

"Esme," Carlisle dragged out her name, soft and patient. "We don't know what this is–"

"It'll kill her." Edward bit out, arms crossed over his chest. "I know that much and I can't let that happen. I'll hold her down."

"You'll keep your hands to yourself, Edward," Carlisle snapped. "You're too impulsive and you don't have the medical training to do anything of the sort."

"Then we're going to figure it out. Carlisle, go in there," Esme pointed to the dining room door. "And show her that you respect her and that she's safe here."

"She's not safe in her own body, Honey."

"Bella doesn't see it that way. She's scared and you're the only one who can help her," Esme looked up at her husband, pleading with him. "She needs to trust you."

"She needs to get rid of it." Edward demanded. "She can't hold anything down, or sleep. Esme, Bella can barely walk."

"Which is why she needs to be here," Esme countered. "It doesn't matter what we think. We're taking care of Bella and hoping there's a baby at the end of it."

"Speak for yourself," Edward hissed, glaring frostily at Esme and took two steps forward.

"Edward!" Carlisle snapped, stepping between them with a hand on Edward's shoulder, pushing him backwards. "Esme didn't cause this. Don't take it out on her."

Edward turned, stalking through the dining room door and didn't stop moving until he was outside.

"His head's not on straight," Carlisle shook his head, disappointed. "But that's no excuse for how he's acting."

Esme shrugged, turning towards the kitchen. "Let him be mad but if he keeps on like this, he'll wreck his marriage before it even starts."

"We'll have to let him figure that out," Carlisle pulled Esme close to him. "For now, we need to focus on Bella. I won't take away her agency."

Esme rubbed his arm. Encouraging him to have a real conversation with their daughter in-law. "Tell her that. Don't talk at her like a doctor either."

"Alright." Carlisle crossed into the kitchen and poured a carton of chicken broth into a small pot, leaving it to simmer on the gas stove. While it was warming, he assembled a tray of different foods from the pantry. A sleeve of crackers, apple sauce and he poured canned pears into a bowl. Esme snaked her arms around his waist from behind.

"How do I prove it?" He asked, pinching the space between his eyes. "I thought she knew. I don't want to help her terminate, but if it will kill her…"

"Edward's pressuring you, too." Esme pulled away and moved to stand at his side. She squeezed his hand. "Tell her the truth, that it's Edward who wants to get rid of it–"

"What if that's the best option?" Carlisle let the question hang and headed for the living room.

"Then Bella decides."

"I don't like this."

"We don't have to." Esme reminded him as he stepped through the door, with the tray of food in one hand.

Esme stood at the door of the dining room, watching, listening intently. She was ready to step in if needed, but she knew that wouldn't happen. Still, it made her sad to watch as Bella stiffened and sat up when Carlisle walked through the door.

"No– no. Stay there." Carlisle sat the wooden tray on the antique coffee table.

"Where are the others?" Bella crossed her arms over her chest, defensively.

"Esme's cleaning up the kitchen, Emmett and Jasper are hunting while Alice and Rosalie are picking up supplies. Edward's in my office…researching."

"Supplies?" Bella echoed and sat up straighter. "What kind of supplies?"

"Food and other household essentials."

"No coat hangers, then?" It was meant to be a joke, but it didn't come out that way.

"No Bella," Carlisle jerked his head side to side. "Nothing like that." He knelt beside her so they were eye to eye.

Carlisle kept his voice soft "And I know what Edward wants from both of us."

Bella nodded, eyes welling up with tears again. "Carlisle, you're Catholic! You know this is wrong."

"Protestant." It was a gentle correction."Bella," he called her name quietly. "I won't do anything that you're not comfortable with. "You're safe here."

"Promise?" Her voice cracked. "Promise me?"

"You should know," Carlisle stayed gentle with a hand on Bella's back. "I don't take orders from my son. He can ask, of course, but that's all he'll do," He promised. "We'll do everything we can to give you what you want–"

"It's a baby, Carlisle." Bella insisted, "I want my baby, I want Edward's baby."

"I've never seen something like this, Bella. We don't know what to expect–"

"That's okay, I'm fine with that." Bella pressed, "Let me be the experiment, learn from this."

Carlisle's lips turned upward. "You're not giving me much of a choice, it seems." He turned back to the tray on the coffee table."Try it. It's just broth from a carton." Carlisle insisted, gently pressing the mug of warm broth into Bella's hands. "If it doesn't work, we'll try something else." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, "Alice and Esme really do enjoy the grocery store. If you think of anything else you might need."

Bella took the smallest sip from the mug and relaxed a little on the sofa. "Thank you, Carlisle."

