Aria's POV

"Right, lesson number one, do not give into temptation straight away." Renesmee stated prudently, placing her little hands on her hips as she walked a short line back and forth in front of Bella and me. I could practically imagine her in a little military uniform, barking orders at everyone... someone had been spending too much time with their Uncle Jasper. 

It took every ounce of my being and soul to not laugh at her. One glance at Bella who was standing on my left and I could see she felt the same way, she had sucked her lips into her mouth to avoid letting out a single sound that could be taken for a laugh. 

"Are you listening?" Nessie snapped, glaring at me with irritation. She was going to be five in a month's time, she currently looked like a twelve, maybe thirteen-year-old. Despite her mind excelling the age of her physical appearance, she definitely had the attitude of a tween.  

"Sir, yes, Sir!" I shouted back, no longer being able to hold back the snickering cackles as Bella burst into fits of laughter beside me. 

"Mom!" Ness complained, stomping her foot into the grass, a cloud of dust billowing into the air around her foot. "Aria! This is serious. Do you want to learn or not?" 

"Sorry Ness, yes I do. Please continue." I bit the inside of my cheek to refrain from laughing again. Nessie scowled at me; she looked so much like Edward when she did that. 

"Dial it back a little, sweetheart. We're not in military camp. We're just trying to help Aria." Bella said in her motherly tone, a reassuring smile on her face. 

Renesmee nodded and continued with explaining her routine for how she dealt with her bloodlust. It was in fact Jasper's idea for Ness to lead today's 'training' session. Over the last week and a half, I had only fed twice, I had continued to try and push the feeding back to three days rather than two, but my cravings hadn't diminished. Despite my efforts, they had actually intensified. 

Naturally, Nessie fed twice a week due to her body processing food and blood in order to grow and survive. At the moment we were trying to trick my brain into realising that it was in fact going to receive blood twice a week so there was no reason for the cravings to get out of hand. So far, the plan hadn't worked. 

Across the clearing, on the far edge of the grassy meadow, a small herd of black-tail deer began to emerge from the tree line. Just the sight of them made my mouth water. "Ness." I whispered, breaking off her detailed explanation of what she eats instead when she wants blood. "Lunch is here. How about we make it a game like what you used to play with Seth and Jake?" 

A grin broke over her lips and then suddenly she was gone, speeding across the meadow towards the deer whose beady eyes had just found us across the field, her bronze curls flowing out behind her. "She's such a cheater." Bella remarked with a teasing smile. 

"You know where she gets it from, don't you?" I quirked an eyebrow at her, I wasn't the least bit surprised. 

"I do." Bella smiled and I winked at her just as I blurred after Ness, the black tails of our prey were now beginning to retreat back under the cover of the thick forest. 

As I surpassed Nessie, I could see she was aiming for the second largest male, leaving the biggest for me knowing I needed the extra blood a little more at the moment. I sprang into the air with my eyes locked onto the thick neck of the stag, and as my hands latched onto its fur and I bared my teeth ready to slice through the warm flesh, Bella called out my name. 

"Aria!" She warned with urgency as I tumbled to the ground with the dear, the antlers digging into my side as they sliced open the fabric of my blouse. I knew that was going to leave a bruise. 

"What?" I snarled back, angered by the fact she had thrown off my poise, and consequently ruined my clothes. I snapped my head back around to look at her and immediately froze as my eyes set sight on my husband, his teeth bared, as he growled at me in his wolf form. My hands loosened on the buck and immediately it sprang free and hightailed it off into the trees towards the rest of his herd. Nessie had already started on her meal, the deer dead in her arms as she stared at Jake with shock. 

"You're feeding?" He seethed; his top lip was curling back over his canines. He looked terrifying. 

I stood up from the ground and started towards him. "I can explain." The tears were already beginning to well in my eyes. I seriously fucked up. "I wanted to control it first!" My heart had sunk down into my stomach and my hands started shaking as I felt the blood leave my face. This couldn't be happening, not now. 

"Don't come near me." He snapped with so much ferocity it made me jump. To the side of me Bella backed towards Nessie, ensuring she was always in between Jake and her child. "How could you keep something like this from me?" 

Jake took a few paces back as I heard the shared thoughts of Quil and Embry. I closed my eyes and cursed at myself, why did my best friends have to find out at the same time as well? They were going to tell everyone. This was all my fault, why was I so stupid? Why didn't I just tell him on the night the cravings began? 

