Everything was going swell while they were gone. I'd even gone with the pack to the beach. We were playing soccer while and having a picnic. While I wanted to play, I settled for sitting with Emily while the boys played. Jacob didn't want to play, instead he was exchanging conspiracy theories with Seth and Embry about how we're going to break the news to Charlie and the other humans that Bella was "dead."

"Maybe they'll say she was in a car crash? Or tripped and fell off a cliff?" He wondered, "At least I'll get one thing out of it."

Sam caught the ball when he heard Jake, "No you won't."

"You're not killing Edward, Jake!" I called out annoyed, hoping that my time with the pack would be a breather from that conversation, specially considering I couldn't hear their thoughts anymore.

Sam agreed with me, "The Cullens are not a danger to the town or the tribe."

"Well he's either gonna kill her or change her. And the treaty says-"

"I say, Jacob," Sam stopped him, "I say," then he tossed the ball to Paul who immediately said he was hungry so the others joined in and we made some room so our imprints would join us. I was practically laying across Paul's lap and the others started teasing us, we laughed but I thought it was adorable. Paul practically fed me a mini carrot and I traced my fingers against the veins on his arms. He was the only one who opted not to wear a shirt, claiming it was too hot but I knew it was cause he liked when I ran my fingers along his bare skin.

We were having a fun time; we being the imprints that is. Sam and Emily, Jared and his girl, and me and Paul. Quil was by the water with Claire, Emily's niece who he imprinted on. It was adorable, he was like her older brother figure. Maybe in the future if she wanted, they could be something more, but we knew that was all her choice. The others I saw sitting all glum, I could zero in on their conversation.

"Some people are just lucky I guess," Embry sighed.

Jacob was clearly pissed with the whole Bella situation and taking it out on the imprints, "Lucky? None of them belong to themselves anymore."

I stopped listening, he was being stupid. We all have a choice, imprinting is merely a tool to find your soulmate. If Jacob had an imprint he wouldn't be so bitter. I looked back up at Paul and couldn't help but laugh.

"What? What's so funny?" He looked at me with an eyebrow raised.

I pointed to the corner of his mouth were he had a bit of ketchup from his hotdog, "You got a little something."

"Ah well," he leaned in and I thought he was going to kiss me but at the last minute he wiped his ketchup lip against my cheek and I squealed. Everyone roared with laughter as I cleaned my face with a napkin. At that moment, it couldn't be more perfect.

~

Two weeks? That's how long it took for shit to hit the fan? Must be a new record for us. Everyone was happy, I was seeing Paul practically every night, and every time I found myself falling more enamored with that man. The day everything went south was average at first, I was going to visit Paul again but my plans had to be cancelled when Alice got the vision. She wouldn't tell us what she saw, but she immediately called up Bella and Edward.

"Bella? Are you all right?" She asked urgently.

"I'm not one hundred percent sure," Bella answered wearily.

Alice looked at us frightened, "What's wrong? I just..."

"Alice what did you see?" She questioned.

Carlisle motioned over to the phone, "Bella, what's going on?"

She paused, "I don't know I'm a little worried. Can vampires go into shock?"

"Has Edward been harmed?" He asked and I looked up concerned.

"No. I know that it's impossible, but I think that I'm pregnant."

Pregnant. How? I started feeling a whole bunch of emotions at once as I heard Edward take over the call trying to figure out if it was even possible. How could she get pregnant? Edward wasn't really....I was confused, then I was angry. How could he do something so stupid! Then the emotion I didn't want to feel- jealousy. Bella is going to have a baby. And I can't. I thought about Paul and how I would love to have a little boy running around with his hair and possibly my eyes. But I won't get that. And yet Bella is pregnant. What would happen to her? Has this ever happened before? What would Jacob say?

"Oh shit. Jacob...the pack."

If they were concerned about my existence, I'm sure the existence of a half-human half-vampire baby would be on their hit list. Great. Just another thing to mess with my relationship with them. But then I wondered, would Paul help me? Or would Sam take away his choice? Either way, it looked like yet again I was going to have to decide between my family and the pack. And if it was a baby this time, I was going to protect the innocent.

A part of me wasn't surprised when Bella called me from the airport, "Is Rosalie with you?" She asked. I pulled Rose away from the others and we listened to her, "I need your help. I want this baby, help me keep it safe." She pled.

Rose and I exchanged looks before nodding, "We'll help you Bella."

I knew Rosalie was all for helping Bella because worst case scenario, if Bella died and the baby lived then Rose would love to be a mother to it. Knowing Edward, if the baby caused Bella's death he would want nothing to do with it and likely kill himself soon after. Hence formed the small protect baby Cullen team. Bella was the carrier and Rose and I the guard dogs.

~

The minute Bella and Edward landed we were there and she came right to us. Edward gave us a confused look but he quickly realized what was happening when he read our minds. This quickly caused a large divide between the family.

I didn't like having to avoid Paul but I called him as often as I could. I told him the cover story that we'd told to Charlie. Bella was sick and she was staying at the house until she got better. As her stomach got bigger she seemed to somehow morph into skin and bone. Her face was so slender we could see her bones protruding. It was hard for her to get up and sit down without help. She also had trouble eating, Her stomach was about the size of a watermelon and she barely ate anything besides some damn crackers.

Rosalie and I were the only ones she allowed near her, besides Carlisle who performed frequent check-ups on her and the baby; or as Alice like to call it fetus. Everyone was on edge, Alice couldn't see Bella's future anymore. Edward tried to convince Bella to let Carlisle get rid of it but she wouldn't let them hurt her baby. Turned out, even if she wanted to, they wouldn't be able to. The embryonic sac was reinforced like a vampire's skin, no needle would penetrate it. All we could do was go day by day and hope it didn't kill her.

