Truth Chapter 1, a twilight fanfic

All characters are Stephenie Meyers. I don't own them I wish I did ;o)

This is my new story-

It is all human and I thought I would give it a try. I love twilight and the characters but this one was screaming at me to be started. I know I have 2 others on the go but this all started when I was listening to Everything from Lifehouse. So this story was born and out came the first chapter. It was like 40 pages written out by hand. I want to keep it in its original form but the 1st chapter would be way too long. It was originally supposed to be a one shot but kind of ballooned into this. So I am going to try and split the chapter. Hope you like it. I do.

Enjoy

~Munchkin1978~

Truth

Chapter 1

EPOV

I stood at the edge of the crowd. I towered over most of the people it seemed. No one here knew who I was yet. I didn't care if they did or not. I'd lost all rhyme or reason in that department. Yes I owned my own corporation. Yes I was a doctor too. I could be a farmer with my shirt off and the ladies would still want me. I didn't want them. I would throw them all away just to have her back. Just her. It was always her. I must have known it was always her. I'd questioned myself long ago and put everything aside when she left. I was only human. Any one would have done the same. She'd told me not to follow. How I wanted to follow. If I had I wouldn't be where I was today. My mother said I was always a shell but when I was with her I was alive and free. I'd seen her at my sister's wedding just one week ago. That fleeting moment my whole life was shooting into perspective. That beautiful vision of her standing not five feet in front of me talking to someone else.

I looked around again and took a hesitant step into the crowd. I knew she was here. I could sense her. I could feel her presence. I stepped forward again and everyone seemed to move for me. The sun was setting behind me through the glass. A few more minutes and it would be dark. A few more minutes and she would be gone. I heard the flight numbers being called out. I need two minutes. The flight can't happen yet. I can't loose her. Not again. I searched as I jogged through the crowded area. I saw people saying goodbye and greeting but I didn't see her. I searched again just for a glimpse of her. I knew she was here. I stopped when my eyes landed on her beautiful frame; her face was all I needed to see. There could be a million people in between us and she would be the only one I saw.

Her hair was still long past her shoulders straight but with a slight wave mixed into her chocolate brown locks. She didn't see me as I stepped forward again. She dropped her passport and she bent down to pick it up. Her ticket still in her hand. Her purse in the other. When she was upright again I was standing not two feet from her. I was drawn to her. I was always drawn to her. I waited for that fleeting moment when she finally saw me. When she did finally look up from her passport she questioned what she was seeing. Her eyes already red. She'd been crying. She stumbled again dropping her passport again. Only I reached down to pick it up with out taking my eyes off her. I placed it in her hand and breathed out her name.

"Bella…."

She watched me with her chocolate brown eyes. Her beautiful eyes brimming with more tears. I watched as one fell down her cheek. The perfect water droplet landed on my thumb as I reached for her face. She didn't pull away. She didn't flinch. The crowd around us was nothing. It was just us here. No one else to interfere. No one else to stop this moment from happening.

I wasn't going to let her go again. It was now or never. I took my chance. The one chance I'd been waiting years for. I pulled her small framed body to mine and held her gaze as I tipped her head to mine. She hesitated for a split second but I didn't. I placed my lips on hers. Her soft lips trembled under mine as I kissed her. I wanted to feel her. I wanted to feel that connection to her and only her. I wanted to feel the electric current run through my body like it always did when I was with her. She was my everything. She was all I ever wanted. She didn't resist, nor pull back. She kissed me back with her lips wanting more. Her lips were swelling under mine. Her tears falling as my hands caught them. I heard her drop everything she had. She was starting to slip. I pulled her closer keeping a tight hold of her. I finally pulled back letting both of us breathe.

"I can't let you go again…" I said to her quietly. "I can't bear the thought of loosing you again…"

She looked at me. Her red eyes brimming over with more tears.

"I have to go." She released my grasp I had on her. "I have to go. I can't be here right now." She bent down and picked up her purse and her passport with the ticket. She pulled her carryon luggage and left me standing there. I didn't turn. The presence was disappearing. My world was being invaded by the noise and the crowd around me.

I'd just kissed her and her me and still she left me standing here. I'd put everything on the line for this moment. My one moment with her. My final moment it seemed. I was angry with myself for letting it come to this. I'd let my heart think she wanted me too. If I had found her earlier? I guessed that wasn't the case it would have been the same. I turned to face the gate she had gone through but she was there in front of me again.