"Jake, please!" I moved towards him again. I wanted to show him that I had restraint, that I had it under control. Jake turned on his heels, shaking his giant head as the growls kept coming from deep within his chest. "Don't leave, please." 

"Jake you're not being fair." Bella called out to her best friend, trying to get him to at least hear me out as she could see that I was crumbling. 

"I just... I just need some space." His voice softened minutely but that didn't halt the growls the rumbled inside him. 

"Jacob!" I called out letting the pain and heartache I was feeling resonate within my own voice. As he ran his steps faltered at hearing my cries, but he kept going. I moved to follow after him, but Bella was suddenly in front of me, her hands holding my arms tightly. 

"Just give him some time." Bella conceded as she wiped my tears, looking from my paling face, to Nessie, and then back to my face again. "Are you still thirsty?" She asked seriously and I shook my head, I just felt numb. I needed to make it better. "Nessie, let's take Aria back to our house." Silently, Ness nodded at her mother's words, she was too dumbfounded to actually form her own. That was the first time she had ever seen her Uncle Jay act so furiously towards one of us, especially towards me. 

By the time we got back to Bella's cottage my stomach began to churn and I felt as if I was close to passing out. Bella had to practically carry me as my legs had turned to jelly, the guilt was killing me, and I only had myself to blame. I was so selfish, so unfair, and now I had driven Jake away. Just two weeks ago he has asked me for no more secrets between us and look what I had done. 

"What if he doesn't come back? How could I have been so stupid." I asked, hiding my face in my hands. I had sunk down to my knees in front of Bella and Edward's fireplace in their lounge. Nessie was sat on the floor in front of me, watching me warily as Bella stood beside the couch, her arms folded across her chest. 

"He's going to come back Aria, he's just shocked." Bella assured as she looked over me, her face not hiding her worry for me. 

"But what if he runs?" I countered, dreading the feeling of being alone. I needed to find him; I sat up feeling suddenly nauseous. 

"He won't run." Bella rounded the couch and crouched low so that we were eye level. "You need to calm down." 

"He left me for almost a month when he accidentally scratched me. This time I've hurt him; he could still go." Thoughts of that day flooded back into my mind as I suddenly felt like I was suffocating and that the temperature in the room had been turned up to one hundred and fifty degrees. "What's happening?" I complained as my stomach swirled and I suddenly felt clammy. 

"Why don't you get changed..." Bella trailed off as she watched my face warily. My stomach churned again. "Aria?" 

I held my breath and placed a hand over my mouth. "I think... I think I'm going to be sick." 

My stomach flipped again as I darted towards the small bathroom that was just off of the main corridor. I made it just in time as I fell to my knees in front of the toilet and spilled the contents of my practically empty stomach. As I retched, I felt Bella's cool hand rubbing circles over my back. This was just what I needed, to throw up when I already felt worse for wear.  

"You're getting too worked up over this." She kneeled beside me as she handed me some toilet paper to wipe my mouth. "You've made yourself physically sick." 

"Ari do you want some water?" I heard Nessie call from the hallway meekly as I closed the lid to the toilet and flushed it. 

"She'll take some Renesmee." Bella answered for me as she placed her hands against my forehead. "Well, you're not burning up." It felt like I was. 

Nessie was back within a few seconds, her small hand holding the glass out as my own shook as I took it from her. This blood diet was making me feel worse, not better. We sat in silence for a minute or two, both Nessie and Bella staring at me as I took small sips of the cool water. 

"What is that noise? It's been bugging me all day." Bella's voice said suddenly, the irritation in her voice causing me to look up at her and away from the tiled floor. 

"What noise?" I asked quietly, looking at her curiously. I couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary. 

"Yeah, Mom, I don't hear anything." Nessie added, looking at her mom like she was crazy... now that expression made her look like Bella. If I didn't feel so gross I would have laughed. 

"Shh, listen... it sounds like..." Bella continued, her eyes darting from me and then back to Nessie. 

"Bells are you okay? You look crazy—" I began as I sat up a little more and leaned towards her. 

