This was originally a One-shot that I have already written into a full fic. I have several chapters in hand and if you like it... leave me a comment and that will speed up my updates.

I have several people to thank here. Let me start with Lindz who made the awesome banner and who beta'd the One-shot version of this story which is now Chapter one.

Next, thanks to my amazing pre-readers, Keye Cullen and Shadow_Kissed, both are quick to give me their comments and suggestions for they know that patience (and waiting) is a virtue that I lack.

This chapter may require you to keep a box of tissues handy. Just sayin'! I also suggest that you listen to the playlist while reading the story. You can go to my profile by right clicking on the profile tab and opening another window. I must say that Midnight Blue will rely heavily on music as a background. I will be posting lyrics beginning Chapter 2.

Thanks for reading my short commentary! Have fun!

Chapter One: Good night my Angel

EPOV:

Another day in the land of the humans, cohabitating with them as if I was a normal human being too. This was my everyday for the past 90 years. Just another night full of boring humdrum of inane human conundrum, a life I chose to lead. As a vampire, I hid under the mask of being human, trying my best to fit in.

There was no other way to go. Few of my kind went my route and others chose to live in darkness. I decided to subsist in the manner I saw fit. I had no qualms with the life I opted to lead. I faced everyday like a soldier going out to war with no inkling of what lies ahead.

Loneliness had been my companion day in and day out. I spent all my time at the piano bar that I owned here in the heart of New York City. Midnight Blue. I played the piano nightly on the bar where people flocked to hear me play. Many of them were regular patrons and people I had known for some time now, others were tourists from all over simply looking for a good time.

Tonight would be like any other night, I mused, as I moved around my loft, a combined office and sleeping quarter, right on the top of the club. I checked myself in the mirror, sporting my usual attire of jeans, black cotton shirt, black blazer and black converse. I ran my fingers through my tousled golden hair and deemed myself ready to mingle and work the night away.

The bar was almost filled to capacity. Friday nights were always the busiest considering the onset of the weekend. I looked around the darkened room and begun the tedious task of listening to the general thoughts of the people around me. I nodded at Sidney, another vampire who happened to be one of the better bartenders in the city; he gave me the thumbs up, confirming that everything was running smoothly in his department.

I walked towards the raised platform where the baby grand was located, Enrique was playing his last piece for the night and my turn would be coming up shortly. I slid behind the curtain by the stage to start the jazz music that usually played during intermissions.

I moved back to the bar next to Sidney and poured myself a shot of Lagavulin scotch, my favorite. I downed the glass and fixed myself another to be brought to the stage with me.

Surveying the place where slurred speeches and raised voices surrounded me, I prepared myself for my set. I had a boatload of piano repertoire that I played alternately. With the addition of music request which had been hugely popular among the bar regulars, we accommodated music requests from the audience on the second half of our piano session.

I sauntered to the stage as the lone spotlight illuminated the piano mostly, showing a bit of my form behind it. Enrique ended the jazz music playing overhead and handed the microphone to me. I cleared my throat before I addressed the audience.

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Midnight Blue where the language of life is made through music. I am Edward Cullen and I will be taking your request in the next hour. Sit back and relax. Thank you."

Sitting on the piano bench, I inhaled and exhaled slowly and started on the ivories with one of my original compositions. I played with my eyes closed, muting the sounds of thoughts and chatter around me. I let the music dictate my every move as I fingered the keys with all the emotions repressed within me.

After thirty minutes or so had gone by, I stopped and took a sip of my scotch and reached inside the glass jar that contained the music requests. "The first request for the night is a piece called Looking Back by Jim Brickman, and it is requested by Bella Davis and she is dedicating this piece to Joe Davis. Bella let us see your hand please."

I called out to the crowd and a minute passed with no one from the audience to acknowledge the name. I searched the thoughts among the population for a fraction of a second and my search focused on a lone figure sitting by a booth, staring out the window. Oblivious to her surroundings.

"This is for you Joe, from Bella," I said before turning off the microphone. I began playing the musical piece while my mind drifted off to the silent thoughts of the woman who made the request. I couldn't see her face from where I was sitting. I called another request after I finished the piece that Bella Davis requested, it was from her again and the next few ones after that too.

