Her fingers drummed against her thigh, tap-tapping a senseless beat to try and keep herself from going crazy.

The coven was starving and no matter how much she ate, how much she worked to soothe the pains, she was continuously aware of the burning at the back of her throat. A burn that was only slowly growing worse the longer that they stayed trapped within the house.

Sam's pack was circling but the fear that they would attack the home lingered despite the constant reassurances that Jacob whispered when they were away from the house -- far enough away that he assured the Cullen's wouldn't hear them and the pack talk that he wanted to keep secret.

The man was trying to smoke them out, force them into the open so that they could pick them off or stage an ambush. Andy wasn't quite sure why he was doing this or where she fits into the whole array, not on his end, but at this side, she was right there in the midst of it all, right there in front for everyone to see, to reach. Exposed.

Because she couldn't fight off the emotions of others when she was trying to fight off her own and she couldn't just leave when it's wasn't safe out there for her.

Andy knew that Quil would never hurt her, not intentionally, and she knew the pack wasn't allowed to lay a finger on her, but that didn't mean they couldn't rip out her heart with what they had planned.

Letting them hurt Bella wasn't an option. Letting them hurt that thing wasn't an option either.

This was her family they were threatening and no matter how badly she wanted to pull her hair out, no matter how badly she aches and hungered, she couldn't let anything happen to them.

They were pack.

Heat flares through her throat, black dots sprinkling across her vision at the intense burning that made her stomach lurch.

Someone was starving more than everyone else here, as though they've never tasted a thing in their lives.

Groaning at the discomfort, Andy drops her head to the couch cushion, Bella's frail, clammy hand coming to press against her forehead immediately.

Her sister was hunger too. The thing wasn't allowing her to keep anything down. She would fade away before she could give birth at this rate and there was nothing she could do aside from easing her discomfort.

Bruises and broken ribs were nothing when having an Alpha meant you could sap their energy whenever you wanted. Jacob wasn't very pleased when she used him to heal herself fully the first time and he had crashed hard for the next three hours.

Andy still couldn't get over his disgruntled expression.

"Is something wrong with the baby?" Bella asks, voice airy and soft, as if she had to breathe the words free to make sure they were spoken.

"I-I-I'm so sorry, Bella, so sorry, b-but I can't t-tell. There are too m-many people."

Her fingers move to her hair working through the tangles. Andy really needed to start taking better care of herself.

"Don't blame yourself, Andy. You're doing more than you should be."

"I'm not doing enough," she mumbles, squeezing her eyes shut tighter. "I wish there was something I could do to help you more."

"You are helping me."

"I'm not helping you enough, Bells. If I was then you would be healthy."

Bella makes a soft sound, not answering right away and Andy listens closely to her sister's deep breathing that rattles in her chest.

She was so unwell, so sick.

"You do too much for me already, Ands. You shouldn't have to be stuck here. None of you should."

She winces. "I wouldn't say that we're stuck..."

"You're stuck. I know that you're trying to keep it all from me, but I can hear you guys talking. Sam has the house surrounded."

"Don't- don't worry a-about that, alright? We're taking care of it."

Her sister's hand stills. "I don't want anyone fighting," she says firmly, forcefully.

"I- I know. No fighting," she laughs humourlessly, "Jake had thought to speak to them, try and talk them down, you know?"

She can't see her sister's face but she doesn't have to. It's easy to imagine the way her brows would pinch and her frown would deepen as a thoughtful expression morphed her features making her distaste for the idea clear.

It was dangerous, in a sense, for them to meet because of how desperately the pack wanted to defeat the situation by getting rid of the threat. They wouldn't hurt her, they weren't able to, but they could hurt Jacob, Seth and Leah. They would hurt anyone else that got too close.

It was the main reason they couldn't just go through with it. If Andy and Lynn went alone then they might not be allowed to go back. If the others came...

Well, they were still just considering it.

Andy might just try to call them and see how that goes.

It was better than going all the way out just to be disappointed when things didn't turn in their favour.

Because she knew they weren't going to turn in their favour.

"Don't worry about it now. I'm not doing anything just yet."

"I worry about all the pressure that people put on you. You're still so young."

She hums. "Not that much younger than you. I can handle myself, Bells."

"That's what I'm worried about."