"Shh!" She snapped, flapping her hands about in an effort to silence us. Nessie and I immediately complied, our eyes meeting as we stared at Bella peculiarly. Bella leaned even closer to me and subconsciously I couldn't help but move back, pushing myself back against the wall. I had never seen her act like this before. 

"Okay, you're freaking me out." I placed the glass down on the tiled floor, ready to get up and move away from her. 

"Ari." The sudden softness and bewilderment in her voice halted my movements. She reached forward, and to my surprise, she placed her hand on my stomach. "Do you not hear that?" Her topaz eyes looked down at her hand and then met my wide-eyed blue ones. 

I was about to call her crazy but then suddenly I heard it. 

It was so faint, so quiet, but it was there. The closer I listened and concentrated the louder it became... the fast-paced thrumming of a tiny heartbeat. 

Oh my god. 

It felt like my own heart stopped beating in that moment. I had forgotten how to breathe. Tears sprung to my eyes and my mouth felt open as I stared at Bella, her face lighting up with pure happiness and excitement as she retracted her hand and used it to wipe my tears. 

"Oh my god." I breathed aloud, my voice just barely above a whisper as I placed my still shaking hands over my stomach. "Oh my god. Oh my god!" My voice grew louder as I let out a disbelieving laugh. Was this really happening? Bella wrapped her arms around me laughing too as she held me tightly and swayed us from side to side. 

I need to tell Jake! Oh my god, Jake! I need to get my phone; I needed him to come home. He was going to be so happy. We had completely written this off. This explains everything! 

"Aria..." Bella tried to catch my attention as she stood to her full height again, the loving expression on her face telling me that if she could cry, she would be right now. I couldn't listen to her right now I needed to tell Jake. 

"Where's my phone?" I exclaimed as I rushed up from the floor, my steps faltering as I became dizzy. 

"I can't believe this!" Bella practically squealed as I held onto the door frame for support. "This explains everything!" She said with amazement, voicing my earlier thought. 

"Where's my phone? I need to call Jake." I asked again, not knowing where Bella had put it after taking it from me. On the way back home, I had called Jake five times as it had gone straight to voicemail. 

"Momma, what's happening?" Nessie asked from beside me, her eyes peaking at Bella from under my arm. 

"I think Aria's—" Bella began but I cut her off quickly. 

"Don't!" I spun around, ignoring the slight dizziness I hadn't quite recovered from yet. "Don't jinx it. I need to call Jake." I said hastily before I blurred back into the lounge to recover my phone from the mahogany coffee table beside one of the cream sofas. 

"I'll call Carlisle, tell him to get everything set up." Bella announced from behind me as we dialled at the same time. I heard Carlisle answer on the first ring and Bella's excited voice burst out the news, but I was too focused on the voicemail message that was speaking to me. 

"Answer the phone." I begged as it cut out. I didn't leave a message and tried again. "Jake." I cursed as the voicemail message sounded out again. I waited for the beep before the words came spilling out of my mouth. "Jake, baby, I know you're angry at me right now, but you have to go the Cullen house right now... It's an emergency." 

The lightness and shock in my voice could have passed for fear, it wasn't entirely fair to trick him, but I didn't want to tell him I was pregnant over the phone.  

Wow, I was pregnant. Jake and I were pregnant. We were going to have a baby. 

I let out a huge breath of air as I slowly lowered myself to the couch. Maybe I was a little scared. We had been having unprotected sex for nearly a year now... why did it take so long to conceive? How did my anatomy even work?  I had so many questions and a very slim chance of getting the answers. 

"It all makes sense." Bella whirled into the room with Nessie hot her tail, both of them practically dancing. "This is why you've been crazy over blood, why your moods are all over the place, your temper! Even your clothes not fitting." She gushed as she whirled around and lifted Ness into the air. "Why are you not jumping for joy right now?" She asked, the excitement in her voice dropping as she placed Ness back on her feet. 

"What if I'm like you?" I didn't mean to sound so brash, or even harsh, but that was a scary period of time when Bella was pregnant with Renesmee. I was still part human, what if that part of me couldn't take it? 

"You're only half vampire, the baby," just hearing her say baby out loud made my heart flutter uncontrollably, "will only be quarter vampire. You're the strongest vampire in the world for all that we know, and the baby will be weaker than what Renesmee is. You'll be fine." She took my hand in her own, rubbing the back of my hand with her thumb. "Come on, Carlisle is setting everything up and calling all the family to return to the house, he has only told Alice. I'll shield Edward when he returns to the house." 

