XVIII. Something's wrong.

Wednesday morning I sat outside on the balcony of the second floor, getting some fresh air while Edward made me breakfast in the kitchen. I was completely in my own world as I stared out at the forest, remembering many memories that I had made in this place.

The door slid open behind me, and I looked over my shoulder, expecting my husband. "Alice," I muttered in surprise as I looked at her.

Alice sat down beside me, fiddling nervously with the strings of her shirts. She frowned as she looked at me. "I hate seeing you like this," she muttered softly as she shook her head. "I hate Edward, I hate you, I hate myself..." she ranted angrily.

"Alice." I sighed softly as I shook my head.

"I hate him for doing this to you, I hate you for going through with this, and I hate myself for not being able to be here for you." She went on, her angelic voice louder and rougher than what I have ever heard from her. "I hate the thought of losing you, Ana."

Edward, having heard everything, stormed out onto the balcony with a plate of food for me. "Alice, don't start," he warned his sister sharply. "She doesn't need this right now."

"It's okay," I told Edward in an assuring tone as I accepted the plate of food waffles he had made for me. I gave him a look and he nodded in understanding, going back into the house to give me and Alice space.

Alice reached out and took one of my hands into her cold one. "I love you, Ana," she told me sincerely as she smiled sadly. "My sister," she whispered. "I didn't get far enough time with you."

"I hate myself for leaving all of you," I admitted softly as I squeezed Alice's hand. "Edward didn't know this could happen. I don't have much of a survival rate, but my baby does, and you're giving yourself headaches trying to see my future." I reasoned with her.

"I just want to see that you're there, somewhere," she said desperately as she let out a shaky breath, her gaze lowering to her lap. "I just want to see you," she told me softly as her eyes returned to me.

I gave her an apologetic look as I slowly shook my head. "Stop looking, Alice." I pleaded softly.

"No," Alice replied immediately as her eyebrows furrowed and she frantically shook her head. "I can't," she demanded, giving me a scowl, upset that I would even suggest she gave up on me. I offered her another apologetic smile before leaning forward and hugging Alice.

That afternoon, I sat in the living room again; this time, Rosalie was with me, and we silently watched TV together. Very suddenly I felt a very sharp pain in my rib. "Ow." I cried out with a sharp gasp as my hand shot out to my side.

"Ana." Rosalie gasped as her hands shot out, one hand touching my arm and the other touching my stomach, her eyes wide.

"Ana?" Edward called out as he rushed into the room, eyes widening in horror as he saw me withering in pain on the couch, tears streaming down my face. "What happened?" he asked his sister while rushing to my side.

"I don't know," Rosalie replied frantically as she shook her head.

"Did she crack another rib?" He questioned his sister while cradling my face in between his hands, searching my tearful eyes as if he'd perhaps find the answer there.

"I didn't hear anything crack," Rosalie replied as she shook her head again.

"Then why is she in pain, Rosalie!?" Edward snapped angrily in the heat of the moment as he shot his sister a questioning glare.

Carlisle came into the room, eyes darting towards my crying face. "Edward, bring Ana." he insisted.

Edward scooped me up into his arms, carrying me into Carlisle's office and laying me down on the examination table. Carlisle gave me a thorough examination while Edward and I lingered on either side of me, holding onto my hands.

"I don't see any new cracks," Carlisle replied as he looked over my x-ray before meeting my gaze. "Just a hard kick to the side I presume."

"Yeah." I agreed softly as I sat up and rubbed my side where dull pain still lingered a bit.

After making sure I was okay, Rosalie turned to her brother with a sharp glare. "See, I told you I didn't hear a crack." she snapped at him as a frown tugged at her lips. "You need your ears checked, Edward." she spat as she pointed at him.

"You're working on my last nerve, Rosalie," Edward warned her sharply as he pointed a finger right back at her.

"Can you two stop?" I snapped as I looked between the two of them. "Because you're both working on my last one," I told them as Carlisle helped me off the table, walking me out of the room as he smiled in amusement.

Thursday morning came and Jacob came around to the house again. Me, Esme, Rosalie, Carlisle, and Edward were sitting around the living room, talking about mundane things, when Jacob came in.