I was stunned with the mournful emotions running through her mind and I cringed at notion of someone going through what she was experiencing at the moment. I finished my session after almost two hours of playing non-stop.

Amidst the clapping and applause, I made my final bow and headed straight to the bar. I tapped Sidney in the back and enquired about the drink order coming from Bella Davis' table. She had ordered a bottle of Cabernet for herself. I poured myself a glass of Lagavulin, drank half of it and let the amber liquid coat my throat with its numbing effect. I was deliberating whether or not to approach the silent woman.

After all, I made it a point to mingle with our customers so I had an acceptable excuse to introduce myself and chat for a bit. I beckoned Enrique and told him to cover for my next half at the piano.

I made my way to her booth through the maze of tables in between. The slow jazz melody was playing while some couples were slow dancing by their table.

"Hello?" I started tentatively, raising my voice above the music and repeated myself when she didn't seem to have heard me.

She turned after several hellos and when she looked up to meet my eyes, I was startled with the expression in her face. She had the look of a person who just lost someone dear to them. Her tear stained face held sadness and emptiness.

She hurriedly wiped her eyes with the table napkin and smiled slightly at my greeting. "I'm so sorry, I didn't hear you at all." Her apology was unnecessary but I didn't patronize her, instead I held out my hand to introduce myself.

"I am Edward Cullen; I played all the pieces you requested." She took my outstretched hand and shook it lightly. Her hand felt so cold not-withstanding the fact that she was halfway through the wine bottle.

"Oh that's right, I saw you playing up there. My name is Bella Davis," she said as she gestured with her hand to the stage.

"Do you mind if I join you?" I asked and waited for her response. She hesitated but nodded her head, looking away.

"Thank you." I sat opposite her and watched her face and listened in on her thoughts. She was crying inside. I sought to break the silence.

"How did you like the piece I played for you?"

"Huh?" she replied absentmindedly before she regained her poise. Her eyes were brimming with tears when she finally looked my way. "I..am sorry, what did you say?"

I smiled a little to show that I didn't mind repeating myself at all. "I asked if you like the piece that I played for you."

"Oh yes, that was our favorite…." Her lips began to quiver and she cupped her face with her hands, unable to control her sobs.

I sat there debating whether I should leave her alone but my instinct told me to stay so I waited for her sobbing to quiet down before I spoke.

"Ms. Davis, can I get you anything? Water perhaps?" I asked as I handed her a spare table napkin which she readily accepted.

"No, no thank you. And please call me Bella," she said as she poured another glassful of cabernet into her empty wine goblet.

"Bella, is there something I can do for you?" I didn't want to pry into others peoples business but my intuition told me to offer in this particular situation.

"Do you have a good set of ears Mr. Cullen?" her question threw me off but I nodded.

"Please, call me Edward."

"Edward, my husband is dying and I don't know what to do." If not for my acute hearing, a normal human being wouldn't have heard her whispered statement.

Her tears flowed freely when she said this and I sat there unable to move. I wanted to hold her and comfort her but it wasn't the proper thing to do. I left my hands by my side and tucked them under the table to keep from reaching out to her.

"I am very sorry to hear that." That was all I could say as I watched her weep, her misery and pain were palpable as she continued so for what seemed to be a long stretch of time. I looked at her face intently, memorizing each expression that crossed her lovely but grief stricken face. The black shadows under her eyes told me that she hadn't had much sleep. Her deep brown eyes were murky from crying and her long brown hair seemed lifeless as they rested on her shoulders. My innate sense told me that she hadn't been eating judging from her hallowed cheeks and the gaunt lines on her face. Her shoulder blades were visibly sticking out under the t-shirt she was wearing. She had got be one of the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on despite her present physical appearance.

"I don't usually talk to strangers but you seem to be a kind soul Edward and I have no one to talk to at the moment." She bit her lips when she said this and my dead heart ached for her.

"Consider me a friend, Bella," I offered.

She looked at me sadness I haven't seen before, hesitation crossed her face but she spoke after a silent reflection.

"Joe, my husband of five years is dying of brain tumor, it has metastasized all over and the doctor gave him only several months to live." She put her head on her arm that was resting on the table and cried with desperation.