She looked at me with her red tear stained chocolate eyes. Her big eyes searching mine. The tears still brimming over. She stood on her toes and kissed me with such a passion it threw me off guard. The sparks and the electric current racing through both of us as I continued what she just started. She reached her hands into my hair and laced them in. I pulled her into me as she pulled her swollen lips back and smiled.

"I have to go see Charlie. He's not well…." She stated the tears still brimming over. "I will come back."

She reached up on her toes and kissed me again. The electric current returning for that split second.

"I promise to come back."

Before I could say another word she had disappeared again. Before I could even reach for her. She was all I wanted. I smiled I couldn't help but smile. I headed out of the crowd when they started to realize who I was. I moved quickly and swiftly out of the airport crowd. My Aston Martin sat parked where I had left it just minutes ago. I got in the driver seat and placed my head on the steering wheel. My mind was bouncing all over. Last night, today they were all a blur.

My Blackberry vibrated. I tossed it aside before it told me I had a new message. No one had my number but the company assistants. I picked it back up and the text flashed across the Blackberry.

'I'm coming back for you Edward. I can't loose you again either. Ever since you're sisters wedding… and last night.'

Wait…..

She wanted to stay. She wasn't running again.

'Go home Edward…. Wait for me.'

When the second text flashed across my screen I put the phone on the dashboard clip and sent a reply.

"Send as text….. I will not wait at home. I will come and find you."

The phone beeped as I pulled out from the self made parking spot I had made. I sped off toward my home. I wasn't at Alice's wedding very long. I couldn't stay with her there tempting me. I was the one who had left that time. Or so I had thought. She was pulling away as I was leaving that night. I realized she was my everything. I had spent years brooding over loosing her that day. My emotions put aside but not forgotten.

I sped along the highway always looking in my mirror. I pushed the button on my steering wheel and placed a call to my assistant. I didn't wait for a hello just barked out the order.

"Henry get the plane ready. I want it ready in less than an hour. I need to be in Forks immediately."

"Yes sir."

I ended the call. It was my plane. I could use it as I saw fit. I didn't have anyone to answer to but myself. This was important. She was important. I would go and get her. Bring her back to us.

I pulled into my long winding drive and put the pedal to the floor. I came to a stop at the end and left the car in the moment it stopped. I ran up the steps, flung the door open and ran right smack into Irina my housekeeper.

"Sir?"

"Irina I will be away on a business trip for a few days. Cancel all my calls for the next week."

I ran past her like a school child on Christmas morning. I stopped at my bedroom and pulled out my bag as I threw the clothes and items into it. I reached for the drawer that I kept locked. I took the key out and opened it. My previous life was in there. She was in there. My life with her. Or almost with her. My hand lay on the letter with the ring attached.

Her letter.

Her ring.

I picked it up as if it would explode in my hands. I tucked inside my pocket and put the ring on my pinky finger. It was hers. It was always hers. It would always remain hers. I locked it back and zipped up my bag. I left abruptly running into Irina again as I went.

"Sorry Dr. Cullen your father is on the phone."

"Transfer it to my Blackberry in the car."

"Yes sir."

I dashed out the door no bothering to close it behind me. I had thrown my bad into the back and sat down. My father was waiting as slammed the door shut.

"What is it dad?" I didn't want to sound curt but I was in a rush.

"Your supposed to be here Edward where are you?"

Damn. I had forgotten I had a lunch with both my parents about the future of the children's program at the hospital.

"Sorry dad. Something came up. I have to head to Washington."

"The storms are bad in the Washington area. Don't fly it yourself okay." I heard the note of concern in his voice. He knew who I was going after. She was only at their house yesterday.

"I'm not flying it myself."

Now I was worried. Bella was in the air already. I didn't think to check the weather patterns. But Washington has never had storms like this before.

"Two planes are down. One is still in the air. Seattle is re-directing flights. Your sister is trying to come home with Jasper."

I had forgotten she was staying in Seattle for a few days before coming home. "I forgot she was out there." If she was stuck then maybe the two planes went down before Bella's took off. I could only hope. Everything was put aside. I wasn't a doctor now. I wasn't a business man. I was going to get my love. "Dad I need to go. Tell mom I'm sorry and I'll make it up to her when I come back."

"Go get her son and be careful."

He knew.

I cut the call and placed another out to Henry.

"Did you prep the plane?"

"Yes it is waiting for you at the air field."