"I need Jacob. I can't do this without him." My bottom lip wobbled at the thought of him not being there when we all officially find out. 

"Don't worry. We will wait for him. I'll call him on the way over to the house, so he knows it's urgent." She said soothingly as she pulled me up from the couch. I suddenly felt like jelly, it was all so surreal. 

I nodded at her words as she moved past me and towards the front door. "Congratulations Ari." Nessie smiled up at me before wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. 

"Thank you." I whispered into her hair as I hugged her back, just about finding my voice. She let go of me and followed Bella out the door, leaving me standing alone in the foyer. I brushed my hand underneath my blouse and rested it against the smooth skin of my lower stomach. It felt firm, there wasn't really a bump, but I could feel a slight change. There was actually life growing inside of me. Jacob's baby. 

In the distance a clap of thunder rolled down from the mountains, pulling me back into the real world. It was about ten miles out, we most likely had fifteen, maybe twenty minutes before the rains descended. I could feel already it in the air. I hoped that wasn't a sign... 

As we ran back to the house a new sense of awareness overcame me. Did I now have to be careful? Did I have to ensure that with every step I took I was confident that I wouldn't fall... not that I had before, but would a fall cause damage? 

Carlisle and Alice were waiting for us on the porch, Alice's face was one of pure excitement, her smile stretched from ear to ear as jumped up and down on the spot so fast she just looked like a blur. Carlisle, however, looked a little more serious despite the smile on his face. That worried me and my steps slowed as we cleared the trees and entered the front yard. 

Esme and Rosalie were inside the house pacing, Carlisle had shut them out of his office, not letting them know what he had set up in there for me. Edward, Emmett and Jasper were hunting. They were a few miles out and Bella wasted no time in wrapping her shield around Renesmee, Alice and Carlisle to stop her husband from finding out before the rest of the family. 

Alice was in front of me in a flash, crushing my body against hers in a tight hug. "Oh, sorry." She released me when I let out a heavy puff of air. "I need to be more delicate with you now." She smiled at me meekly before grabbing my hands and kissing the backs of my palms. 

"What's happening?" Esme's worried voice called from inside the house, both herself and Rose appearing a split second later beside Carlisle.  

"We don't know for sure, Alice." Carlisle commented on Alice's earlier remark before turning to his wife. "Nothing to be scared of my love, we will tell you when the boys return, and when Jacob makes an appearance." 

Esme didn't look convinced as she walked down the few steps and joined Alice, Bella, Ness and me. "I don't like being kept in the dark." She began as her golden eyes flickered across my face and down my body. "Are you hurt?" Her eyes lingered on my torn blouse and the darkening purple skin that could be soon through the rips. 

"No, Esme. I'm okay." My voice was a little shaky, I was entirely sure in myself. "Just a mishap with a stag, I'll heal up in an hour or so." 

"What's going on?" Edward demanded as he broke through the trees and made a beeline for his mate and daughter. "Why are you hiding thoughts from me?" He looked between Bella and I, not being sure which one of us was keeping the secrets. 

Bella settled into his side and placed her hand on the side of his face. "Aria wanted you all together first." 

"For what?" Emmett bellowed, stepping forward, on edge. 

"There's no threat, dummy." Alice jibed as she looked back at him over her shoulder. "Aria thinks she's—" She stopped herself and turned to me, and unsure look on her face. "Can I say, now that we're all here?" 

"What about Jake?" Nessie countered, peering up at us from Bella's side. My heartbeat sped up again as I fiddled with my engagement and wedding rings.

"How about we take a little test to be sure?" Alice offered, a grin on her face as she turned and disappeared into the house. 

"Enough with the secrets." Rosalie fumed as she placed her hands on her hips looking between, Bella, Carlisle, Nessie and me. 

"Everyone come on up." Alice spoke softly, all of us hearing her perfectly. We wasted no time and met her on the first landing by the stairs. She was wanting for us by the bathroom door and in her hands was a small blue box. 

"Alice, what have you got there?" Jasper asked as he went to her side, his hands at her waist. 

I focused on the box, coming to the same realisation as everyone else within the same moment, Rosalie voiced our thoughts for us. "A pregnancy test?" She blurted out and then suddenly all eyes were on me. "Aria?" 