I wanted to stroke her hair as I knew humans thrived on touch when it came to moments like this but I restrained myself from making any physical contact with her.

"I don't know what to say Bella."

"Nothing can be said or done anymore, we have seen numerous specialists and the prognosis has been the same. They found the tumor but it was embedded in the part of his brain where an operation isn't advisable anymore. The chemotherapy didn't work nor did the radiation either." Tears were streaming down like a floodgate was opened and Bella didn't even bother wiping her tears anymore and her voice cracked with every syllable she uttered.

"Where is he right now?" I asked wondering why she wasn't at his bedside.

"He is across the street at Lenox Hill Hospital. They admitted him last week because he couldn't keep anything down and his pain had been unbearable. He is on morphine drip right now, so he is pretty much drugged up and sleeping most the time."

Bella's sobbing decreased and her speech was almost back to normal as I sat quietly just listening to her. I didn't know what to say at the moment except I was sorry. She needed to vent out her feelings more than she needed soothing words. No wonder she was drowning her sorrows with alcohol. I understood her logic and I didn't say anything when she poured herself another glass of wine.

"That's another song I requested," she whispered wistfully as the melody of Everything played softly in the background.

I watched as she drank half of the glass content in silence. I continued to listen to her silent thoughts as she fidgeted with the glass, watching the red liquid dance about as she swirled the glass around. She truly loved this man, Joe, her husband. She was scared of what would happen if he passed away. Would she be able to survive without him? He was the love of her life, the only one person she truly cared for. She wanted to take his pain away but she didn't know what to do. Why him, she asked herself over and over again. Why was he going to be taken from her so soon? They had been so happy together; Could this be her penance for whatever her sins were from the past? All her questions came in a violent and unstoppable flow.

Bella was drunk already and her speech slurred when she spoke again. "I can't live without him Edward. I just can't." Tears were still pouring unrestrained.

I gestured for one of the waiters who came over instantly. "Duke, can you get me a glass of water please and coffee also."

"Bella, I don't think you should drink anymore," I said gently as I moved the bottle to farthest end of the table, out of her reach. She simply looked at me as more tears trickled down.

"I have a room/office upstairs and I will have my sitting hostess take you there so you can wash your face and freshen up. Wait right here while I call her."

I got up from the booth and walked over the entrance to speak with Lucy who readily agreed to my request. I gave Lucy the key to my loft and returned to Bella who was back to staring outside the window again. She had her arms wrapped around herself as if she was holding herself together. I could hear the chanting in her head. I love you Joe, please don't leave me.

"Bella, Lucy over there will take you to my loft now." I offered my hand to help her up and she shyly accepted my outstretched hand as she slid off the booth.

I walked to the bar and poured myself another shot of scotch. Alcohol really had no effect on us vampires, but the idea of its soothing relief was good enough for me.

"Hey boss, what's the matter with you? You are drinking more than I've ever seen you drink before." It was a question I didn't want to answer. I glanced at Sidney, a friend over the years, and just shook my head. He didn't wait for any answer as he went back to take bar orders. I walked up to him to ask my question.

"Have you seen that woman I was talking to here before?"

"Sure, she's been coming here for a week now, requesting for the same booth everyday and ordering the same bottle every night." Sidney furrowed his eyebrow but didn't say more.

"Thanks man." I offered him my fist which he bumped in return with his. I went back for another shot as I looked to the door leading to my loft upstairs. I felt something in me that changed when I first set my eyes on Bella. I had an idea what it was but under the circumstance. I would not nurture my feelings nor encourage myself to go for it.

I strode to the piano where the request jar was located and fished for a handful of papers and all of the ones I got had Bella's requests written in them. Some had the same songs, mostly piano pieces that I knew by heart. I could feel my still heart tearing at the thought of her impending lost. Was this the end of their love story? Would Bella survive when Joe ceased breathing?

I shook my head as the feeling of dread washed over me. How could I let something like this affect me? All these years I've existed, I managed to distance myself from such turmoil and misery. But now, I felt like I was submerged in the middle of it. Some sounding board I was.