"Good. Do another thing for me. Find out what flight Bella Swan is on? She is flying into Seattle. In about an hour now. I need to know if it is still in the air. Call me back Henry."

"Yes sir."

I sped along the tree lined roads till the airport started to come into view. I pulled up and stopped the car. I pulled up and stopped the car. I pulled my Blackberry out of the clip and Henry called through.

"She is on two possible flights sir. Flight 1056 or 1096 to Seattle. Both flights were in the air. One has crashed sir…."

No.

That can't be right. Not Bella's flight. She was just in my arms. She was going to come back for me. I was going to go find her.

"Which one?" I spat out.

"1056 sir."

"I want the flight lists from both flights. Send them to me Henry. I need to see them. I won't take anything less than a full list."

"Yes sir."

I pulled my bags out of the car and dashed into the plane. The plane was in the air ten minutes later. Henry hadn't called me back. I scrolled into my messages. Nothing yet. I lingered on the text's Bella had sent. Re-reading them for my sanity. Where was that list? I needed to know Bella was okay. I was not going to loose her like this. I couldn't loose her again.

"Damn it Henry hurry up." I yelled out. Fuck where were the lists?

The phone buzzed in my hand and the flight lists popped up on my screen.

"Sir you should sit down we are going into a rough weather." The pilot on the intercom said.

I hadn't realized I was pacing. I found my seat and sat down. I buckled up. I scrolled through the confirmed lists one by one. There on the bottom of flight 1056 was Bella Swan confirmed passenger with a ticket number.

No…..

No….

I threw the phone as the name was etched into my eyes. I heard it shatter against the wall of the plane as the turbulence hit. I put my head in my hands. My Bella was down there in that crash. I shouldn't have let her go. I should have took her home right then. The doctor in me was back. It was in full gear now. I needed to know where the plane was. Where it crashed. Flight 1056 needed to be found. I needed her to be okay. She had to be.

Every scenario was running through my head. Every moment from before we parted ways the first time rang into my head like it was only yesterday. I remember her accepting my asking her to marry me.

Flash back….

"Edward it is beautiful here. How did you find it?"

"I was hiking with Emmett and I found it. I thought it was perfect for this."

"What is this?"

"This is me asking you to marry me. Be my wife forever and always. Grow old with me, have kids with me. Let's just be….."

"Oh Edward….."

She had pulled me up from the ground and kissed me. A true seal the deal kiss. That kiss lead to what we did next. It was a good thing I had brought a blanket so we could just lay down and talk and dream about our life in the future. I had just laid out the blanket before she kissed me again. I didn't stop her. I was too caught up in the moment myself. It wasn't our first time nor would it be our last.

I recalled undoing her shirt buttons letting her bra show. She had pushed me back onto the blanket after removing my shirt. She had run her hands over each of my biceps leaving a hot trail over each section she trailed her fingers over. I reached for her waist but found my hand traveling over her breasts and popping them out of her bra. I was doing what she was doing. She had stood removing her pants and mine. She had kneeled back over me. I knew what she was doing. She was going to ride me like she loved to do. She didn't have to wait long as I entered her with a thrust of my hips. I entered her and re-entered her as she moved atop me. I held her waist and guided her. Making her feel every thrust as she had thrown her head back in pleasure. I wasn't going to last long if she kept this up. I didn't of course. She had cried out as her orgasm hit her bringing me over the edge. I had grunted and let out a holler before releasing inside of her. We had no worries.

"Yes Edward I will marry you and be yours forever and always."

She had collapsed on top of me and kissed me as I slipped the ring on her finger.

"Forever and always my love."

I recalled the final days before the wedding. She was disappearing going out with out telling anyone. We were going to our Jack and Jill and had too much to drink. We had come home and went at it like it was our first time. She was the instigator. She wanted me like she never had before. We had promised each other then that we would not have that much to drink ever again. She had stayed the night and when I woke there was a letter in her place and her ring. My mind went through all the memories of her up to the wedding and then settled on just yesterday. Yesterday was spent talking and then being together again. I took the letter in my hands and unfolded it before I knew what I was doing.

Edward,

Please forgive me…

I can't marry you. I want to. I really do but I can't do this. I'm sorry.

I love you and I'm sure I always will but I am too young. There is a whole world out there for me, for you. Go be who you want to be. Be the doctor you wanted or business owner. Have the kids you wanted. I can't be the one to hold you back. Please don't follow me. My mind is set. Nothing will change that. Please just be….

Please tell everyone thank you. Especially your sister.