Carlisle moved forward then and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Aria thinks she might be pregnant." He said softly, trying to keep the family calm. He gave Jasper a pointed look, telling him to use his gift to make sure tensions didn't rise. 

"She doesn't think she is she knows she is." Alice said animatedly before stepping forward to place her cool hand on my stomach. "Listen."  

Silence fell among the group. The only sounds inside the house were Nessie and I's breathing and the three hybrid heartbeats. 

Esme's hand flew up to her mouth as she looked like she could cry, Rosalie's smile was so wide I thought her face could crack, Emmett and Jasper were frozen in shock, their eyes met with a hint of nervousness. Edward spoke first. "Extraordinary." He breathed, a huge grin on his face compared to what he was like when Bella was pregnant. 

"Will Aria be, okay?" Rosalie enquired, for sure she was worried about my wellbeing but the slight rumble in Edward's chest voiced the fact that there would be a baby to care for should the mother not make it.  

"I believe so. We'll just run a few tests first. If we can that is, we don't know how much this baby will be like Renesmee." He smiled sweetly at his granddaughter before turning back to Alice, his expression serious again. "You think it will work?" 

"It's worth a try." Alice handed me the little blue box. "We'll give you some privacy to do your thing. We know you are pregnant, but I just think it'll be a cute memento, especially a very cute way for you to tell Jake." She continued just as a loud rumble clapped above the house in the sky. "Poor Jake, he's going to get wet." She pouted, her face thoughtful. Seconds later the rain began to fall, the huge droplets of water splattering against the glass windows.    

"I want to wait for Jake." I said numbly just as lightning struck about three miles away from the house, the bright white flash bouncing off of the walls. This weather wasn't helping my nerves. 

"By the time you're done with the test he will be arriving. We'll send him in so you can have a moment together." She smiled at me warmly as she gently pushed me towards the bathroom door. "Go on, we'll finish setting everything up." I was met with reassuring smiles before I made my way into the bathroom and closed the door behind me. 

Silently, the family dispersed, all of them blurring down the hall and into Carlisle's study. As I did my business, I could hear them talking. 

"You're unbelievable Rose." Edward snapped; he wasn't even trying to keep his voice down there was no point. 

"Oh, cry me a river, I am genuinely concerned." She snarled back, folding her arms across her chest. 

"Cool it, Rose." Emmett warned as he loomed over her. 

"Em, I'm fine. I'm only concerned for Aria's health after how Bella was with Ness. Edward misinterpreted." She hissed, baring her teeth at him and he growled lowly in the corner.  

"I don't think I did." Edward countered as he stalked across the room towards her. 

"Enough! The both of you! What will Jacob think if he hears this?" Esme got between them, her arms out to keep them separated. 

"If Jake hears that Rose wants to steal his baby-" 

"Edward!" Bella scolded; her golden eyes furious as she glared at him. "You don't understand it. None of you guys do. Any baby in this family is a miracle." 

"Alright, that's enough. Jacob will be phasing back to human form in about forty seconds. Don't let him hear this talk." Alice warned. 

I placed the cap back on the little stick and let it rest on the countertop as I washed my hands. Two lines is positive, one is negative. Two minutes. 

I honestly felt like I could throw up again, my heart was pounding so hard and fast inside my chest it was deafening in my own ears. This was a blessing... a miracle as Bella said. Jake and I were having a baby, I had longed and dreamed of this day for years, even before he imprinted on me. But that fear was still looming, especially now with the families worries. I thought back to a conversation that we had when Bella was pregnant... 

"I can't lose you like that." 

"You won't. And Bella's not gone she might-" 

"She won't. You can't put me through what Edward is going through. I can't risk losing you." 

"Jacob listen to me. Children can't happen for us... not from me anyway." 

"But if it happens, and it hurt you like that... I couldn't..." 

If Carlisle says this pregnancy will be dangerous, will Jake not want it? 

"He's coming." I heard Alice whisper down the hall as the sound of Jacob running across the lawn on two legs brought my heart up into my throat. 

