( outfit for
chapter above )

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chapter fourteen
good thing i've got a strong stomach.

       "Are you cold?" Edward asked as he stared down at Bella.

Christina scooted her— now warm— body closer to Bella's feet as Jacob moved on the floor. "Got it," he muttered. He raised his arm to rest near Bella's stomach as Christina grabbed Bella's feet and allowed her to stretch out.

Bella hummed lowly towards Jacob. "Don't do that."

"Do what?" he asked.

"Smile like I'm your favorite person in the world," she answered lowly.

Jacob shrugged. "You're one of them."

Bella hummed again as her eyes closed. "Feels complete when you're here, Jake." Everyone tensed as Bella hugged the bucket in her arms closer, coughing dryly into it.

"I thought the steaks were working," Christina muttered sadly as Bella dry heaved. "We need to find something for her to ingest."

"If only I could see the fetus—"

"The baby," Rosalie corrected.

Alice ignored her blonde sister as she continued, "I would be able to see what it wants."

It was silent for a moment before Edward spoke up, a simmer of hope in his voice. "Think you might be right. Jacob just had an idea."

Jacob scoffed with a shake of his head. "It wasn't an idea. It was a snide comment."

"What were you thinking?" Bella asked, leaning her head up to stare at her best friend.

Jacob still had a half smile on his face at the idea. "That it was probably looking for someone to sink it's teeth into."

"He's thirsty," Christina mumbled.

"I know the feeling," Emmett pouted as he looked down. Christina patted his arm softly in comfort.

"If it's craving," Edward started. "It's not gonna want animal blood."

Carlisle hummed. "I have some O-negative laid aside for Bella." He left to run upstairs to his office.

Christina's throat clenched harshly at the thought of blood. She robotically got up from the couch. "Annie, come with me." The six year old immediately ran to her mother as they walked outside onto the porch.

"Walk with me," Alice said, also grabbing Jasper's hands as they walked upstairs into their room.

"You really know how to clear a room," Emmett joked as he watched everyone take off.

Bella rolled her eyes at his dry humor.

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        Christina watched as Annie played around the field in the backyard. She had warned Annie previously not to go close to the trees, and not to leave her eye sight. The six year old agreed before kicking around a soccer ball.

Christina continued to hold her breath as she listened to their conversation inside. Bella was easily sipping down the blood from the cup that Carlisle gave her. Christina's throat was burning at the thought of the blood, haven't been able to go hunting or go grocery shopping since the wolves descended.

A short whine caught Christina's attention away from the blood inside. She gave Seth a small smile as he crawled out of the trees. Annie squealed excitedly as she met him halfway. She hung off the side of his neck as he walked closer to the steps Christina was sitting on.

"Hey, Seth," Christina greeted softly.

He gently plopped Annie onto the ground before disappearing around the house. Annie pouted until he came back into her sights, making Christina roll her eyes at her daughter's dramatics.

"Hey, Nina," Seth greeted back finally. He picked Annie up easily, throwing her into the air, making her laugh. "Congratulations on your pregnancy."

A genuine smile came over Christina's face. "Thank you, Seth."

"No problem," he grinned. "I think your power's pretty cool. I mean, you are literally the only vampire to be able to get pregnant."

"Maybe I can be put in Genesis Book of World Records," Christina joked; they both shared a laugh together.

"How's Bella?" Seth asked. He let Annie back down, letting her run to the soccer ball again. He sat down next to the young mother as she sighed.

"I think she's doing better now," Christina muttered. She looked over her shoulder but couldn't see the group inside from her position. "Jacob had a bright idea to give her blood— and I think it's working."

Seth's nose scrunched up. "Ew."

Christina chuckled as she rubbed Seth's hair.

"As long as she's getting better," he muttered, his nose still scrunched up in disgust.

"Seth, you're too sweet for your own good," Christina laughed before resting her head on his shoulder. "I guess if I had to pick someone my daughter's going to be stuck with her whole life... well, I'm just glad it's you."

