XI. Breaking  bones

More time passed and it was the first of October. My stomach had grown more as my rapid pregnancy progressed, and I was now visibly pregnant. The family was still largely divided. Rosalie was by my side twenty-four-seven, Esme offered her unconditional support, Edward was still angry with me, and except for my checkups with Carlisle, he avoided me. Alice also avoided me as the baby blocking her visions gave her migraines. Jasper and Carlisle were doing all the research they could on vampire babies. And Emmett had started acting as a protective front along with Rosalie.

Friday morning, I had another check-up with Carlisle. I was lying across the examination chair with Rosalie planted firmly by my side. When Edward came into the room, he tensed when he saw his sister. "Really, Rosalie?" he spat.

"Why does my presence bother you so much?" Rosalie questioned sharply. I shared a look with Carlisle, knowing another argument was going to break out.

"Because it's unwanted." Edward snapped as his jaw clenched.

"By you." Rosalie huffed as she glared back at him. "Or do you not at all in the slightest care what Ana wants or thinks?" She asked him as she raised her eyebrows.

"Stop it, both of you." Carlisle scolded them as he gave them a disapproving look, shaking his head. He turned to me, carefully lifting my shirt and pressing against a few spots on my stomach. "How are you feeling, Ana?" he asked.

"It's been hurting here for a bit now," I told him as I placed a hand against the right side of my ribcage, hissing when I accidentally pressed a little too hard on the sore spot.

"She's been having pain there for an hour or so now," Rosalie told her father as she took my hand and nudged it away from the sore spot.

Carlisle nodded in understanding and took a few scans. After a few seconds, he placed the developed scan up on the whiteboard, showing it to us. "Your rib is cracked," he informed me, pointing out the crack on the scan. "But there are no splinters. You haven't punctured anything."

"Yet," Edward replied as he stared at the scan, his jaw clenching.

Carlisle's eyes snapped towards Edward as he frowned. "Edward." He scolded in a low voice as he shook his head.

Edward's gaze slowly turned to Carlisle. "It's breaking her bones now." he spat before turning to me. "It's crushing you from the inside out." he gritted out and I sighed softly as I looked away. Edward turned back to his father. "Carlisle, tell her what you told me. Tell her," he demanded.

I looked towards Carlisle as he lowered his head. My eyes turned to Rosalie and we shared a confused look. "Tell her what?" Rosalie questioned as she looked between her father and brother.

"Carlisle, tell me. It's all right." I spoke softly as I stared at Carlisle. When he lifted his head and met my gaze I gave him an encouraging nod.

Carlisle sighed softly as he stepped closer. "The fetus isn't compatible with your body. It's too strong. It won't allow you to get the nutrition you need. It's starving you by the hour. I can't stop it, and I can't slow it down. At this rate, your heart will give out before you can deliver." he explained in a soft and gentle tone of voice.

I swallowed hard as a lump formed in the back of my throat and I sniffed while slowly nodding my head in understanding. "Then I'll hold on as long as I can, and then..." I tried to suggest but was quickly cut off.

"Ana. There are some conditions that even venom can't overcome. You understand?" Carlisle spoke softly as he slowly shook his head and I slumped back as I sighed, slowly nodding my head in understanding as tears pricked at my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Well, what other choice do I have?" I asked softly, my voice cracking painfully as I sniffed again.

"Take it out." Edward snapped as he looked at me.

I sighed and looked at him in utter defeat. "You know the risk, Edward," I whispered as I slowly shook my head.

"Keeping it in is a bigger risk," Edward argued as he shook his head back at me. "Taking it out, you at least still have a chance," he said softly and I could hear the pleading tone in his voice.

I was silent for a moment, sniffing as tears ran down my cheeks. "I'm sorry," I whispered, shrugging my shoulder halfheartedly.

He huffed as he shook his head again, taking a few steps away from me. "I can't live without you," he whispered as he frowned, and I could see the hurt and fear on his face; I could feel it in my chest.

"You won't," I told him softly as I shook my head. I placed my hands on my stomach, rubbing soothing circles. "You're gonna have a part of me. She'll need you." I told him. After a dream two nights ago, where I was holding a baby wrapped in my pink, I have been convinced the baby is a girl.

Edward scowled at me as his nose scrunched up. "Do you honestly think that I could love it or even tolerate it if it killed you?" he questioned in a low voice and my heart sank.

"It's not her fault," I told him softly as I shook my head. "You have to accept what is," I added as I frowned at him.

"Because you've given me no choice!" He snapped loudly and I flinched as more tears began silently running down my face. "Ana, we're supposed to be partners, remember?" he questioned. "But you decided this on your own. You've decided to leave me," he said softly.

"Don't see it that way," I begged softly and Rosalie reached out, rubbing my shoulder in a comforting manner while she glared at her brother.

"Well, I have no other way to see it," Edward replied as he shook his head. "'Cause it's me who'll lose you. And I don't choose that," he told me and I felt a familiarly haunting feeling in my chest. His heart breaking. " I don't choose that," he repeated, shaking his head before turning around and walking out.

Carlisle excused himself to go talk to Edward, and Rosalie took me up to Edward's bedroom. She sat down on the bed with me, letting me cry on her shoulder for a bit as we sat in silence. After my tears had dried up, she spoke. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly.

"About how it seems, the only one who didn't like me in the start, is the only one here for me in the end?" I asked softly as I let out a bitter laugh.

"We're all here for you, Ana." Rosalie insisted softly as she shifted and I lifted my head from her shoulder to look up at her.

"Alice is avoiding me, Edward is angry with me, Jasper, Emmett, and Carlisle are always running around looking for theories, and Esme can't cope with everyone being so angry," I mumbled softly as I shook my head.