"Carlisle," Jacob spoke as he looked at Carlisle, who immediately stood up and approached them. "We went halfway to Seattle. There's no sign of the pack. You're good to go." he informed.

"Thank you, Jacob. This is good timing. There's much that we need." Carlisle spoke up as he nodded his head thankfully.

"Honestly, I think you're safe to take more than three. I'm pretty positive that Sam is concentrating on La Push." Jacob added as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"If you think so." Carlisle agreed as he nodded his head. "Edward, Esme, Jasper, and I will go," he said, speaking very firmly so that Edward knew he wasn't getting out of this. He needed to hunt. "Then Alice, Emmett, and Rosa-"

"Not a chance," Rosalie cut off Carlisle as she shook her head very firmly. "Emmett can go with you now," she told him.

"You should hunt," Carlisle told Rosalie gently as he gave her a pleading look.

"I'll hunt when he does," She informed Carlisle while nodding her head in Edwrad's direction. She still didn't trust her brother much, even if me and him had made peace.

Edward stood up from beside me, glaring at his sister. "If you make one more comment making it sound like I'd hurt Ana-" he warned her as he pointed a finger at her.

"Edward," Esme warned sharply before he could finish his sentence. She shot both Edward and Rosalie a sharp glare. "The two of you need to stop this. It's not good for Ana." she insisted and both of them went silent.

It was decided that Alice, Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett would hunt first. Edward, Rosalie, and Esme would stay with me and as would Jacob.

Me, Edward, and Jacob were sitting in the living room, none of us speaking much as what lay ahead rested heavily on us. Edward was sitting beside me, staring at my stomach as he rubbed his cold hand up and down the curve of my bump. I silently watched him.

Rosalie came into the living room, her nose scrunching up. "Ew. Someone put the dog out," she huffed as she sat down on a lounge chair, glaring at Jacob.

"Have you heard this one, Psycho? How do a blonde's brain cells die?" Jacob questioned as he piped up at the thought of annoying Rosalie. He knew she couldn't lash out at him too badly because Esme was around the house somewhere.

"Jake, give it a rest already." I pleaded as I let out a deep sigh, shaking my head at him.

Jacob gave me a dismissive look before turning back to Rosalie. "Well?" Jacob urged as he raised his eyebrows at her. "Do you know the punch line or not?" he questioned, and Rosalie ignored him, so he turned to Edward. "Has she heard it?"

"No," Edward mumbled, shaking his head as his eyes remained on my stomach, deeply focused on the baby inside.

Jacob nodded and turned back to Rosalie. "Awesome. So you'll enjoy this, bloodsucker. A blondes brain cells die alone." He told her and I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

Rosalie sat forward in her seat, glaring at Jacob with a cold look. "I have killed a hundred times more often than you have, you disgusting beast. Don't forget that." She warned him in a low voice.

"Someday, Beauty Queen, you're going to get tired of just threatening me. I'm really looking forward to that." He informed her, not in the least intimidated or scared by her warning or threats.

"Enough, Jacob," I pleaded as I let out a deep sigh, scowling at him. He finally gave up and sunk back in his seat, blinking tiredly for a second. "You look tired," I commented.

"Dead beat," He admitted softly as he ran a hand across his face, rubbing at his eyes.

"I'd like to beat you dead," Rosalie muttered under her breath and I rolled my eyes as I let out another deep sigh.

Edward snorted in amusement as he continued staring at my stomach and I looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "Edward?" I questioned in confusion.

"I can hear her again," he informed me as he met my gaze, a smile tugging at his lips. "She's annoyed with them for annoying you," he told me as his smile grew.

I chuckled softly, looking down at my stomach. "At least someone's in my corner," I commented playfully as I rubbed my stomach with affection.

"I've truly never heard anything like her," Edward admitted, staring at my stomach as he slowly shook his head. I smiled softly at him but it slowly slipped as I winched in pain, feeling a terrible pain start to grow in my stomach. "Ana?" he asked as he froze with worry.

"Something's wrong," I whispered and the pain very suddenly grew strong and sharp. It felt like a cramp but only twenty times worse. "Ow!" I cried out as the pain only continued to grow and I slumped into Edward's arms, tears streaming down my face. Everyone rushed towards me and Esme came running into the living room, all of them horrified as I cried in pain, withering in Edward's arms.