Disclaimer: These lovely characters, setting, and recognizable strings of the plot are all derived from the Twilight series, which I do not own. ((And I refuse to post this every single chapter. Here it is, bask in it's glory.))

The song used is not mine, either. Thanks, P!nk, for the inspiration.

Summary: "Please," I begged the kind doctor, hating the amount of pity I saw in his eyes. I sqeezed Edward's still hand, turning to look at my comatose husband. "He's the only thing I have left," I turned back to the doctor's alarmingly understanding eyes, "Please don't make me do this..." BxE, AU, Human.

Author's Note: So, the summary is more or less a "preface", I suppose. A basic summary would consist of the idea that Bella and Edward are human and married, with a five-year-old son, named Josh. They're moving from the big city of Chicago to the little town of Forks to find their "happily ever after" when tragedy strikes.

But I'm sure that's a little less attention grabbing as my original summary, don't you think?
...I'd like to think so. xDD

Enjoy!


Frostbite
Chapter One: Who Knew?

"When someone said count your blessings now
'fore they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong
They knew better
Still you said forever
And ever
Who knew"


It was nearing midnight, and the sky was a deep blue; nearly black. The highbeams on my husband's precious Volvo were the only obstruction to the darkness. Edward was tapping a steady beat on the steering wheel, but other than that, our car was engulfed in a peaceful silence; Josh was asleep in the backseat. Our little family was only a few moments away from our new life. Our new... less dramatic life, I hoped. Not that life in Chicago had been unnaturally difficult, but it had been painful and I can only hope Forks will bring the kind of monotony I was welcoming warmly for the first time in my life.

It was weird, though, leaving my home for my entire life to go to the smallest town in the US (well, that was an exaggeration, but it felt like that). If you had asked me, years ago, if I would ever give up living in the big city to dwell in a small town, I would have laughed. Then again, years ago, I didn't know Edward...

I snuck a glance at my gorgeous husband, his angelic features illuminated by the gear lights. A small smile of contentment slowly spread across my face. Edward was much better than the "Prince Charmings" of my childhood fantasies, and I had to keep pinching myself to insure it wasn't all a simple dream.

I had met him in college by chance; few pre-Med students take Creative Writing, after all. We married after I had graduated from college and before he had started Med School. I became pregnant soon after, and Josh had been the most wonderful Christmas present in the world that year...

It was a struggle, though, between college loans, rent, and raising a very demanding baby, money was tight. I had difficulties finding a job as a teacher, and settled as a Starbucks barista by day, and a Mommy by night. Both of our parents had attempted to help us best as they could, but free babysitting and the random Sunday dinner can only do so much.

Soon after Josh was born, though, tragedy struck our house. I still shiver at the memory, of those months, all those many years ago--

"Are you cold, Bella?"

There was my overly obseverant husband... always worrying about me. I smiled at him warmly.

"Just thinking," I whispered back. I reached over and squeezed his hand. "It's a change, you know? A big one."

He brought our joined hands to his lips, kissing my fingers softly. "It'll be okay," he promised me sincerely. "Dr. Cullen is supposed to be one of the best physicians in the state," I nodded, knowing he was also reassuring himself as well about our choice. "I'm lucky to be working under him." He kissed my finers again. "And I'm sure you'll be the most popular teacher and Forks High," he winked. I snorted, but couldn't help but smile and the thought. "Besides," he added quietly, "we promised we wouldn't raise Josh in the city... not like us, remember?"

"It'll be okay," I reiterated his original promise, and squeezed his hand gently. He rubbed his thumb in small circles on the back of my hand, and I smiled at the warmth. His hands were always warmed, and his touch warmed me. "We just need to get there," I groaned.

"Do you want to drive?" He offered, but I shook my head.

"We'll get there faster if you drive anyway," I refused to look at the spedometer. Long ago I had accepted the fact that my husband had a... "need for speed". He laughed, his eyes twinkling.

"I'm going the speed limit," but this did little to help me; I couldn't remember the last time I saw a sign. For all I knew, there wasn't one! "Thirty-five, Bella... Josh is in the car," he said sadly, and I sighed. I didn't mean to upset him; he just worries me when he drives like a maniac.

"Good," I murmured finally, and he brought our hands to his lips again. I took my free hand and turned on the stereo; the bright light that signaled was blinding in the blackness. I lowered the volume and switched the CDs.

"What--no Wiggles?" Edward teased.

"Not if I can help it," I muttered back, basking in the victory of finally listening to my own music. The classical music that came floating from the speakers was not something our five-year-old son enjoyed, or should for that matter (what kid would?). I was about to take full advantage of his nap in the backseat. Edward chuckled beside me--it was one of his favorite bands as well--and I couldn't help but grin back.

"Are we there yet?"

As suddenly as I had been enjoying my peace, it was gone. Josh had stirred in the back seat only to ask the same question every five minutes or so for the time he was conscious during our two-day drive to our new home in Forks, Washington. I sighed, biting my lip as I pressed the "POWER" button and ended the music. "No," I said simply, but I was looking at my husband, glowering at his chuckles.