The ring is beautiful but I can't keep it. It is not right if I can't marry you.

Your love,

Bella

I tossed the letter aside. The memory of that morning fresh in my head again. The unspoken goodbye in the form of a letter... Something had scared her. Something had changed in her. The plane shook with the turbulence as I blocked it out. I hated it as much as the next person. The pilots are handling it I told myself. I didn't dare think that we could go down too. I didn't want to think of Bella hurt and alone.

The plane shook again and I closed my eyes to see her beautiful face. If she was gone I wanted to be too. I wanted to be with her always. Forever and always we had said. The plane shook again and I opened my eyes as the pilots came over the intercom.

"Dr. Cullen the worst seems to be over. They are diverting us to land at a near by Seattle air strip."

I pushed the button and replied

"Find out where flight 1056 crashed. I need to know."

"Yes sir."

I remained in my seat for fear the turbulence would start again. The plane landed with a gentle thud on the ground and I was thanking my lucky stars I was okay but on the other hand wondering what Bella's future held. When the plane came to a stop I jumped from my seat and found that my mind was in rescue mode. I needed information on flight 1056. The pilot had come out as I went to open the door.

"Sir the plane crashed just over the hills there. They were supposed to land here but never made it. I don't suggest you involve yourself. I know you are a Dr.... But there were not many survivors." He paused. "Not even the pilots survived. I am being told."

Not many survivors.

No…

Bella had to have lived. I can still feel her presence. She can't be gone.

I dashed off the plane and there was a car waiting for me. Henry had sent a car. I'd have to thank him later. I took off in the car and realized there was a phone already set up. The ring startled me as the call came through the vehicle.

"Sir it's Henry. I took the liberty of getting you a new phone. I had a feeling you didn't like the news."

"You thought right."

"Sir, things are chaos at the crash site. You shouldn't be going there on your own."

"Henry I am a doctor. I have seen worse in the OR." I needed to find Bella. I needed to get to her if she was still alive. She had to be alive.

"I know sir but your also much needed. This Ms. Swan must be….."

"She is of no concern to you Henry. She is my concern."

I didn't like cutting him off but Bella was my life. He'd have to learn that. I drove and arrived to see the fire trucks putting out flames. There was EMT crew and other emergency help arriving. I didn't see anyone going to or tending to survivors. Where there survivors? There had to be. I dashed from the car and slipped my phone into my pocket as I went. I headed straight for the plane. I looked as I ran estimating where she may have been sitting. The doors where open but no one came out. I climbed up the ladder into the plane to no objections from anyone. Who was running this operation? I could have been anyone. The plane was dark. Darker than I expected with a fire blazing in the back. It only lighted the walls as it was being contained by the fire crew. I stepped down the isle being careful as I went. I looked at the bodies. The stench of the fire was starting to drift into the plane. What had happened here? What had happened to the plane to cause it to go down? I looked into the faces of the people that sat at the front of the plane and they had pure fright. There was no sign of life in them. It was as if they were scared to death. Although I know that is not the case but it was the way it looked. I hesitated at each row looking for Bella and any sign of life from the passengers. I saw none. I stopped in the next row and still no Bella and no life. Where was she? Was she on the other flight that landed? Was Henry wrong? I continued till I reached the middle of the plane and there is where I stopped. Bella was lying lifeless in the seat with her seat belt on. Her purse and carry on that she was carrying was strewn across the floor. I had no issue with that. I had issue with her lying lifeless before me. It couldn't be. She could not be gone. I kicked myself into gear. I leaned down over her and listened. Nothing at first. I listened again and heard a faint breath. She was alive. I undid the seat belt carefully not to jostle her. I quickly took her pulse. It was there as faint as her breath. My heart started to soar but I had to work quickly. I had no idea what kind of damage had been done. I checked her bones to some degree and slowly picked her up. She started to groan before she passed out entirely. Now I was worried. I carried her off the plane stopping one of the EMT crew at the bottom.

"She is alive."

"Hand her here sir. We will get started on her."

"I'm a doctor and she is my wife." I lied. They wouldn't let me stay with her. I knew that all too well. I knew the system and the way it worked. "I didn't see any other life on the plane. There may be others that survived."

Some of the EMT crew was scrambling into the plane now. They realized that it was safe and no fire was in the main cabin. I looked at the lifeless Bella before me. She was alive but barely. I wasn't going to let her from my sight. Never again. I kissed her bloody head and moved her hair from her face. I took the EMT bag to no objections. I was a doctor first and business man second. I wanted to look after Bella. It was her life I needed to save now.