The couch shifts and she sucks in a harsh breath as instincts kick in and her body is flushed with aches and pains -- a nasty bruise forming on the base of her spine that she doesn't even want to think about -- and Bella is pressing a shaky kiss to the crown of her head.

"You're going to be the best aunt, Andy," her sister whispers brokenly. "He's going to love you so much."

Idiotic tears sting her eyes and she has to clear her throat before braving to speak. "I don't understand why you're so convinced it's a boy."

"It's just a feeling."

"I doubt it works like that."

"Let me have my moment."

Sighing, she reaches up to catch her sister's cold fingers. "You can have anything you want, Bells. Anything you want."

Bella sits back, panting as she leans against the pillows and cushions once more, sinking in with a deep sigh of relief.

She uses their linked fingers to wash her valerian healing over her, the soft glow washing over Bella barely noticeable against her sickly pale skin. She would just sap Jacob of energy later. The boy could use a good rest anyway.

"I want you to be the godmother."

Her neck snaps with how quickly she looks up. "What?"

"I know it's too early, but I don't trust anyone as much as I trust you, Andrea. You're my baby sister and if I'm not there to--"

"Stop talking like that," Andy snaps, angry at the tears that blur her vision. "Nothing is going to happen to you while I'm here, alright?"

Bella doesn't look upset by her outburst, no, she looks very resigned with pity and acceptance shining in her eyes. "Will you be my baby's godmother?"

Deflect. "Have you told Edward about this?"

"He doesn't like talking about the baby. He doesn't understand yet."

Protest. "He's your husband, Bella, the father of your... child. He has a right to these decisions just as much as you do."

Her sister doesn't budge, determination a fearsome opponent. "Edward won't have any problem making you godmother."

"What about his sister's? What about Alice and Rosalie?"

"They aren't you, Andy. You're my sister first and I trust no one more than you," Bella says sincerely.

It was... time to admit defeat. As much as she might hate whatever creation came from her sister, it would still be a gift from her sister. This thing would make her an aunt, even if it was a demon. And curse it all, Andy knew that her ridiculous bleeding heart would love it, horns and all, and that she would do all that she needed for the thing.

This was all happening so quickly, events unfolding with terrible swiftness, and it was a scare realization that she was barely hanging on.

She could remember when there was a time when her control of herself was so nonexistent that she would crumble into a mess, yet she was able to find the correct path through any situation presented to her, even if her emotions were a burden she was unable to bear.

It was like everything was flipped now, fate spotting in her eye in blatant distaste after having been doing so well.

Finding the balance was simply impossible and this new hurdle was simply unfair in its design to kneecap her.

Andy Just needed to think things through, recollect herself before she could work her way out with her terrible luck.

"I- I would be honoured with such a responsibility, Bella," she whispers, voice catching, "Thank you for trusting me despite everything." 

"Don't thank me, Ands. I know you're worried for me, but that's never impaired you from loving before." 

Giggling wetly, she nods, twisting around to smile at her sister. "I have all the love we'll ever need, and if not, I'll just steal it from someone else." 

Moving caught her attention and Andy was tensing, hands twitching at her side until she recognized the flash of blonde hair as Rosalie darted about with swift precision. She was a woman on a mission, a woman possessed. 

Carlisle and Edward weren't much better when they returned. They were reanimated, each action made with purpose. 

Slowly, as though tailing reluctantly, Jacob entered last -- never entering beyond the threshold as he watched with a firm scowl. She could sense the revulsion that curled in his gut try to mimic in her own. Andy slammed a metaphorical hand down on the feeling, squishing it out of both of them. 

"What's going on?" Bella demands, a hand protectively coming to rest against her stomach. 

"Jacob had an idea that might help you," Carlisle said. "It won't be... pleasant, but—"

"It'll help the baby," Rosalie interrupts, tone hopeful and light. "We've thought of a better way to feed him. Maybe." 

Andy grasped at the pieces, forming them in her mind, and suddenly her own revulsion was starting to take place, stomach turning and she felt like she was going to be sick. She understood their diet, but she didn't want to watch her sister, her sister that was still human, partake in it. 

Bella's eyelids fluttered. Then she coughed out a weak chuckle. "Not pleasant?" she whispered. "Gosh, that'll be such a change."

Rosalie laughed. 