"Alice is straining herself trying to catch just a glimpse of your future. Believe me, vampires can get headaches. Edward is grieving. Jasper, Emmett, and Carlisle are trying to learn and understand more so they can help you, and Esme is upset, but she is here for you." Rosalie explained as she reached out and brushed a stray tear off my cheek.

I wish I could see it that way. But I felt utterly abandoned.

Saturday morning I was sitting on the couch with Rosalie. I was wrapped in a soft green blanket, eating breakfast Esme had made for me. There was a knock at the front door, and suddenly, all the Cullens except for Carlisle were in the living room. I quickly realized why.

"Where's Ana?" Jacob asked the second Carlisle opened the front door.

"Jacob-" Carlisle spoke up, and I could hear Jacob's footsteps enter the house downstairs. "Jacob, she's not here." Carlisle lied.

"I don't believe you!" Jacob yelled. "Eleanor said Ana said she's sick. Her mother might believe that crap but I know more than she does."

"Jacob, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Carlisle insisted in a firm tone of voice.

I let out a soft sigh, dreading what was coming. I looked up at Edward. "You're going to have to let him see me," I told him as I slowly nodded my head.

"Like hell." Emmett scoffed as he shook his head, crossing his buff arms over his chest as he and Jasper guarded the entrance to the living room.

I looked at Emmett and then towards Edward. "It's Jacob; if you don't let him see me, he's going to get my mom, or Charlie involved." I insisted as I shook my head. "This is going to be a hell of a lot easier to explain to him than my mom."

Edward silently stared at me for a moment before slowly nodding. "She's right," he told his family before turning to the entranceway. "I'll go get him," he said before leaving.

Jasper and Emmett remained by the door, Rosalie and Esme sat down protectively on either side of me and Alice sat on the opposite couch, looking as tense as ever. Seconds later, Carlisle, Edward, and Jacob entered the room.

"Jacob." I greeted, my voice strained as I looked at him. All I could think about was how he treated me at my wedding and how he was going to react now. How much I didn't want him here.

Jacob approached and when he was a few feet away, Rosalie stood up. "Close enough." She warned in a low voice as she glared at Jacob.

Jacob's eyebrows furrowed as he stared at the blonde. "What's your problem?" he asked her with a soft huff.

I looked up at Rosalie. "Rose, it's okay," I told her. She looked over her shoulder and I offered her an assuring smile as I nodded my head.

Rosalie sat back down next to me and Jacob looked around before sitting down on the chair in front of me. He observed my face. My skin was paler than usual and dark bags were forming underneath my eyes. My hair was dry and dead and I was visibly tired. "You look terrible," he commented.

"Yeah, it's nice to see you, too," I replied as I nodded my head and he gave me a light roll of his eyes.

"So, are you gonna tell me what's wrong with you?" he questioned as he raised his eyebrows.

I sighed deeply, squeezing my eyes shut. This was going to end terribly. I pursed my lips and looked at Rosalie. "Rose, you wanna help me up?" I asked her softly and she nodded as she stood up. She took my hand and placed her free hand on my back, carefully helping me up to my feet.

Jacob's eyes widened when the blanket slipped off my body, exposing my swollen stomach. I was visibly pregnant and he wasn't a fool to that. His eyes snapped towards Edward. "You did this!" he yelled as he got up and tried to launch at Edward but Emmett stepped in the way.

Rosalie helped me sit back down, covering me in my blanket as she sat back down beside me in a protective manner.

"I didn't know it was even possible," Edward replied as he shook his head.

Jacob huffed softly, looking back at my stomach in disgust. "What is it?" he questioned sharply.

"We're not sure," Carlisle replied as he shook his head. "Ultrasounds and needles won't penetrate the embryonic sac," he explained.

Alice stood up and stepped closer. "I can't see it, either. And I can't see Ana's future anymore." She said as she slowly shook her head.

"We've been researching legends, but there isn't much to go on. What we do know is that it's strong. And fast-growing." Carlisle explained as he looked over at Jacob.

"Why haven't you done anything?" Jacob snapped as he looked between Carlisle and Edward. "Take it out of her!" he yelled at them.

"It could kill her," Jasper replied, eyes squinting as he glared at Jacob.

"This is none of your business, dog." Rosalie snapped at Jacob as she shot up to her feet and Jacob quickly got up as well.

"Rose!" Esme quickly scolded as she shot a sharp look at Rosalie. "All this fighting isn't good for Ana." she insisted while reaching out and placing a comforting hand on my arm.

"The fetus isn't good for Ana." Alice snapped as she looked around at her family with furrowed eyebrows.

Rosalie scoffed as she looked at Alice. "Say the word, Alice. Baby. It's just a little baby." She insisted firmly.

"Possibly." Jasper agreed as he shot a quick look at me before turning to Carlisle.

Jacob also turned to Carlisle, giving him a frustrated look. "Carlisle, you've gotta do something," he demanded.

"I can't," Carlisle replied as he shook his head. "The fetus is strong. It could kill Ana if I take it out," he explained.

"It will kill her anyway." Jacob huffed as he pointed his hand in my direction while glaring at Carlisle.

"If he takes it out, we both die. If I carry to term, the baby will survive." I replied as I looked up at Jacob, my lips pulled into a tight line.

"You can't be serious, Ana," Jacob muttered softly as he slowly shook his head.

"I am," I replied firmly. "And it's time everyone understands that," I added sharply.

Edward silently stared at me, knowing my jab was aimed at him as well. He sighed and looked towards Jacob with a frown. "Jacob, I need to talk to you," he said before turning and leaving. Jacob cast me one last glance before following Edward.