I checked her vitals as the EMT wrote them down on the chart she had with her. From my conclusion she needed a hospital right away. She needed a chopper ambulance but I knew that was going to be out of the question with the fire still blazing. I felt her ribs again and realized she had a couple of broken ribs.

"I can take her to the hospital Dr. Cullen."

I looked at the young EMT before me and closed my mouth. Was I that noticeable right now?

"I know who you are Dr. Cullen. Your father taught me in Chicago."

I quickly wrapped my head around that my father had taught this young girl everything she knew.

"If you want to follow…. I'll make sure she is okay."

I nodded. She hooked up all the monitors as I closed the doors. Bella's faint heart beat belted out through the monitor. It was music to my ears. I left the plane crash site wishing I could stay and help find the survivors. I was in this for helping people. But Bella was who I had come for. I had saved her. I followed the ambulance to the hospital. She took short cuts and weaved in and out of traffic making it to the hospital in record time. I threw the vehicle Henry had for me into a parking spot and ran into the hospital ER. I pulled out my phone and hastily dialed home.

"Emmett put Dad on the phone now." I yelled into the phone as he answered.

"Sure bro, where is the fire?"

I didn't respond as Emmett had no idea what was going on and what was going to happen. I had to stay in control of this situation.

"Edward where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Dad. Bella is not. She was on that plane that crashed in Seattle. I had to find her Dad. I wasn't going to loose her again. Not like this."

"Edward calm down." He knew me and my pressure was going to spike and I would be in a robot mode. I would be controlling what I couldn't control. Forcing what I shouldn't be forcing. That was why I had removed myself from the being a doctor full time. Only part time now. But I would be full time for Bella. For her and only her. "What is going on? Is she alive?"

"Yes she is alive, barely. She has a faint heart beat. Broken ribs and don't know what else. I am pretty sure she has internal bleeding of some sort. She had her seat belt on in the plane."

"I'll make a couple of calls. Where is she now?"

"Being admitted as the only survivor known."

"Edward you can't work on her. You know that. It is a doctor's code of etiquette. You're too close. Let them work on her. Don't interrupt. I know you."

"I need to know Dad."

"They will tell you. Dr. Howard is still the chief of staff. He will find you. You completed your medical degree under him. You know him. He will look out for Bella."

"Is Alice still here?"

"She has not called to say if she left. I am assuming she is still here."

"Tell her to come to the hospital. Bella will need all the support she can get."

"We will. I will be along in a day. I will make sure all the people I know work on her."

I shut the phone down. My father was right. I couldn't work on her. I was too close. But I was not going to loose site of her. I was not going to. I owed this to her.

I headed with the stretcher and the young EMT right into the ER. No stopping at the go. I knew my way around this ER. I was in control and control was good for me right now. I didn't have to wait but a moment before the chief of staff came by and pulled Bella into his control. He took all of us into a room and took the chart from the EMT.

"Thanks Angela."

"Edward what is the matter. Your father just called me telling me that you were here with an emergency."

"She was in the crash. Flight 1056."

"You need to let me look after her. You are too close Edward. Leave her with me. I will look after her. Carlisle told me to do it myself."

I knew I was close. I felt my control slipping. I was always in control. I never failed. I didn't want to fail Bella. I told her I would find her and bring her back. I felt the control turn over to Dr. Howard. I stepped back but balked. I wanted to stay with her. My life was lying before me.

"Edward go… She will be okay. I will look after personally. She is fighting. I can hear it in her heart beat. She is fighting."

I leaned into her face and kissed her bloody temple, whispering the words as I went. "I still love you Bella Swan. I came and found you." I backed out of the room as the nurses and other doctors converged on her. I stood outside the door watching like an expectant father would be. The tables were turned on me. I was usually the one inside making the decisions, sending the orders and doing the exams. I slammed my fist into the wall as the thoughts of all the horrible things that could be wrong went through my head. The broken bones would mend but internally she could be a mess. Was I too late? I couldn't let myself think that. I couldn't. She had to be alright. I put my head on the wall and ran my hand through my hair. I slammed my fist into the wall again only to have someone shrieking out down the hall.

"Where is my brother? Where is Dr. Cullen?"

"Alice…" I yelled down the hallway. She turned. I didn't care I was yelling. I needed my control back. She took off running towards me and crashed into me. Jasper was seconds behind her. She hugged me and I hugged her back.