I saw the door open out of the corner of my eye and somberly watch Bella emerge with Lucy who had her arms draped on Bella's shoulder, guiding her. I could tell that Bella had difficulty walking in her present state of inebriation.

I walked up to them and took it from there. "Bella, should I call you a cab or are you going back to the hospital?" I took her elbow and guided her out of the club so she could get some fresh air.

"I am going back to the hospital. I have to be with Joe when he wakes up." Even in her drunkenness, Bella could only think of her husband. I could only admire her fierce love and loyalty.

"Okay, let me walk you there then." I held her by the elbow and guided her through the patches of dark and lit blocks to get to Lenox Hills Hospital. I walked her to the main entrance of the building and waited for her to look at me.

"Thank you so much for listening… I don't know what's gotten over me. I don't usually just blurt out my life story to strangers. You must think I am crazy." She shuddered as a cool breeze swept in our direction. I took off my blazer and draped it around her shoulder.

"I know you don't Bella and I don't think you're crazy." I took out my wallet from my back pocket and took a business card and handed it to her.

"Here's my card, call or text me if you need someone to talk to."

She took the card and briefly glanced on it before she shoved it in her purse. "Don't be surprised if I do. Thanks again Edward. It was nice to meet you."

"The pleasure was all mine, Bella," I answered with sincerity and she saw it in my eyes.

She nodded before turning around to walk inside the building. I waited long enough to see her disappear behind the elevator doors before I headed back to Midnight Blue.

Buzz…. Buzz

The buzzing from my phone took me out of my reverie the day after I met Bella. I took my cell phone from my jean pocket and saw a text message from a number I didn't recognize.

Edward, I wanted to tell you how thankful I am for your kindness. I hope I didn't scare you away. Bella.

I smiled at her reference to her drunken state the night before. I texted back, fast and eager as my fingers barely touched the keypad.

I am here anytime you need big ears to listen and a shoulder to cry on. Be well Bella. Edward. I hit the send button and stayed in bed, thinking.

Thinking of how fast my attraction to Bella grew by the minute. Puzzled at how easily I was falling for her. She was a married woman for Pete's sake and the timing was so wrong. I guess suppressing my feelings would be the only way to go.

Bella returned to the club several times that following week and we talked mostly about her relationship with Joe, how they met and how happy and secured their lives were until the day they found about his brain tumor. The massive and frequent headaches he was getting and the day he had a seizure while in the shower.

Bella had to relive her nightmare one more time as she gave me every heart wrenching detail about Joe's treatments and seizure attacks. Their hopes of having a family had been put on hold until he got better. Joe was a fighter, for he refused to let his illness get the best of him. I could see the admiration and adoration in Bella's eyes as she spoke about her husband.

I allowed myself to feel envious of Joe. He was a lucky man to have Bella as his wife. She was one of kind, a woman that every man would be proud to have in their life.

Every night Bella would order the same bottle of wine and would drink most of it if I didn't remind her that she had enough. The bottle, she explained, was their favorite wine. They discovered the little boutique winery during one of their anniversary trips to Napa Valley, California.

One morning, I got a text from Bella that Joe would be discharged home. Joe would get a daily visit from nurses who would see to his Intravenous therapy at home. Bella mentioned that Joe was ecstatic on returning home and I congratulated Bella who sounded really upbeat by the improvement that Joe was showing.

We continued texting during the weeks that followed. Her visits to the bar stopped as soon as she had Joe back home. I would lie if I said I didn't miss her. I missed seeing her seated across the booth. I missed the animated look in her face when she mentioned the happy days she had when Joe was still healthy. The way her eyes would light up with every single remembrance of their trips and anniversaries.

I missed her terribly and my daily existence passed in obscurity. Even my piano playing had been greatly affected. I found myself going for the more somber pieces that matched my mood.

I couldn't say I wasn't happy for her. I was happy because she was happy and that was all I cared about. Bella was truly the only one who made me feel this way. I guess things were not always how we wanted them to be. I just considered myself lucky to be given the chance to meet her, to have her in my life, even if it was only in a friendly capacity. I would take any scraps thrown my way if that would give me a chance to see her.

Buzz…. Buzz

Another text message from Bella came in as I was finishing my first round at the piano bar. I hurriedly took my cell phone out of my jean pocket to read her message.

