Derek lifted his gaze again, scanning the room—the Cullens, the Salvadores, Stiles and Scott staring at him like he'd just declared war on sanity itself.
"And if that means burning alive in some ancient fire so she can live?" He gave a raw, humorless chuckle. "Then I'll burn."
"Derek think of her for a moment, how do you think she'll feel when she wakes up to find out that you gave your life to safe her. Leaving her behind with a newborn alone in this world?" Stiles asked.
Derek scoffed, "She won't be alone, she'll have you guys and I'll always be with her in spirit."
"Not meaning to break your bubble dude, but the kid has a point." Damian said as he shove his hands into his pockets, concluding: "That's an idiotic stunt, and that's a lot coming from me."
Derek bristled—a low guttural sound escaping his throat as he rose to his feet. His fists clenched—a muscle jumping in his jaw.
"I'm aware of how stupid this sounds," he snarled, "but that's because none of you get it. None of you understand what the Anima Cantat is like. None of you have felt what we feel together. None of you know what it's like to be one with her. So maybe keep your opinions to yourselves."
"I know that I'm only the psychic here, and that my vote counts nothing, but if the connection is thus powerful, how do you think Aria would feel knowing your no longer there?" Alice's question sounded wisely.
That made Derek falter—for the first time, uncertainty flashing across his face. "It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make," he managed, voice rough. "It's not that I don't understand the risk… but I can't stand by while she and the baby—"
Bella entered the room from out the shadows and let her tongue flow freely, "Pull your fucking head out of your ass and listen to yourself, will you? Alice's visions are only that, visions. She doesn't write your story. Fate isn't writing your story. You write your own story. Don't fuck up what you have, believe me when I tell you that a love like this doesn't come around knocking on your door twice!"
"And what the hell do you know about love?"
Everyone in the room went quiet—all eyes fixed on Derek and Bella.
"I know what it feels like to want something so bad that you'd have your body get ripped apart from the inside out, by a quickly growing fetus. I know what it feels like when venom floods through your veins like a tidal wave. Yet the silly thing about it, is that I would endure the pain again... all over again in the name of love. Now we can stand here all day long arguing about your stupidity and leave her to fate' hands, or you can roll the dies yourself." It was the most Bella had spoken so far—and Derek was stunned into silence.
He had no argument to match this one.
He looked back at Aria—eyes softening as his gaze traced the line of her face. And then he turned—meeting Bella's steady gaze.
"She'll hate me. She'll hate me for choosing this… for changing her. She asked out of fear not out of want."
"She'll hate you more for trading in your life to save hers," Alice said softly.
Derek stood frozen—his breath caught between heartbeats. Alice stepped forward, her dark eyes wide with certainty.
"I didn't see this before… but I see it now."
A pause. The room held its breath.
"You don't have to die to save her," she whispered. "The Anima Cantat bond—it's not about sacrifice. It's about balance. About becoming equal. Not one giving everything while the other takes… but both choosing each other… again and again."
She reached out, gently touching Aria's forehead—then looked at Derek with a ghost of a smile.
"You don't need to burn yourself alive for her love... You just need to let her save you too. You're love is already a burning flame."
"But wouldn't I be sacrificing my own child if I do change her?" Derek asked sadly.
There was a heavy silence before Rosalie responded—her voice measured, but edged with a hint of hope. "Not necessarily. I've heard of cases... cases where both mother and child survived the change." Her expression was hard to read—almost cautious. "It's rare... but there is precedent."
"You can always just make another one, it's not like you're eternally sterilized," Damian stated stoically with an undertow of rawness.
Everyone looks at him in utter disbelief, some even disgusted with his response. "What? Just stating the obvious!" He said nonchalantly.
It was Carlisle who eventually broke the silence—voice weary but not without a touch of humor. "You really need to work on your bedside manner."
"Will my bite hurt her? I mean, I wasn't turned, but born this way." Derek asked as he crouched down beside his love. "Scott did it hurt?"
The question was directed at Scott, who nodded after a beat. "Yeah… at first it felt like my veins were filled with fire. But then it eased up." He gave Derek an apologetic look, "Although that might be different for her… if your bite is stronger... She might..."
Derek looks up at Scott sternly. "Don't you dare finish that sentence!" He warned with glowing eyes.
Scott held his hands up defensively, but didn't back down. "You asked for honest, dude. I'm giving it."
Everybody's ears perked up as the far away sirens of an ambulance inched closer. "The time is ticking Derek, what's it going to be?" Jasper questioned, arm still wrapped around Alice's waist.
Derek hesitated, his fingers tightening around Aria's hand. "...If something goes wrong... if—"
"Nothing's going to go wrong," Carlisle spoke up firmly. He rested a comforting hand on Derek's shoulder. "I'll do everything in my power to keep both mother and child alive. What are you going to do, leave it to the hands of fate or take the first step yourself?" Carlisle asked as he looked straight at him.
Derek swallowed, steeling himself. He was torn between fear and love, desperate hope and crippling doubt. Finally, he lifted his gaze. "I'm going to save her." His voice was hoarse—a quiet growl. "I'm going to save them both."