"Dad told me….. Is she okay? Is she alive?"

"No… She is alive, barely breathing."

"Why are you out here? Why aren't you in control in there?"

"I'm too close. I can't work on her Alice." God I wish I wasn't out here. I wanted to be there with her. Fighting for her. Helping her. I was being tested. I knew I was being tested.

"What happened? We only got married a week or so ago."

I explained everything to her. Jasper didn't say a word. He was the calm in Alice's storm. If he wasn't there I am sure she would be ordering people around. I told her about seeing her at the wedding, her leaving moments before me. How I had seen her just the day before and how everything was put into perspective for me. I'd never told anyone that it was Bella that left in the first place. Alice was actually quiet. She was in shock and that was not like her. She stood when the doctor's came out.

I caught a glimpse of Bella hooked to the machines I had worked with so many times before. Her heart beat was beating rapidly now. I smiled. It was truly music to my ears. I must be nuts to be smiling but I was elated that she was fighting. That her heart beat was still there.

Dr. Howard stepped forward making me sit down in the seat behind me. "Sit Dr. Cullen. I know you. I know my walls. I'd like them in one piece." I sat obliging him. I didn't want to waste time with this. I needed answers. "She is fighting. She is going to be okay. I have done my assessment. I am just waiting on the x-rays."

I looked at Alice. Relief was plastered on her face. It was then that I realized Dr. Howard didn't know who Alice was. "Dr. Howard this is Alice. My sister and her husband Jasper."

"Like I said Edward, she is fighting. She is not going to let this go. There must be something good that she is trying to get back too."

I looked at Alice. She looked like she ate a canary. She didn't say anything. Her eyes were huge and she shrunk back into Jasper. I returned my gaze to the conversation.

"She has 4 broken ribs, a broken finger. I am surprised nothing else is broken. She does have some internal bleeding from what I can see but I need the x-rays to confirm how much. She will have a slight concussion and has a pretty bad gash in the back of her head. She is very lucky you were there. Much longer and she would have stopped fighting and perished along with the other passengers." He paused as he spoke to me directly. He was not paying attention to Alice nor Jasper. He was directing his comments to me. "She needs rest to fight. From what I understand her father is the police chief in Forks. Is that not where you were from originally? He had a specialist appointment in the hospital today."

"Charlie is here?" Alice blurted out.

"He has been notified she is here."

I rose from the chair only to stumble back down into it. They were moving Bella down the hall. If I hadn't found her when I did…. Damn it…. If I'd only been quicker. If I'd only made her stay off that flight. If only I'd kissed her longer making her miss the flight.

"Edward, she will be okay. Don't beat yourself up over it. Who is she anyhow? You seem connected to her."

"She was going to be my wife…" I told him quietly. My mind drifted gently from the here and now to that day I purposed to her. I knew my eyes glazed over. I didn't care. I was lost in thought. It was moments later I noticed Charlie out of the corner of my eye.

I stood quickly my memories forgotten for the moment. I pulled Alice and Jasper into the room across the hall. Charlie didn't need to see me right now. If he knew I was here he'd probably have me killed no doubt. I am sure he had no idea I was the one who brought his daughter in and saved her.

I waited till he was signing papers to leave with Alice. I wasn't leaving Bella tonight. I watched as more people were brought in. Most of them deceased with the same frightened look upon their faces. A few were alive but worse off than Bella. I gathered they would not live through the night. It was night. It must be the middle of the night but the words of Dr. Howard rang in my head over and over. 'She is very lucky you were there.'

My phone vibrated. I absently answered it.

"What is it?" I said curtly into the phone.

"Dr. Cullen the east India shipment is delayed sir. They need to talk to you."

"Sorry Henry." I paused. "Can't it wait till tomorrow I am rather busy?" I paused and thought twice about what I had just said. "Better yet forward the call to my Blackberry."

"It is alright sir. I will."

I waited a moment before hanging up. Alice's face was telling me I shouldn't have taken this call.

"Edward Cullen, your doing business while Bella is here?"

"I have to… It can't be helped Alice." I said curtly to her. I was in control of my company as she was in control of hers. The east India shipment was one that I wanted to go through. The young children needed the medicine.

I stepped away from Alice and her glare and accepted the call.