"Oh, so you got jokes now," Andy mutters, shaking her head. "She's got jokes now, guys. She thinks she's funny." 

"Bella, love, we're going to ask you to do something monstrous," Edward said. "Repulsive."

Well, at least he knew how gross it was. She couldn't think of a single instance that would justify this other than right now and it was still terrible. 

She took a shallow breath. "How bad?" 

Carlisle answered. "We think the fetus might have an appetite closer to ours than toyours. We think it's thirsty."She blinked. "Oh. Oh."

"Your condition—both of your conditions—are deteriorating rapidly. We don't havetime to waste, to come up with more palatable ways to do this. The fastest way to testthe theory—"

"I've got to drink it," she concluded, tone lifeless, but Andy could feel the nerves that fluttered through her. She placed a reassuring hand to her knee, clearing the nerves so her mind was clear. "I can do that. Practice for the future, right?" 

Andy groans, dropping her head into her hands. "You're not funny," she whines. 

"So, who's going to catch me a grizzly bear?" Bella whispered.  

Carlisle and Edward exchanged a quick glance.

"What?"

"It's best if we don't cut corners, Bella. There is a direct route that will wield the best results," Carlisle answered. 

"If the fetus if craving blood," Edward continues hesitantly, "It won't be animal blood."

Her stomach twists and Andy jumps to her feet,  wobbling a little at the feeling that she was going to be sick. "I'm going to get some air," she breathes, tugging on the end of her baggy shirt -- Emmett's if the size was anything to go by, and the best lazy outfit she could throw together -- and running a shaky hand through her hair. "Um, I'm, uh, I need a bit of a break, no offence. Good luck, Bells, love ya." 

She stumbles away, catching herself against Jacob in the doorway as she does. "Want to come with me?" she whispers her offer. 

He shakes his head. "I- I need to stay to see this. I'll fill you in as soon as I can." 

Nodding, she continues on her way, blindly moving to the kitchen. She ignores Alice's hand and hopeful expression as she does, still at odds with the girl no matter how much it pained her, and reached for a glass. 

Silently, Esme gave her one already filled with water and helped guide her to the sliding glass doors. God, they had so many doors that lead outside in this house. 

"We can wait out here," the woman suggests, angling to chairs to face the direction of the reservation. 

"I'm not sure I would be able to take the smell," she admits after a moment, almost shameful of her words. 

"It's not your fault, Esme. You're hungry, I can feel it, I'm hungry too. What matters is that you knew your own limitations. I'm sure Bella won't mind that you had to step out," Andy tells her, grabbing her cold fingers that act as a wonderful anchor to the here and now. "She'll probably feel terrible that she inadvertently chased you out of your own home." 

"The scents going to linger," Emmett voices, walking around the side with his hands shoved deep in his pockets. His eyes a hauntingly dark colour. "That's going to suck." 

Swallowing thickly, she tried to focus on her own scent, dulling herself further to make it just a little easier for them. She wasn't sure if it worked, never having actively tried as much before. "I wish there was something more that I could do to help." 

"You've done more than enough for our family, Andy. You don't need to worry about us. We're strong," Esme tells her.

Pursing her lips, she looks off to the side, watching a couple of birds take flight from a tall pine. The rustle of leaves and needles soft and to her ears. She wasn't supernatural in the same way that vampires and wolves were, but she could hear the small wildlife that braved homing close to the residence. 

If only she could hear something bigger, if she could catch something bigger, but Andy was small, incapable of hunting and terrified of going into the woods alone. 

Anything could come across you in such a place, and she doubted the Cullen's owned a gun. 

Jumping to her feet, she spills water down her front in her haste to hand the glass back to Esme. 

"I had an idea, but don't tell anyone or they won't let me go through with it," she rambles. "I'll be safe, I promise. I'll be back soon." 

With that she runs off, following the instinctual path that lead to the glowing ball of boredom and focus that was Lynn. 

Andy didn't have weapons to hunt. She didn't have teeth and claw, super strength and speed, but she had the false sense of comfort that would lead an animal to trust her. 

And really, she just hoped Mr. Darcy never got wind of this plan because her cat was ridiculously intelligent and would likely never trust her again. 

***
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I live!! I don't remember when I last updated this book, but I missed my darling Andy so here she is, fighting through things as she does because she is my little fighter. 

unedited 

2020-03-19