Bella's cough and Edward's past!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of that Stephenie Meyer does, but I am glad that we can have fun with the characters!
Summery: Short story about what might happen if Bella got sick around Edward.
A/N: Warning} Information found in this story may be too personal or all around sadder for some readers. Spanish flu related.
Narrator's POV
It all started off as any other day. Bella and her gorgeous vampire boyfriend, Edward were spending another peaceful night in her bed. Charlie fast asleep down the hall. Edward wished Bella would sleep this easily but she always fought to stay awake with him. But what if this wasn't like every other night? What if on this night Bella became unwell, starting with a single cough? Once, twice, three coughs and that was followed by a small sneeze. Of course, by now she's completely awake and Edward is starting to get worried that she might be getting sick. Before too long Bella would get a headache and a fever. More coughing and sneezing came, so that is the end of the peaceful sleep she once had on this night. But what about Edward? Is he just worried that she's getting sick or is his extremely over-the-top panicking because of something more?
…
Edward's POV
At some point during the night Bella started coughing. Now she's completely ill and I'm just not sure what to do. She keeps telling me that everything is fine, that she's not sick but she started getting a fever a few hours ago. I know she's wrong but she won't let me take care of her. … Not that I would really know the first thing that could help. Human illnesses are so troublesome because there usually is no quick fix. Its mostly lots of rest and plenty of fluids. This is the first time Bella's ever gotten sick around me and I feel so, … so completely helpless. She won't allow me to do anything, she just keeps telling me that she's fine. She's not fine, she keeps getting worse with the more time that passes. Simple coughs and headaches grew into fevers and chills, then came a sore throat along with dizziness. Bella was getting more and more tired but she was fighting to stay awake, probably trying to convince me that nothing was wrong. It wasn't helping either. I convinced her to stay in bed for the day but she refused to try and sleep yet. The progression of her illness was very slow but as the hours passed more problems came. I was becoming more and more worried.
…
That night Bella was finally convinced that she was sick. I became completely worried over her and I'm pretty sure I've been driving her crazy. I wanted to call Carlisle to come and check on her, to make sure nothing was seriously wrong but Bella refused that as well. She claimed it was nothing more than the flu so there was nothing to worry about. The flu… nothing more than the flu. Seems simple enough, right? Its just the flu, so its completely harmless. Well what if its not? I can't just sit here and watch as she gets sicker by the minute. Its barely been a day and she's already progressing into the worst stages. She's been sleeping for a while only waking with a coughing fit or running to the bath room to throw up what little she had eaten. I thought about called Carlisle without her permission because my worries were becoming over obsessive and I'm perfectly aware of this but I can't help that. I can't stand to sit here and do nothing while Bella suffers like this. I should be able to do something, anything to make her feel better but I can't. All I can do it sit here while the love of my life slowly gets worse, right before my eyes.
"Edward." Bella said before she started coughing again. "Edward, I'm fine really. Its nothing."
"Bella its not nothing. You're ill and trying to say your not is not helping anyone." I told her honestly. "I want to help but I don't know what to do. I feel completely lost Bella. I really think we should call my father."
"Edward. … Normal humans get sick all the time." Bella said stubbornly. "I happen to get sick a lot more than normal. Its ok, really. I'll be fine in a few days. There is no need to bother Carlisle with this because I'm perfectly…" She coughed again. "Fine."
"Bella you can barely keep up a conversation and its only getting worse. I think it would be best if I at least call him." I was getting close to begging at this point.
"Edward. … I don't want you to bother him." Bella said again before laying her head back down on her pillow, its getting harder for her to keep it up now. "I'll be alright, I just need rest."
"Go to sleep, then Bella. I'll be right here for when you need me." I told her as I gently took her hand and in mine.
Her fever was getting worse and the chills were coming and going as often as the coughs and headaches. I was really feeling lost and hopeless at this point. My Bella was just getting worse but because of her nature she didn't want anyone to worry over her. I couldn't help worrying because what if something happened to her? … I'd be lost without her. I'd be nothing, … in fact if something happened to Bella then a part of me would die. I'd simply cease to exist without my reason for living. Bella is my life and my reason. It didn't take her too long to fall back asleep, it wasn't a peaceful sleep but at least it was a little rest. I decided that I'd been worrying long enough and I had to do something, anything at this point so I did the only thing I could do. I called my dad, even if Bella didn't want me to. … At this point, I had to or I was going to completely loose my mind. It was getting worse and I couldn't do anything to help her. I was worthless and probably over reacting.
"Edward, my son. I see no need for worry. Bella is simply human, its very common for them to fall ill from time to time." Carlisle stated after checking to see how she was doing.
"I can't help my worries." I told him honestly as I watched over my sleeping angel. "Bella means the world to me and to see her sick like this … I feel so helpless. I hate to know she's suffering and to know there is nothing I can do about it. I can't help her.
"Bella will be as good as new in just a few days." He said confidently. "I'm sure you're worries are for nothing. She doesn't appear to be suffering, just a little tired is all."
"What if she gets worse? Its progressing quickly and you know how she feels about hospitals." I said desperately as I gently moved a stray hair back behind her ear. "She claims she's fine but clearly she is not fine. Bella is sick so what if it gets worse? What will I do then Carlisle? How can I say I'll take care of her when I can't doing anything when she truly needs my help?"