"I'm sure Esme's eager to have you to herself again." Carlisle got to his feet. "I'll send her in."

"Carlisle?" Bella called out, and he stalled with his hand on the door.

He turned, "Yes?"

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry I doubted you." There was no questioning her sincerity.

Carlisle smiled slightly but the worry crease in his forehead stayed. "I'm sorry you had a reason to." He let the door swing closed behind him.

As soon as she heard the dining room door close, Esme flitted down the stairs with a stack of linens in her arms. She'd run them through the dryer and they were still warm. "How is it?" She gestured toward the tray of food.

"Why did you defend me?" Bella changed the subject without touching the rest of the food. "Why did you chew Carlisle out for me?"

"Oh" Esme sounded embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I thought we were being quiet,"

Bella shook her head, and tried another sip of broth. "You were yelling." Bella sat the mug down. Tucking her legs up to her chest, with her head on a throw pillow.

"Cold?" Esme asked, already standing at the thermostat.

"Little bit."

"Here, you go." Esme laid a warmed fleece blanket over Bella and tucked it around her.

"Where's E-Edward?" Her teeth chattered through her husband's na me.

"He's never too far away," Esme assured, laying a quilt over her and topped it off with a warmed goose down comforter. "He's in Carlisle's study. I can take you upstairs if you'd rather sleep in a bed." Esme offered, with a frown. Surely the sofa wouldn't be as comfortable, no matter how many blankets and pillows she added.

"A room…alone?"

"You don't have to share with Edward, your needs are different from his. You need to rest and he needs to let you." Esme chided gently.

Bella shook her head, just the thought of sleeping alone in a dark room made her heart race. "Please, can I just stay here?"

Esme knelt beside her, just to look at her. "This is your home, Bella." Esme would have put her in her and Carlisle's bed if she wanted to go upstairs. "You can sleep wherever you want."

"Can.." Her voice faltered, "Can you stay?"

"Bella," Esme whispered softly, just barely touching her. She tucked Bella's hair back off her forehead. "I don't want to make you colder." She was already so sick…Esme didn't want to make it worse. She'd already turned up the temperature in the house and Bella was bundled in several blankets but Bella still shivered.

"Please?"

Esme pulled in a breath, Bella needed her mom, someone warm and soft to help her get warm. But, even if it were safe for Renee, she couldn't be reached when Bella called her. For just a minute, Esme weighed her options. The poor girl, curled up on the sofa, was only 18. Barely an adult, making decisions that were too big for her. Bella was nearly a child who still needed to be cared for.

"I'm not even cold now," Bella insisted and pushed herself up into a seated position. "Please?"

Esme nodded, and added another blanket on top of Bella. "Tell me if you get too cold." She sat down and put a pillow in her lap for Bella to lay on.

"Why did you defend me?" Bella mumbled half into the pillow. "I didn't think you and Carlisle ever fought."

Esme laughed, "We fight and argue like anyone else, but we're quick to make up."

"You're both so gentle…I can't see either of you getting angry."

"We're both standing on our principals. My husband values life so much that he hates the thought of putting yours on the line."

"What about the baby's life?" Bella posed the question like she truly expected an answer.

Esme didn't say that no one knew if there even was a baby to worry about. There was no way to know what kind of creature Bella was carrying. "It's your choice, Bella. No one is going to decide this for you. If you want to follow through with this pregnancy, all we can do is help you get through it. Everything will be alright." Esme whispered, just loud enough for Bella to hear and gently ran her fingers over her scalp. "Sleep, Honey. Everything will work out."

Hours later, in the low light of the living room, Esme still sat on the sofa with Bella's face in her lap. Listening to the sound of Bella's soft and measured breathing.

"Everything okay here?" Carlisle touched Esme's cheek, "you've been down here for hours."

Esme nodded, "Bella's finally relaxed enough to sleep. I'll be here in case she wakes up."

"Good," Carlisle smiled at his wife and circled the sofa so he stood behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "You're a wonderful mother, Esme and Bella's lucky to have you." His tone dripped in honeyed sincerity.

"She needs her mother, Carlisle." Esme knew, from planning the wedding and going on what Edward and Carlisle had told her about Bella's mother. Renee wouldn't be a problem for the Cullens, they didn't have to worry about Bella's mother finding or revealing their family secret, because she wouldn't be around. "Renee won't even answer her calls–"

"Renee wouldn't help her. She's not capable of it." Carlisle assured "She would only make things harder for Bella."