"Aria?" Jacob's voice bellowed from outside, another crash of thunder following a split second after. The front door swung open, Carlisle was downstairs in a flash, catching the door before the glass impacted with the wall. "Aria!" Jake called again, his own heart was racing, and his breath was shaky and ragged. Through Carlisle's eyes I saw that he was soaked, his short hair stuck to his forehead, droplets of water dotted across his shoulders, bare chest and face. He was wearing only his oily work pants; they hung low on his hips letting me know he had no boxers on underneath. He didn't have his shirt on him, I can only imagine he had burst out of that when he phased. "Where is she? What's wrong?" He demanded as he stormed past Carlisle towards the stairs.  

Alice was in front of him instantly, a towel in her hand, playfully she threw in at him. Jacob caught it, but he wasn't in the mood for games. "She's fine." Alice giggled. "She only said it was an emergency to get you here." 

That was the wrong choice of words. Jacob's expression grew fierce as he threw the towel down at Alice's feet. "I don't want to be messed around." He snarled as he turned on his heel. "I bet you all knew about the blood before me as well, didn't you?" 

"Well, yes, but-" Alice began but Jacob waved her off. 

"Jacob." Carlisle's urgent voice stopped him in the doorway. Jacob was angry, he could have been on the urge of phasing, but he would never disrespect Carlisle. "Nothing is wrong per se but there is an... issue that needs discussing." He worded carefully. "And it's not about the blood." He added quickly as Jacob opened his mouth to protest. "Just head on upstairs, Aria is waiting in the bathroom." 

"The bathroom?" Jacob questioned, turning back to look inside the house. "Is she sick?" His voice was beginning to soften. 

"No." Alice quipped, handing out the towel again as Jake took one step forward. "She was earlier, though." 

Suddenly Jacob was on the move, his heavy footfalls thundering up the stairs as he made his way to me. I suddenly felt the urge to cry, despite how angry he was at me for lying, he still had to make sure I was okay. The surface of my skin tingled as I felt him on the other side of the door, my eyes glanced down at the test that was still resting against the counter... there it was, two little pink lines. 

Jake burst in through the door just as I reached for the small, plastic stick. "Aria, are you... okay..." His voice drifted off as he took in the scene before him. His eyes flickered from the side of my face to the test in my hand and then back to my face. He doubled back on the test, not quite believing what he was seeing, or even understanding how it was possible. He gripped the door frame for support as his heartbeat began to quicken. "Is that...?" His breath was shaky, his mind still not comprehending that I was actually holding a pregnancy test. 

Silently I nodded at him, answering his unfinished question as the tears welled in my eyes as I continued to stare at the test. The second form of proof that this was actually happening. I was shaking with excitement, fear, love... just every possible emotion was hitting me at once. 

"Are you...?" Jake tried to start again as he took a step towards me, his voice breaking as a lump formed in his throat. 

I nodded again and pulled my eyes away from the test to look at the father of my child. His own eyes were brimming with tears at the acknowledgment of my answer. I sniffled and let out a small laugh. 

"Are you sure?" He couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. We were having a baby. We were going to be parents. I handed the test over to Jake and he took it from me with his own shaking hand. His eyes focused on the stick, on the little two lines, and then the most extraordinary smile broke out over his face. "You're pregnant?" 

For some reason a wave of relief washed over me. Jake enveloped me in his arms and held me against his body. "I'm pregnant." I confirmed, laughing again as his smile seemed to grow wider and the tears fell from his eyes. His lips were suddenly on me, my lips, my cheeks, my forehead my neck. He lifted me into the air and spun us around, his own amazed laugh leaving his mouth. "Listen." I whispered to him when he placed me back on the floor. I took his hand and placed it against my stomach, letting him silently know what to listen for. 

When the quiet fell upon us, the tiny thrumming filled the room, and Jake began to cry even more. Just the sight of him being so unbelievably happy made me choke back a sob of my own. 

"Oh my god." He uttered in disbelief, placing his other hand against my stomach as well. "Oh my god. We're having a baby?" He asked again, looking at me for confirmation. He believed himself to be dreaming. 

"We're having a baby." I confirmed, my cheeks beginning to ache with the smile that hadn't left my face. 

Jacob pressed his lips against mine again, his arms wrapping completely around my waist to pull be back against him. 

When we broke apart again, Carlisle called to us from down the hall. "Are you ready for that check-up, Aria?" 

Now for the scary stuff. "I am, Carlisle." 

