CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

As the news slowly flitted around the Cullen household, its habitants were left wondering what the future held for them and for Bella. But with Bella and Edward on the next flight back to Forks from Brazil, the problem was all staring them in the face with no solution in sight. Apart from a few scattered legends that didn't provide much hope for a survival on Bella's part, no one had ever heard of a human and vampire being able to reproduce despite the number of knowledgeable vampires in the family. 

But as the next two weeks passed, a brief glimpse of hope was quickly destroyed by Bella's quickly advancing pregnancy and her condition as the baby inside her grew stronger as the days passed. Bella was growing weaker and weaker, the baby kicking so hard that it frequently broke bones, bruises scattered across Bella's stomach. Any food that Bella attempted to eat quickly came back up, an IV drip their last resort to give Bella some form of nutrition. But even that didn't do much to help her, bones awkwardly protruding from her gaunt face, the rest of her body left as nothing but skin and bones apart from the huge bump on her stomach. 

The more the baby grew, the more effect it had on Bella and there was no way to slow or stop it. Tension had also slowly grown between the family members, each having a differing opinion on the baby and what it was doing to Bella. 

Edward had been against it from the very beginning, Bella's continuing decline in health all the proof he needed that this baby was only going to take Bella away from him. Rosalie wanted the baby to live, while Emmett took his mate's side. Carlisle, Esme and Alice were undecided on the whole situation, more preoccupied with Bella's deterioration. 

Ellie stood conflicted on the overwhelming situation. She hated what the baby was doing to Bella and the increasing chance that Bella wouldn't survive past another two weeks, the potential loss of her best friend hanging high over her at all times. But she still stood determined that the choice was ultimately Bella's as it was her body and she should know herself well enough to know whether she could get through the pregnancy or not. So Ellie stood alongside Rosalie to support Bella's clear decision, she wanted to keep this baby, with Jasper also taking his mate's side. 

Everyone knew that the day Jacob Black would eventually visit them, the closely guarded secret between the coven would spill out. The meagre reason Bella had provided to Charlie, that she was merely sick from a bug caught on her honeymoon, wouldn't hold back Jacob for long, once the news reached the werewolf as well. 

 All the vampires in the room heard Jacob's arrival with Carlisle going down to meet him, but it took for Jacob's voice carrying to Bella from halfway up the staircase for her to register his presence. 

"Jake, is that you?" 

Ellie subtly raised a brow as Jacob emerged from the staircase hesitantly, picking up on the tension in the room quickly which was soon ignored as the relief at finding Bella still alive and well from what he could tell. 

"I'm glad you came," Bella said, happily. 

Rosalie stood protectively in front of Bella, Ellie sitting on the opposite couch arm, while the rest of coven stood around the couch tense. "Close enough," Rosalie warned as Jacob drew too near for the blonde's liking. 

"What's your problem?" Jacob questioned, continuing to move towards Bella, as Rosalie only glared in response. 

"Rose, it's okay," Bella assured gently, the blonde reluctantly stepped away. 

Jacob soon took a seat in front of Bella, clicking his tongue as he took in the severity of Bella's distressing condition. "You look terrible." 

"Yeah. It's nice to see you too." Bella weakly chuckled. 

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong with you?" Jacob asked. 

"El, do you wanna help me up?" Bella asked, turning back slightly to glance at her best friend, hesitance written clearly in her eyes. 

Ellie swallowed slightly, Jacob's reaction would be unpredictable but she wasn't going to deny her best friend's request for help. She stepped forward helping Bella to her feet, where the bruised balloon of a stomach that somehow belonged to Bella was revealed. The brunette tugging down on her shirt with a sheepish glance. 

Jacob immediately put the situation together. The tension, Bella's declining health and stormed over to the only other responsible person in the room. "You did this!" He snapped, Emmett, holding him back from advancing any closer to Edward. 

"We didn't know it was even possible," Carlisle spoke up in defence of his son. 

"What is it?" Jacob asked, his glare firmly set on his face. 

"I'm not sure." Carlisle disclosed with a frown. "Ultrasounds and needles won't penetrate the embryonic sack."

"I can't see it either," Alice added. "And I can't see Bella's future anymore." She revealed, looking away from the couch. 

"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 continued trying to inform the increasingly distressed Jacob. 

"Why haven't you done anything?" Jacob demanded harshly. "Take it out of her." 

"What the hell Jacob," Ellie spoke up, all eyes snapping to her. "It's Bella's body and ultimately her choice. Just because you come in here screaming about your opinion on the matter with your tail tucked between your legs, it isn't going to change anything." 

"What is wrong with you, Ellie? She's your best friend and you are just going to let her go through this?" Jacob shouted back harshly. "I thought you cared about her more than that, or maybe all that changed when you became a bloodsucker." 

Ellie stumbled back at Jacob's harsh words, her golden eyes snapping down in shock. Jasper's hand moving to the small of her back comfortingly. 

"This is none of your business, dog!" Rosalie snarled in response, protecting both Ellie who was physically hurt by Jacob's word, and Bella who was watching the whole exchange uncomfortably. 

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

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

"Say the word, Alice," Rosalie demanded harshly. "Baby! It's just a little baby!"

"Possibly." Alice returned. 

With the lack of support from any of the vampires in the room, irritation finally overtook the werewolf, turning back to Carlisle to beg in a last resort.  "Carlisle, you've gotta do something." 

"No!" Bella cut in, her intended firm tone falling short. "It's not his decision. It's not any of yours."

"Jacob, I need to talk to you." Edward finally spoke up, exiting the living room without waiting for a response.