I told Joe about you last night and he wants to meet you.

I smiled at her message for I would love to meet the lucky man who was making the woman I loved happy.

Sure, I can come by your place next week. How does Monday sound?

That would be great. 11AM okay? 1435 12th Street. See you then.

Great! I'll see you guys then, I texted back.

I stashed my phone back in my pocket and wore the silly grin all night long to the amazement of all my employees. Sidney was the only one who had the nerve to call me on my long face during the past weeks. He shook his head and continued pouring and serving cocktails to some waiting bar patrons.

Monday would be four days from today. It would stretch for eternity but it was something positive worth looking forward to.

I breezed through the following days with renewed energy. I had mixed feelings during my waiting period, anxious to see or even get a glimpse of Bella and finally meet Joe.

As I was getting dressed that Monday morning, I got a frantic call from Bella. Deciphering the background noise told me that she was in an ambulance.

"Edward, cancel your plans to go to our house this morning. Joe had a big seizure and we are in an ambulance on the way to Lenox Hills right now. I will text you later with news." Bella didn't wait for my response because the line went dead even with my vampire speed taken into consideration, I didn't get to say a word.

I looked at my cell phone and hurled it against the wall. I lost my self control momentarily as I slumped on the floor, completely consumed by my emotions. I didn't know how to feel anymore. My heart went out to Bella and I felt for Joe. I could just imagine the pain they had gone through and more pain for them on the horizon.

Hugging my knees to my chest, I stayed in that position for some time 'til I regained some decent amount of composure. I took one good look at what used to be my cell phone, it had broken into several pieces, and I realized that if I didn't have a cell phone, there wouldn't be any way for Bella to contact me. I fished for the SIM card amongst the broken shards of glass and plastic that lay scattered on the floor.

I took off in a fast ran to the nearest phone dealer and purchased a new phone for myself. There was no way I would abandon Bella at the time that she needed someone to be there for her.

I waited for her text to come and it didn't come soon enough. When it finally came, I was pressing the button to read the message even before the last beep sounded.

Joe is resting now, just a little setback. The tumor is definitely bigger and he is partially blind now. I am coming by later tonight. Bella.

I pictured Bella's face in my head as I read her text over and over again. I could imagine her blotchy and red face from crying, her eyes with permanent rings around them and the crease in her forehead that seemed to deepen with each passing day. I could see her small frame shaking with uncontrollable sobs. If I could take her pain away, I would have done so the first day we met.

I saw Bella enter the club while I was on the piano and my concentration went from little to non-existent. I played every piece like I was a stereo on auto-play. I saw her call one of the waiters and handed a piece of folded white paper to be handed to me.

The moment the first session ended, I unfolded the paper with urgency, like my life depended on it. She wrote:

Edward,

Play something that you want me to hear.

Bella

I glanced in her direction and we locked eyes. I took the microphone and spoke for the first time to the audience. "This song is called Lullaby, Goodnight my angel and I am dedicating this to Mrs. Bella Davis."

I started playing from the heart and every single time my fingers touched the keys felt like something in me was slowly dying. I had to sing and my voice broke on the first line. It seemed like forever before I finished the piece but I cannot recall the time where I sang and played with so much emotions and as heartfelt as I just did tonight.

A big round of applause broke when I finished the song. It was an added bonus for everyone present since I never sang to an audience before. I saw Sidney, Lucy, Enrique and the rest of my employees watching me intently as I stepped down the platform before they went back to their respective job duties.

I walked over to the very same booth Bella always requested for and sat across from her, my usual spot.

"Hello Bella…" My worst fear was confirmed. She had lost more weight since the last time I saw her and her face seemed lifeless now; even the smile she offered came flat and forced.

"Hello Edward."

I reached out to clasp her hand that was nursing the wine glass. She didn't pull her hand away at my touch. I gently caressed her hand with mine and said nothing. The music playing overhead drown every other chatter in the room, all I concentrated on was her heartbeat.

Bella finally spoke after several minutes of silence. "I think it's finally here, Edward. I think Joe finally decided to stop fighting." Bella tried to keep her lips from quivering as she said this but her emotions got the best of her. She sobbed as she hid her face in her hands.