"Do I need to back off? She asked me to sit with her and I refused initially. She's just so… fragile. Rose and Alice are both being openly hostile, Edward's frozen her out–"

Carlisle walked around to sit on the floor, with his back against the side of the couch. Esme's hand rested on the arm of the couch and he took it. "Why did you refuse when Bella needs all of us to jump in with both feet?"

"Carlisle, she was freezing." Esme squeezed his fingers. "I didn't want to hurt her."

"But you want to hold her like this, yes?"

"Of course I do, but…"

"Bella's always been remarkably accepting of our…" he had to think of the right word…. "Physical limitations. If the only thing standing between you and her, sitting just like this, safe and comfortable, is a heating pad, then I see no reason to worry about dropping her temperature."

A second later, the front door opened and a cool breeze blew in behind Alice. "Emmett's bringing things in." Alice declared, leaving Rosalie holding the door for Emmett and Jasper.

"Bella…" Esme stroked Bella's cool cheek with her finger. "Sweetheart," she called gently until Bella's eyes fluttered open slightly. "You'll be so much warmer upstairs."

"I'm okay," Bella insisted. "I've never seen…" She'd only ever been inside Edward's room. The empty bedrooms on the second floor were a mystery. "I don't know the rest of the house."

"Put her in our room?" Carlisle suggested, glancing at his wife.

"That was my plan."

"Your room?" Bella sounded unsure. "No-I mean-that's okay."

Carlisle's mouth turned upwards. "It's not like we need the bed."

"There's a bathroom attached and you'll be across the hallway from Carlisle's study so he can keep an eye on you."

"Esme's office is next to mine," he pointed out. "You won't be alone."

Bella smiled slightly. "You two are never too far apart, are you?"

"Not really." Esme looked up at Carlisle. "I don't see a reason to, do you?"

"Esme's my favorite person, why would I want to be away from her long term?" He asked, sliding his hand over the back of Esme's neck.

"Do you think…" Bella's tone drifted off. "Never mind."

"Edward will come around," Esme assured her quickly. "Can we take you upstairs now?"

"I can walk," Bella protested and pushed herself to her feet. She held firm for a split second before dropping back on the sofa. "Maybe."

"Allow me." Carlisle lifted her into his arms and in less than a minute, they were up the stairs and in the hallway.

"There's a lot of life in this room, Bella. You'll like it." Carlisle beamed with pride at his wife, "Esme has the green thumb in this family."

"We want you to be comfortable," Esme smiled slightly at Bella and opened the door to the bedroom, then pulled back the white comforter. A folded, handmade patchwork quilt lay on the foot of the bed.

Bella looked around the space, long, narrow floor to ceiling windows would let strips of sunlight into the room. An ivy plant crawled up the side of the bright green painted dresser with shiny brass drawer pulls. Ornamental crystal and glass lamps cast a warm glow in the room. They hung low over the plants, feeding them the light they weren't getting inside.

Muted cream colored walls held floating shelves adorned with colorful trinkets and tiny flower cuttings in minute crystal vases. A pair of velvet plum colored club chairs and matching ottomans sat in the corner. A bright orange pillow lay in one and the other had a white and yellow quilt tossed artfully across the chair.

Potted plants adorned the window sills a black and white damask rug sat underneath an antique pine four poster bed. Covered in chintz throw pillows, none of them matched but the colors were complementary. Esme and Carlisle's room was a mix of dark stained restored flea-market finds and soft dainty touches.

Carlisle was right, this room was a place where living beings thrived.

"Not too scary, I hope," Esme smiled and adjusted the pillows.

"It's so…warm," Bella appraised. "Warm and cozy."

"I had nothing to do with it." Carlisle grinned and glanced at Esme."See?" Carlisle winked at her as he laid Bella on the plush mattress."I told you."

"This one's all Esme," Bella agreed, oblivious to their exchange as she snuggled under the covers.

"The whole house is hers, we're all very fortunate that my wife is such a kind and generous lady."

"She's the best," Bella's tone was warm and sincere. "She really is."

Carlisle smiled genuinely, "I'm convinced she took pity on me when she married me and as such has allowed me and our family to live inside her masterpiece."

Esme was practically glowing as she tucked the blankets around Bella. "It's not that serious. My husband is just a serial flatterer."

"It's your fault." Carlisle flashed a smile. "You've given me a lot of material to work with."

"Yuck. Carlisle, you're talking about my mother." Emmett groaned, Esme heard the front door slam closed. "Geeze, you two give me a toothache."

"I'm not apologizing, either." Carlisle called out, "I'd say after a decade of listening to you and Rosalie break things while breaking each other, you owe me."