Seth practically vibrated in his spot from happiness; Christina's compliment meaning more to him that she could ever know.

"Jeez, Seth," Christina laughed as she sat back up. "Go burn off some energy or something, kid."

Seth hopped up from the stairs, a smile still gracing his face. "Okay! I'm gonna go run the perimeter."

Christina gave him a single nod, before chuckling under her breath as she watched him run into the woods. He gave Annie a high five as he passed her, making Christina's heart warm just slightly at their interaction.

She didn't want to like Seth imprinting on Annie— but she also knew that it could have been someone way worse... like Jacob.

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        "Is it safe?" Christina asked as she peaked into the kitchen.

Annie ran through Christina's legs, making the mother blink owlishly. She just ran around the whole backyard, how did her kid still have that much energy?

"It's safe," Carlisle nodded.

Christina sighed before closing the back door behind her. She started digging through the fridge, trying to find something to appease her appetite. She almost pouted as she didn't see anything she cared to eat in the fridge. She peaked in the freezer before a groan left her lips.

"Is that my sweatshirt?" Carlisle asked as he watched the mother walk around the kitchen trying to find something to eat. He became amused as she turned to him with a deadpan expression.

"This is about the only piece of clothing I feel comfortable in," she frowned before going back to looking through the cabinets. "There's almost nothing to eat."

Carlisle snuck up behind Christina, wrapping her in his arms. He rested his hands on her stomach, and his face in the side of her neck. A smirk came to his face as she continued to walk around the kitchen with him wrapped around her; looking for something to eat before grumbling and taking out the chicken from the fridge.

"I guess chicken will be fine," she huffed. "Remind me to ask Seth to take down a deer for me, and bring me home some red meat."

"We're not here to grocery shop for you," Jacob muttered as he walked through the kitchen towards the back door.

"Someone needs to!" She shouted back as the back door closed shut.

He chuckled in her ear, making a familiar fire settling in her gut. A few kicks came to her stomach, kicking both of Carlisle's hands.

"Your child has some powerful legs," Christina grunted as she walked closer to the stove.

She threw the chicken in a pan as Carlisle let go with a laugh. He leaned on the island behind him as he answered, "my child, huh?"

"Yep." Christina popped the 'p' as she glanced at him over her shoulder. "I'm sure he's got your long ass legs."

He chuckled with a shake of his head.

"Keep laughing," she teased. "If this baby comes out over ten pounds, we're gonna throw fists."

Carlisle just laughed louder, as Christina smiled looking down the chicken; missing the sound of his genuine laughter.

Carlisle continued to watch Christina cook the chicken with a grin on his face. Every time she turned around, he would be staring at her with the same smile.

"Grab me three plates, please?" she asked kindly. She turned off the stove as Carlisle did what she asked. He held out the plates to the young mother. "Thank you. Can you find Annie for me, while I try to give some food to Bella?"

"Of course," he murmured. He landed a kiss on the side of her head before disappearing upstairs.

She grabbed onto two plates before walking into the living room. She paused as she watched Edward lean over Bella's stomach as she cried.

"Uh," she cleared her throat. "Should I come back?"

Bella shook her head, a smile gracing her face as she looked to her sister. "No, no. Edward just heard our baby's thoughts."

"Oh, that's handy." Christina gave Bella her dinner as she sat down on the couch. "What's the babe got to say?"

"He likes your voice," Edward commented, looking to Christina. She paused in lifting the piece of chicken to her mouth at Edward's voice. "He recognizes it."

"Wow," she muttered.

"I can hear your baby's mind as well," Edward muttered quietly, paying attention to what he was hearing. "They, uh... don't like the chicken."

Christina deadpanned as she dropped the half eaten chicken back on the plate. "Alright." Bella and Edward chuckled as she slid the plate onto the coffee table. "I give up. I'm finding Seth. I need venison."

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It's almost time to meet the nuggets 👀