"Why is it delayed? ...... What trouble? ...... No. Change the flight. Make it leave earlier to bypass it… It's the only way it will get through….. Don't you dare argue with me Jessica. Just do it. Email me the flight plan. I want to confirm it in an hour. Do you understand me? .... Good…. Get it done then."

I hung up the phone and held it in my hands. I was a doctor and a business man. I helped people all over the world yet I couldn't stop Bella from getting on that flight.

It must have been an hour or so later before I heard a scream of pain which alerted me that it was Bella. It was coming from her ICU room. I ran as my phone vibrated. I slipped it in my pocket as my mind was on one thing and one thing only. Bella. I stopped at the door as Charlie saw me. I watched him as I watched the doctors try and calm her down. I took a hesitant step into the room as Charlie blocked the direct path to her.

The unspoken 'you're not welcome here' was enough. I turned to go but not before I saw her with frightened eyes. She was looking past all the doctors and nurses. She had locked my eyes with hers. I turned to go and she screamed again.

"Dr. Cullen welcome back! Are you here to look over the patient?" One of the older doctors asked smiling warmly.

"Yes." I absent mindedly said. I had locked eyes with Bella again. I moved past Charlie much to his hate. I kept a loose idea where he was at all times as I turned my full attention to Bella.

"Where does it hurt?" I asked for Charlie's sake. I knew where she was hurting with out the chart. I had done the initial diagnosis of her ribs.

Bella closed her eyes as I leaned in and asked her again. I whispered to her not wanting to alarm her. "I told you I would come for you."

Her eyes closed fully and she lay back gently. She was calm now. I stepped back and went to walk past Charlie. The unspoken words still unspoken. I didn't want to cause a ruffle with Charlie. She said he was not well.

I was just out the door when he finally spoke.

"Edward."

I turned to face him. I nodded that I had heard him.

"Thank you. Thank you for bringing her back."

I nodded again and left the room of my own free will. If I'd stayed I would have said something I would have regretted. Bella and I had broken up once before and after that things between Charlie and I were curt and borderline speaking.

I waited in the room across the hall that was empty. Once Bella was stable enough I'd have her moved again to her own private room. No expense to her. She deserved the best care in the world if it wasn't by me.

Alice had gone in to check on Bella for me and Charlie hadn't moved an inch. Alice didn't go it if Charlie was there. I'd given her strict instructions. My phone was updating me on the shipments and everything was resolving itself. I'd only ever fired two people in my lifetime and both were dipping into and stealing from the medical shipments. I needed a distraction. I needed more than a distraction. I needed Bella.

I guess I'd fallen asleep because Alice was waking me taking my phone from my hands.

"Edward go see her. Charlie is gone for the moment."

"Thanks." I said standing up. I needed to change my clothes I realized. I had Bella's blood on me still from when I carried her off the plane. I stepped into the hallway where Jasper was asleep in the chair out there.

"Go to a hotel Alice. Take Jasper. I am not going anywhere tonight."

I left them both and entered Bella's ICU room. She was asleep. Her heart monitors beating out loudly. She shifted and her eyes opened. A scream of pain followed

"Stay very still Bella." I said coming to her side. "You need to stay very still okay."

The gash in her head was wrapped with gauze around all of her head. The blood from it still on my shirt.

"I don't want to sleep. I'll have nightmares." She told me quietly.

"You won't sleep much in here. I never did and I worked here." I was trying to keep it light.

I wondered how much she knew of my life. How much she may have read? How much she believed to be true and fiction? I was a bachelor. I dated and everything was public due to the paparazzi. I had a fortune 500 medical company that was building up its medical base faster than any other of its kind. That got me to where I am today. They call me a playboy but now I don't care. I was sure they would be camped out on the hospital property somewhere. They always found me. It never failed. I was without my security but I was safe inside the hospitals many walls.

"Why did you come Edward?" She asked not looking at me.

"I wasn't going to loose you again." I told her quietly.

I waited a moment and when she didn't speak I continued.

"I couldn't stay away from you any longer." I paused again waiting for her to say something, anything that would tell me what she was thinking. When she didn't again I continued. "Why did you leave all those years ago?"

"I didn't think I could handle being married." She told me quietly. She was looking at her hands. She still had not looked up to see me. "I wanted you to be happy with what you wanted to do. You had such aspirations to be in the medical field. If I had married you we wouldn't be where we are today."

"You don't know that Bella." I paused watching her. "Something changed that night."

"I…. Yes I had flashes of our life. I couldn't bear to see it come true."

I spun the ring on my pinky finger that was hers. It would always be hers.