Jacob's face scrunched in confusion. "Check-up?" 

"We need to see if I'm going to be like Bella." I said meekly, looking up at him as the fear and sadness crept over his face and settled into his eyes. He gripped my hand tightly and led us down the hall towards Carlisle's study. All the family was waiting outside the room, and I almost didn't want to go in when I saw all the machines and the hospital bed that had been used for Bella was set up in the centre of the room. I heard Jacob's heartbeat quicken when Carlisle asked me to lay back on the bed, Jake didn't let go of my hand once.  

"If you're only just hearing the heartbeat that could indicate you are six weeks along, as far as normal, human pregnancies go." Carlisle began as he looked at me for silent permission to feel around my stomach. He pushed against the skin, his cold touch and the pressure was a little uncomfortable, especially against the marks the deer had left. "There's no bump yet but you're definitely carrying. If I'm honest Aria, I don't know how your body will cope with the changes pregnancy brings." His words were like a dagger to the heart, if my body couldn't grow, how would the baby? "Though, your hair does grow, we've already proved your weight can change, you might be okay." Carlisle continued but that still didn't numb the fear that was building inside me.  

"Will she get sick?" Jake asked, his tone completely serious as he held onto my hand, his other resting against the bed by my head. 

"Again, I'm not sure, I don't think so." Carlisle answered, his voice giving away his uncertainty. "The only pregnancy I am basing my knowledge off is Bella's. Bella was human and much weaker than what Aria is, and this baby will be much weaker than Renesmee, most likely around a quarter vampire. There is also the factor that Aria is already consuming blood, which will therefore keep both mother and baby strong." 

"So, it will be fast growing?" Jake said nervously, looking from my worried face and then back to Carlisle's. The family stood in the doorway, listening intently. 

"If Renesmee is half vampire, and her gestation period was a month, I can only estimate that this pregnancy will last two." Carlisle proposed, his face thoughtful. My eyes widened at the time scale. That couldn't be right. 

"Only two months? I've been craving blood since the second week of our honeymoon; it's been almost a month." I queried, by that guess I should be at least halfway through by now, right? "Sorry Jake." I added, hoping that secret wouldn't sting as much now knowing there had been a reason behind it. 

"It's okay." He soothed, running his hand over my hair with a small, reassuring smile on his face. 

Carlisle expression was thoughtful again, his eyes unfocused as he worked out numbers and dates in his head. "Maybe its growing slower than I anticipated. I'll measure you every day to be sure. It'll be too early for a dating ultrasound." Jake and I's expression must've shown we needed more of an explanation. I needed to do some reading. "The one that goes over your stomach. I hope Scarlett won't mind helping us out with the early pregnancy one... that is if we can see anything. We couldn't with Nessie." He paused for a moment. "Is there anyway to be sure to know when the child was conceived?" 

My cheeks flamed red as Emmett began to laugh down the hall, not even a second later there was a loud cracking sound and a grunt. "Damnit Rose." Emmett cursed as Rosalie told him to be quiet. I'd have to thank her for that later. 

"Erm, no Carlisle, sorry." I said, still bashful. I wanted the world to swallow me up right there and then. Having your adoptive father ask you those questions was beyond awkward. 

"How is this possible, though?" Jake added, thinking about how often we have sex for it to only work now. 

I put on a brave face and explained Jacob's question further. "Yeah, we stopped using, erm, protection nearly a year ago..." I was interrupted by more of Emmett's snickers, this time Edward joined in. "I don't know what you're laughing at Edward. At least I didn't wait one-hundred and five years before I lost my virginity!" Edward's laughing stopped immediately, and I couldn't help the smug grin that appeared on my lips. "Why is this happening now and not back then?" 

"Well," Carlisle sighed, his expression apologetic. "Not everyone gets pregnant straight away on the first try. Perhaps, and this goes for even if Aria was human, it may just be one of those things and taken a while for you to conceive. I don't know how your body functions Aria, maybe we should do some tests after the baby is born?" 

I nodded at his words. "Okay." 

Carlisle smiled then, and it completely reassured me. "Right... to try and help me understand timings, you're feeling nauseous, you're experiencing mood changes, bloating, food aversions and cravings?" 

"Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes." I gave him a small smile. 