Two weeks after they'd come back, Jacob decided to pop in. Thankfully Alice got a bit of a head start, warning us when she saw our day disappear. We plopped Bella on the sofa with a blanket over her large stomach and waited. She gripped my hand with as much human strength as she could muster, which wasn't a lot. And given her situation it was even more diminished.

We all heard the bike pull in and Carlisle went to let him in.

"Is it true?" Jacob asked walking in.

"Hello Jacob, how are you?" I held in a laugh, his subtle tone was just so amusing compared to Jake's bluntness.

It took Bella longer to hear he'd arrived, but when she called out to him, he immediately bounded up the stairs to find her. Rose stood between Bella and Jake, shielding her from his view.

"I'm glad you came," she told him.

Jake tried to come closer but Rose stopped him, "Close enough."

"What's your problem?" Jake snapped.

Bella looked at me, her eyes pleading, I looked over at them, "Rose, he's okay," I promised.

Reluctantly, Rose let him pass. Jake saw me next to Bella and nodded respectfully before finally seeing her whole face. He sighed as he sat in front of her, "You look terrible."

"It's nice to see you too," she responded.

He paused looking between the two of us before asking her, "So are you gonna tell me what's wrong with you?"

Bella looked from me to Rose, "Help me up?" She asked.

We immediately went to her aid, Bella pulled the blanket off her large belly and grabbed my hand for support, Rose grabbed her other arm and we easily heaved her to her feet. Bella noticed her skin was showing, her shirt was riding up, she bashfully pulled it down. The second Jake saw her stomach I saw the shock on his face. He wasn't expecting that.

He looked at me then his eyes went to Edward who never stopped looking so guilty, "You did this," he snarled stomping toward him, Emmett held him back.

"We didn't know it was even possible," Carlisle defended.

"Well what is it?" He asked.

"I'm not sure. Ultrasounds and needles won't penetrate the embryonic sac."

Alice stepped forward sadly, "I can't see it either...and I can't see Bella's future anymore."

We hated to think it in front of Edward, but if Alice couldn't see Bella's future we were worried it meant she didn't have one, carefully we sat her back on the sofa.

"We've been researching legends, but there isn't much to go on."

I sighed, "It's not possible this is the first time this has happened."

Carlisle put a supportive hand on my shoulder, I'd told him this whole situation was making me nervous, he looked back to Jake, "We know it's strong. And fast-growing."

"Why haven't you done anything? Take it out of her!" He yelled.

Rose snapped, "This is none of your business dog."

"Rose!" Esme retorted, "All this fighting isn't good for Bella."

"The fetus isn't good for Bella!" Alice countered.

Rose was really passionate about this, insisting it was just a little baby. Whereas I was just trying to do everything I could to protect it and Bella as best as I could.

Jacob turned back to Carlisle pleading, "You've gotta do something."

"It's not up to you Jake," I finally spoke, "This is Bella's choice. Even if we don't agree we need to do what we can to help her through this."

Bella smiled at me, "Cate's right. It's no one's decision but mine."

"Jacob I need to talk to you," Edward walked out into the forest. I already knew what he was going to ask and I shot hateful thoughts his way. He was playing dirty, knowing Jacob would love nothing more than to kill him once Bella died.

Once they'd finished their conversation Jake strolled back in to try and convince Bella to get rid of the baby. Rose stood at the doorway nonchalantly while I sat on the chair by Bella.

"I'm fine," Bella promised, Rose reluctantly walked out, sending a dirty look Jacob's way. I followed when she stopped me, "Cate, can you stay?" She asked. I nodded and sat back down, I guess being the strongest meant I could stay in on these conversations in case it turned ugly. Jake sat next to me, clearly trying not to look uncomfortable being next to us, "So Edward sent you in here to talk to me?"

"Sort of," he shrugged.

I chuckled, "When it doesn't work with one wolf friend, try another."

"I can't figure out why he thinks you'd listen to me," Jake laughed, "I mean you never have before."

The three of us laughed, "You've always been stubborn," I agreed.

Jake looked at me then Bella and pointed to where Rose left, "Since when is Blondie a part of this?"

"Rose understands what I want," Bella nodded. I frowned, I'd talked to her about wanting a family with Paul too but that was taken away from me, and yet I was still reluctant with this situation.

"What are you thinking? Like seriously?" He asked.

Bella went off on her little miracle speech, how she could feel him.

"So it's a bouncing baby boy," Jake joked, "Sorry I didn't know. Should've brought some blue balloons."

"It's just a guess," Bella told him, "When I picture him, I see a boy."

I shrugged, "I'm rooting for a girl though."

"We'll see," Bella smiled at me.

"You won't," Jake told her leaning in.

Bella was determined, "I can do this. I'm strong enough," That's when he started to get annoyed. He pleaded with her, his eyes sad. He wanted her to live. Finally he got up to leave, "Jacob don't go!"

"I know how this ends. And I'm not sticking around to watch," he picked up his jacket before turning on me, "And Paul's not gonna like that you lied to him," He turned and left I watched his figure shocked. I'd never lied to him before, and this. This was going to drive a big wedge between us.

I stood up once I heard the howling. I wanted to go after him, explain everything to the pack. To Paul. But Bella started hissing in pain, clutching her side. I looked back and forth, between Bella and the forest where Jake was about to out the whole thing. I was reluctant, but I stayed with Bella, putting my hand on her side trying to ease the pain. Through the window I saw Edward watching me with sad eyes. We both knew this would mess up not only my relationship with the pack, but with my imprint.