"He gets it from you, you know," he whispered to me, his eyes locked firmly on the road, the emerald orbs dancing with mirth. I hit his arm playfully, shifting around in my seat to stare back out the window and into the darkness.

"Does not," I murmured back, and he only laughed harder at my denial. "Well, if he has my impatience, he has your stubbornness," I said, but I realized how childish I was being and laughed. He was looking at our son through the rear-view mirror, making faces at him.

"Yes, Bells," he laughed, his musical laughter harmonizing wonderfully with my son's giggles. "We've obviously created a monster."

"Rawr!" Josh supplied helpfully. "I'm a big, mean MONSTA!"

We all shared a laugh as Josh continued to roar and growl playfully. As we settled down, Josh yawned again. "How much long'a, Daddy?"

"Only another hour or so, Josh," my husband said quietly, winking at Josh before bringing his attention back to the road. His smile grew as Josh let out a little moan of disbelief.

"A whole 'notha hour?" He smacked his little fists into the leather seat, jutting out his lower lip into a pout. I melted at the sight; he must get that from his father, too. The ability to make my heart stop with a single look.

"Why don't you try sleeping?" I offered although I knew it was a futile attempt.

"I dun wanna," he slurred, rubbing his eyes in protest. He brightened visibly as a new idea bounced into his head. Edward and I shared a knowing look, even before our son whispered those dreaded words: "Can we listen to da Wiggles?"

I couldn't help myself; I groaned. As much as I loved my son--as much as any mother could ever love their son--the Wiggles were a completely different story. It didn't help that Josh listened to it enough times a day that it should be illegal. I contemplated my choices; I could either play the stupid CD and suffer from the annoyance or I could not play the CD and suffer from my son's despair. With a sigh, I reached forward and pressed the "POWER" button on the radio, and changed the CD back to the Wiggles. It was almost painful to replace my favorite CD with... them. The tune of "Big Red Car" softly began to play, and Edward had raised the volume before the request could even form on Josh's lips. With a sigh, I once more adjusted my position and began to stare into the dark night.

"Riding in our Big Red Car!" Josh sang to the music, and my husband and I shared a chuckle at his eagerness. I turned back to smile at him, only to find him bouncing on the back seat, his seat belt unbuckled. He was wiggling to the music, pumping his arms into the air. He was kicking his feet out and bopping his head to the beat. "Riding in our big red car, Mommy!" he crooned to me, his eyes dancing as much as his body was. As beautiful as it was, painful memories snuck up on me all too quickly.

"Josh, settle down--put your seat belt back on!" I said quickly, reaching to grab him. He shook his head, wiggling out of my grasp as he continued to sing with his favorite band. "Joshua Charles Masen--you put your seat belt back on!" My fingers had barely grazed his shoulders before he hadcatapulted himself across the backseat.

He stuck out his tongue jokingly before pleading,"No, Mommy! It hurst me. The sea'bel' hurts, Mommy!" He began to pout again, "Besides, Mommy, I'm dancing!" He giggled at me, his eyes twinkling in the dim light. I was losing this battle, as he continued to hop from one side of the car to the other whenever my hands got too close. I turned to my husband warily, and Edward looked at me. He quickly jerked his head towards our son:

"Joshua, do as your mother has asked you--"

"No!" Josh whined. "I've been sittin' still for-ever, and now I wanna dance!" He moved around in his seat a bit more, "'Sides, we're almost der, Daddy, puh-lease!"

"Joshua, get back in your seat, or I'll have t--"

"NO!" He said louder before he began to sing with the song again.

I angrily shut off the music, turning back to my son.

"Put it back on!" He whined, his bright green eyes filling up with tears. "Pweas, Mommy, put it back on!" My heart broke and my resolve was slowly chiseling away. Maybe it would be alright for just a li--

"We will Josh." Edward's attention was back to the road, but he was still looking at the little boy through the rear-view mirror, "if you put your seat belt back on and promise not to take it off."

"Are we there yet?" Josh asked again with a huff, crossing his tiny arms across his chest.

I sighed. "Not yet, Josh, please--just do as I ask--"

"I dun wanna!" he whined, and I knew the late hour was gaining up on him.His eyes were growing heavier, but he was as stubborn as ever. As I reached back to grab him, he once more bounced to the other side of the car, his arms firmly locked in from of his chest. I sighed and gave up. We had to be only a few miles away from the city limits. There wasn't another car in sight.

I glanced at my husband and reached for his hand, offering him a reassuring squeeze; Edward was losing his patience. I could tell from his stiff position behind the wheel. He jerked around again quickly and snapped at our son:

"Josh, don't you make me pull this car over and get your carseat ou--"

"EDWARD, LOOK OUT!"

My life barely had time to flash before my eyes before the giant red car barreled into us.


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