"But you're not feeling the frequent urge to urinate, experiencing cramps or tender breasts?" I tried to keep my face blank; I'd have to get over the awkwardness fast. I was just thankful that Scarlett was a midwife, and she could sort out the intimate stuff. "Constipation?" Carlisle questioned causing Emmett's laughter to hit a new level of loud. There was another crashing sound followed by the shrill crunching of limbs being torn apart that I knew all too well.  

My eyes widened and I sat up, all of our eyes darting towards the doorway. Emmett cursed and groaned in pain. "Rose! Give me my hand back!" 

Jake and I couldn't help it, chuckles escaped us Carlisle sighed and placed his head in his hands. I don't think Emmett would ever grow up... and truth be told, he couldn't. 

"No Carlisle, none of that, is that okay?" I asked him when I had recovered. 

"Yes, yes its fine! Not every pregnancy is the same. I'm just doing some internal calculations." Carlisle waved us off, the smile back on his face. 

"So, I am going to be fine?" I looked from Carlisle and then to Jake to see him already smiling down at me. His smile was breathtaking, I could already feel the excitement surging through him. 

"I don't see why not." That was all the reassurance I needed. Jake must've felt the same too because in the same instant his lips were on mine as he lifted me from the bed. "Why don't you two head home and enjoy some time together? Congratulations." I could hear the smile in Carlisle's voice as Jake pulled away. 

"Thanks, Doc." With his free hand Jake reached across the bed to shake Carlisle's hand. "I suppose I should say congrats to you too, Grandpa, your second grandchild is on the way."

My heart could have exploded right there and then. I began to cry again, and Jake hugged me into his side as the family filed in. 

"My youngest baby is having a baby." Jake stepped aside so that Esme could hug me, his hand not leaving my body once as it rested on the small of my back. Esme kissed the side of my head before she pulled Jake into her arms. "I am so happy for you both." 

We were passed around from family member to family member, all of them offering their congratulations of course. We got hugs from everyone minus Emmett, he was still in too much pain from Rosalie ripping his hand from his wrist, she was now carrying it around in her back pocket as a trophy. She told him that he would not be getting it back for at least a few hours. 

The rain was still battering against the windows, the storm no longer directly overhead but moving further inland when we decided it was time to leave. We concluded that we would call everyone on both sides of the family over to our house tomorrow to tell them the news, Carlisle and Esme were going to contact the Denalis for us and we hoped that they would be able to make it. With a final round of congratulations and goodbyes it was time for us to leave. 

"Bye!" We called back, before we sprinted into the rain hand in hand, the thunder crashing above our heads as the lightning struck the ground towards the east. We were soaked through in seconds, my clothes were clinging to my body and my hair was getting stuck to my face... but I didn't care. 

"Baby, come on, we're getting soaked." Jake pulled me under the cover of the trees, the harsh pattering of the raindrops hitting the leaves caused him to raise his voice a little out of habit. I could still hear him perfectly fine. 

Jake's hands fell to the button on his work pants, he wanted to phase so that the run back to the house would be quicker. My eyes lingered on his lower stomach and his v lines before they flashed up to his face. The rain was running down over his chest, small droplets were catching on his dark eyelashes, despite the weather his smile was still breathtaking, it hadn't left his face since Carlisle had told him I would be fine. 

"I don't care." I breathed out wistfully as I smoothed the hair back over my face, taking in every inch of my beautiful husband's face. "Jake, we're having a baby." I choked back yet another sob as my hands flew up to cover my mouth. 

Immediately Jake had me in his arms, one of his hands caressing my cheek as the rain continued to pour down around us. "I know. I never, ever thought I would be this lucky in life." He leaned in closer and nuzzled his nose against mine. My breath caught in my throat as I blinked away the tears. "Thank you." 

I wanted to thank him too, but his mouth was suddenly on mine. Both of us poured every ounce of love and adoration for each other into the kiss. I couldn't remember the last time I has held him so tightly, or even been this happy. It was a new kind of joy, the hole in our hearts had been filled that we never thought would be. I knew that Jake said that a life of just the two of us would have been perfect, and he was right... but this completed us. We were going to be a family.

"I love you." I whispered against his lips as we broke apart, our foreheads resting against one another.

"I love you, too." He beamed as his hand slipped down my waist to the front of my stomach. I let out a shaky breath as he pecked my lips one more time. "Both of you."