"Sam's lost the element of surprise," Jacob informed the Cullen's. "And he doesn't want to take you on outnumbered."

Everyone except Alice and Bella were gathered in the living room listening to Jacob warn them about the wolves and their plan.

"He's not gonna come at you head on. He's got the place surrounded and he'll wait for his opportunity," Jacob continued.

Emmett stood behind the couch with Jackie leaning her back against his chest. His arms tightened around her as every muscle in his body tensed up.

"He won't get through without a fight," Emmett said slamming his fist into his hand.

Jackie's heart dropped into her stomach. "Please, Emmett no," she pleaded with him. Emmett was still stronger than anyone else, but she could feel his strength beginning to wane.

"Don't worry," Carlisle smiled at her reassuringly. "There will be no fights," he said. "We won't be the ones to break the treaty."

"The treaty is void," Jacob snickered, "at least in Sam's mind."

"Not in ours," Esme replied gently.

Jackie winced as an angry and frustrated Emmett increased his grip around her waist. "Carlilse, no one's hunted for weeks," he ground out between clenched teeth. He was starving. All the Cullen's were.

"We'll make do," Esme nodded.

"You've done us a great service, Jacob," Carlisle smiled. "Thank you."

Before Jackie had time to register what was happening, Emmett had picked her up and flashed off into their bathroom upstairs. Setting her down in the shower, he stripped them both before turning the water on.

Jackie remained silent, watching as the water cascaded down Emmett's body. She frowned. Was he beginning to loose weight? Was that even possible for a vampire?

Not knowing what else to say or do, she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. They stayed like that for a long time until Emmett finally gathered her in his arms and carried her to bed. Within a few minutes she was sound asleep. Emmett got up then and angrily stared out the window, daring anyone to try and threaten his family.

***
"Jackie," Alice shook her, "Carlisle needs you," her voice was filled with worry and concern. "It's Bella," she added.

Jackie ran down the stairs as quickly as she could. As her stomach growled, she wondered how long she had been asleep for. With as hungry as she felt, she guessed maybe it had been a day or two.

"I need your help," Carlisle explained as soon as she rushed into his office. "We need to get her prepped for an xray," he said.

"Her rib has cracked," Jackie informed them, looking at the screen, "but they're no splinters," she said. "And it hasn't punctured anything, either," she added.

"Yet," Edward snarked.

"Edward," Carlisle gently rebuked.

"It's breaking her bones now," he cried before turning towards Bella. "It's crushing you from the inside out," he said. "Carlisle, Jackie, tell her what you told me," he insisted. "Tell her."

"Jackie," Bella said reaching out for her hand, "tell me," she pleaded. "It's alright."

Jackie took a deep breath and slowly blew it out before answering. She looked towards Carlisle who gave her a nod of confidence.

"The baby is incompatible with your body," she began. "It's too strong and it's not allowing you to get the nutrition you need."

"It's starving you by the hour," Jackie continued. "Carlisle can't stop it and he can't slow it down," she paused. "At this rate your heart will give out before you can deliver."

"Then I'll hold on," Bella said, "as long as I can and-"

"Bella," Carlisle interrupted, "there are some conditions that even venom can't overcome," he said. "I'm sorry."

Later on that day, Emmett and Jasper sat in the den watching a football game. Jackie was curled up on his lap reading a book while everyone else was gathered around the couch where Bella sat.

Tensions were high as everyone was hungry and on edge. And it didn't help that Bella looked like she was worsening by the minute.

Jackie got up off Emmett's lap and headed over towards the couch.

"We need to find a way to get some food into her system," Esme said.

"If I could only see the fetus-" Alice began.

"You mean baby," Jackie corrected.

Alice huffed, rolling her eyes and ignored Jackie before continuing. "Maybe I could figure out what it wants."

Edward's head suddenly snapped in Jacob's direction. "I think you might be right," he exclaimed to the whole room. "Jacob just had an idea," he explained, obviously he had been listening to Jacob's thoughts.

"It wasn't an idea," he stated. "It was a snide comment."

"What were you thinking?" Carlisle asked. Everyone looked at Jacob with anticipation.

He hesitated before answering. "That it's probably just looking for someone to sink its teeth into," he replied and then winced waiting for someone to reprimand him.

"He's thirsty," Bella exclaimed, face lightening up in realization.

"I know the feeling," Emmett grumbled as he and Jasper appeared from the other room.

Jackie's heart broke as she looked at him. She knew he hadn't eaten since they'd left Africa. Walking over to him, she hugged him tightly. Somehow she needed to help him.

"If it's craving, it's not gonna want animal blood," Edward said.

Carlisle stood up and headed towards his office. "I have some O negative laid aside for Bella," he called back as he walked away.

Both Jasper and Alice shared a look before walking away. With her arms around him, Jackie could feel Emmett tense.

"C'mon," she said before tugging on his arm, dragging him out to the kitchen.

Emmett went and looked out the window while Jackie grabbed a glass out of the cabinet. Assuming she was thirsty, he continued to stare out the window, cursing and growling under his breath. He could already smell the opened blood bag. Turning around to look at Jackie, his breath hitched in his throat.

"What are you doing?" he seethed as she drug a large kitchen knife across the palm of her hand.

Squeezing her fist, she let her blood fill the glass that was sitting on the counter.

"You need this," she whispered as he slowly stalked towards her.

"I can't," he said holding his breath as he got closer.

"You can," she answered. "I trust you."

Grabbing her hand in his, he stared down at the crimson liquid collecting in her palm. His eyes darkened. Her scent was intoxicating.

Slowly, his tongue caressed the slash across her hand causing Jackie to wince a little. He inhaled deeply before grabbing the glass and downing it's contents. Tossing his head back, a small moan escaped his lips as he felt some of his strength return. He longed for more but he refused to lose control.

He was about to grab Jackie up when he realized she was staring down at her hand.

"Does it hurt?" he asked with an upset look on her face.

"It tingles a little," she began, "but Emmett look!" she exclaimed turning her palm up towards him. The cut was litterally closing up before their eyes and Emmett was speechless.

"Has this ever happened before?" she asked him.

"I- I don't know," he answered truthfully.

"Well, I know it wasn't much," she said, "but do you at least feel better?"

He bent down towards her ear before answering. "I feel incredible," he growled. Running his large hands down her sides, he clutched her ass and lifted her up. Flashing over to the kitchen table, he stood between her legs, pushing her gently down and pressing himself up against her.

His hands pushed under her shirt and Jackie let out a moan. She skillfully began tugging on Emmett's jeans.

"Oh my god," Jacob practically screeched. "We eat at that table," he said. "Or at least we used too," he replied. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

***
A little later on Carlisle gathered most of the Cullen's into his office.

"So that's the last of it?" Jacob asked referring to the blood bags Carlisle had for Bella.

"Bella could deliver as early as tomorrow," Carlisle informed them. "If she's going to have any chance at all she'll need more blood."

"And you need to feed," Esme replied. "You have to be at your strongest for her," she insisted. "We need to go tonight."

"Carlisle," Jacob expressed, " you're the enemy now. Sam won't hesitate," he said. "You will be slaughtered."

"Emmett will come with us," Esme stated.

"That won't be enough," Jacob scoffed.

"We have no choice, Jacob," Carlisle remarked. "If there's anything we can do to save her, we have to try."

"You'd risk your lives for her?" Jacob challenged.

"Of course we would!" Esme exclaimed. "Bella's a part of our family now," she said.

"Yeah, I can see that. This really is a family. As strong as the one I was born into," Jacob answered. "I know what I have to do."