"You didn't need to return the ring. It was yours. It will always be yours. No matter if we were together or apart."

"I didn't feel right keeping it."

"Bella it's yours. I want you to have it."

"You give it back to me when the time is right." She paused for a split second and finally looked at me. Tears were falling from her perfect chocolate brown eyes. I stood and wiped them away as she continued. "I'm glad you found me." She smiled. "I don't think I can stay away from you anymore."

"From now on promise me that you will only fly with me."

She nodded. I didn't know if she knew I could fly now. I sat on the edge of the bed and held her hands. Something had changed in her. She was back to the Bella before she had left. The Bella that held my heart was sitting before me.

"I'm scared Edward, I'm scared that it is too late for us. There is so much that has passed between us while we were apart. Can we still be together? I sat on that plane and as it was coming down I could only see us falling apart again."

"I see us together Bella. I always have. I'll prove it to you."

She watched me. Her thoughts passing with each and every expression.

"Okay." She stated simply.

"Okay." I paused. My heart was pounding. "You'll see. We will make it work. I won't let anything else happen to you."

"Okay."

The drugs were starting to kick into her system making her drowsy. I went and sat back in the chair and stood when the doctors came in. I was not the doctor on this case but I didn't want to interfere. The knowledge of what was wrong was killing me of course but I knew she was in excellent hands with Dr. Howard. I left the hospital to get a shower and a change of clothes. The paparazzi were finally starting to camp out. I bypassed them with out being noticed. It was late and dark still.

On my way back I bypassed them again with out being noticed. I stopped in the flower shop and the gift center and by time I made it back to her room it was mid morning the following day. I stepped into the room and was greeted with Charlie and a small boy of about 7 years sitting with Bella playing video games. I stood in the door way and Charlie looked up. Bella was alerted and started talking to her father.

"It's okay dad." I heard her call out. "I want him here."

"Okay Bells. I'll be right out side."

"Okay dad." She watched him go and turned her attention to me. "Hi. You changed." She was trying to sound perky. I knew better. She was in pain. She was trying not to show it.

"Yes." I found my eyes had drifted to her companion on the bed. The young boy was so engrossed with the video game that he didn't look up when I spoke or when Bella spoke.

"Edward…." She began looking at me. Her eyes were sad. Something was wrong. "This is Charlie." She paused taking a breath but the exhale was labored. Something was wrong. I went and sat with her on the other side of the bed. "Your son."

I watched her as she spoke. The boys name is Charlie. Like her father. Okay. It was a good name for a young child. A strong name.

Whoa.

Hold on….

Wait just a minute….

She said his name was Charlie and that he was my son. This couldn't be. It wasn't possible…. Was it? Could it be? It has been about what 8 years or so, maybe less.

"His real name is Edward Charlie Masen Swan." She paused the sadness in her eyes gone. It was replaced with a sparkle of knowledge. "He's your son." She told me again. I'd heard her the first time but the second time didn't want to sink in.

I looked at her as if she was speaking a foreign language to me. I looked at the boy. He finally looked up from his game. The coppery reddish brown bronze hair stood out now. The green eyes flashed at me. They were as large as Bella's but looked like mine. The nose and the features matched mine to a 'T'. I was starring into a mini mirror. I was watching myself sit on the bed.

"My son….." I didn't know whether to be angry, happy, sad or ecstatic.

"Edward…. Please understand I had to do this. He is the main reason I left. I had a suspicion that I was. I wasn't going to be the one reason you were held back."

The tears fell from Bella's eyes as she pleaded with me. He was the reason. This little boy, this young life was the reason we fell apart so many years ago. I was speechless.

Okay so I was thinking about splitting it up. I just couldn't do that. It was too hard to split. So I think I am going to keep the other chapters together too.

Please tell me what you think!

I know today is Christmas. This is kind of a treat. I will be finishing the other stories but this one was screaming at me.

The songs for this story so far are:

From the beginning to when she goes through the gate is Everything by Lifehouse

From when she comes back out to when Edward leaves the airport All we Are by OneRepublic

Other songs in the playlist for the chapter are:

Say (All I need) OneRepublic

Don't you dare- Alexz Johnson (from instant star)

Porcelain Heart – Barlow Girl

When Bella is explaining that Charlie is her son and Edward's I was listening to Apologize by OneRebpulic but Hurricane by 30 Seconds to Mars was playing too.

Hope everyone enjoyed this and the playlist.