I decided to move to the seat next to her and gently put my arms around her. She turned and buried her face in my chest and cried her little heart out. I softly massaged her back as I let her spill her tears. We stayed in the same position for a long moment before her sobs turned to little hiccups as she tried slowly on getting a grip of herself.

"Are you okay Bella? Have you had anything to eat at all?" I called over the waiter when she didn't answer and I ordered a chicken sandwich and a glass of milk for Bella.

"Thank you. I needed to get that off my chest. Joe doesn't want me to shed anymore tears and I've been holding back while I was with him," Bella offered weakly.

"I'm glad you did Bella. I told you, I am always here for you."

She smiled at my words. "Joe is asking for you to come and meet him tomorrow, while he can still see."

I sat completely still as I searched for the right words to say but nothing came to mind. "Sure, I will come by in the morning then."

I walked Bella back to the hospital after she'd eaten a few bites and drank the glass of milk. I couldn't bear the thought of Bella getting sick because she had neglected to take care of herself with everything that was happening in her life right now.

We said goodnight and I was off walking back to the club after a few minutes.

Since sleep was not a luxury I could enjoy, I lay in bed all night thinking about one thing alone.

Bella.

The vision that greeted me when I walked in Joe's hospital room was that of death. Everything around him spoke of the imminent, that death was just around the corner and could be knocking at any time.

I tapped the door gently and the figure lying on the bed followed the sound coming from the door. "Edward, is that you? I was expecting you. Can you come closer so I will have a better look at you? I think Bella told you that my sight gave way already." He chuckled as he said this, trying to make me feel at ease.

"Hi Joe." I extended my hand and he clasped it both hands that were riddled with needle bruises that ran from his arm down to the back of his hands. Yet he shook my hands with a firm grip. He was deathly pale and terribly thin but I could see beyond the broken exterior that he was once a good looking gentleman.

"Nice to finally meet you Edward. Bella has told me a great deal about you, how, err… help her get a grip of herself. I can't begin to thank you for being around for her."

"It was nothing Joe. I am glad to be of help for a friend." I moved closer so he could get a better view of my face.

"Please have a seat Edward. I really want to talk to you about something." I sat down as requested on the chair next to his bed. I knew what he wanted to say, having read his thoughts already but I waited for him to say it.

"I was going to ask you a favor."

"Sure Joe, anything."

"I wanted you to promise me that you will take care of Bella when I am gone. She doesn't have anyone else and I gathered from her stories about you that you are a good and decent man. I can't leave knowing that she has no one to turn to." Joe's brown eyes were searching my face as he waited for an answer. He ran his fingers in his graying brown hair attempting to smooth the edges as he looked at me.

"I don't know…"

"Edward, please grant the wish of a dying man here." He laughed a little as he said this but the smile didn't reach his eyes for I heard what he was thinking too.

God, please give me another chance to live and love Bella. I want to be with her more than anything.

"Sure…" I only answered so Joe could rest his mind and stop worrying. I couldn't stop myself from flinching at his silent thoughts. It felt like a big weight settled in on me, disabling me. I was unable to move and couldn't feel anything anymore.

A sudden flicker of idea came out of nowhere, like a light bulb was turned on inside my head. I could play God and give Joe the eternity that he was asking for, so he could be with Bella. But did I have the right to step in God's shoes and decide one person's mortality? Or should I let things happen the way they were meant to be? Let things fall where they may. That way there would be a sliver of a chance for me to with Bella.

Joe and I both loved Bella. Who had the right to be with her? I ran out of the hospital room as fast as I could, a blur before human eyes. I couldn't wait to get out of the hell of thoughts that I was experiencing at that very moment. Joe's request echoed in my ears.

I would give anything to be with Bella but did I have it in me to turn Joe into one of us? A vampire? Answers eluded me, I didn't know what solution I sought. But time was of the essence and there wasn't enough time left. We're running out of it and I have a swift and irrevocable decision to make.

Could I make a choice that would change our lives? Had I any right to commit such an act? Questions instead of answers assaulted me in every direction as I sought solace in running away.

A/N: This story I must say will have a sad tone throughout. I am eager to hear your thoughts. Review please! Thanks.