"Edward, you put too much on yourself." Carlisle told me as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "What is all this about, my son? What are you afraid of now?" 'Bella's condition is barely worth all this trouble. I wonder what has Edward so distressed.'
"Yes, I'm distressed. Bella is ill and there is nothing I can do. What if she gets worse, Carlisle? WHAT THEN?" I asked desperately. "I can not loose her. After everything we've been through to get this far. After all the pain I have already caused her. … How could I live with myself if I lost her this way. A common illness, all because I'm too moral. Because I wish to spare her the suffering the rest of us must face every day. All because I am too much of a coward to do what is she begs me to do. I love her and I can not do that to her. But I also can't just sit her and watch her condition get worse, knowing that I will never have to face this suffering again."
"Edward." Carlisle said before passing and taking a step back from Bella and I. "Nothing is going to happen to Bella. She is going to be alright. Today's illnesses and medicines are not as they were back then. My son, Bella only has the common flu not the Spanish influenza. Bella will not be ill for more than a few days."
"What did you say?" I asked as I looked sharply over to where he stood before turning back to my sleeping Love. "The Spanish… Its been a long time since I've thought about that. Its not a though I wish to have now. Why would you even bring that up Carlisle?" I found myself whispering at the end.
Carlisle came back to place his hand to my shoulder again in a reassuring gesture. "She will be fine, but it seems you are the one in need of rest now. Go home, my son. I will watch over her for you until you return. Go now and find some peace."
I slowly glanced up at the man that took me into his family. The wise and caring man that saved my life by taking another from me. So many years ago and yet the influence that time has on me was never truly revealed until this moment. Of course Bella wasn't going to become so ill that something serious could happen to her and yet that was my greatest fear as I watched over her. I couldn't look at her now and not be reminded of my mother's face, blurred from less vibrant eyes. My memories of those days have all but been forgotten but the pain and fears still haunt my mind. I slowly got to my feet before turning back towards my Bella to gently place a whispered kiss on her over heated forehead. Turning back to face my adopted father of many years, I simply bid him farewell and begged him to watch over her for my own peace of mind. I slipped out the window and started running as fast as I could into the woods. I wasn't heading home because that wouldn't have helped anything. Trying to clear my head was proving to be impossible the farther I got from my Love. Many memories and facts starting rushing to the surface and things I never wanted to think of, pooled in my mind. I couldn't stop the flashes of information from coming. Everything I remembered from the time as it was happening and everything I've learned since then.
…
The Spanish Influenza was the deadliest epidemic in recorded history, claiming as many lives in just one year as the Bubonic Plague claimed in four during the Black Death of the mid-14th century. And yet it is hardly remembered today. The Spanish Influenza of 1918 - 1919 killed between 21 and 40 million people worldwide. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 640,000 people died while another 25 million were infected. In Chicago, more than 8,500 lives were lost to the disease in just eight weeks. More than one-fifth of the world's population suffered from some of the disease's deadly symptoms, including aches and fevers. Other symptoms were chills, headaches, backache and pains, general tiredness, dizziness, vomiting, sore throats, coughs, tingling sensation of fingers, and also metallic or sulfur taste in mouth. Thinking back on everything now brought me back to Bella. She was simply sick with the flu, it still has similar symptoms but these days its no where near as deadly. Millions of people suffered and died in that short time back then but now people simply lay in bed and wait it all out for a few days before getting back to their lives.
The Spanish Influenza took the country by storm during another time of crisis- World War I. This factor aided the spread of the disease considerably. As soldiers traveled from port to port, they brought with them influenza germs as well as their weapons. The Spanish Flu, or Spanish Lady as it was sometimes called, earned its nickname from the mistaken belief that the epidemic had begun in Spain. Scientists now believe the deadly disease originated in Kansas - the result of a sudden, freak mutation. The virus made its first appearance in March of 1918 when, in Fort Funston, Kansas, over 200 soldiers complained of flu symptoms and nearly 50 died from the disease. Soldiers of war suffered and died before their times, some not even in battle and yet so many aren't even remembered. So many were dieing back then that graves couldn't be dug for all individuals, bodies were piling up too quickly to be taken care of properly and so many were simply forgotten.
On the other hand, the crime rate in Chicago that October dropped 43 percent. Criminals were becoming ill along with everyone else so crime was slowing in streets. That's not to say that the flu didn't have its effects on the crimes people did commit. There were reports of one Chicago man, Peter Marrazo, driven insane by the epidemic, barricaded his family in their apartment, and famously slit the throats of his wife and four children, telling police, "I'll cure them my own way!" Death at the hands of your own family rather than suffering through the illness. But what would be worse, living with the fear of the epidemic or watching the fear of your loved ones as you slaughter them one by one? What about the other way out, another death that can give new life? My family was taken from me by the influenza, I don't remember much about my father. Because of Carlisle and what little I remember, I know my mother ruined her chances by trying to take care of me. With my mother's dieing breath, I was taken from my old world and given a new life. A life with no illnesses, nothing but passing time. I was given a new family with Carlisle and Esme, a happy family that I could never loose. Then I found Bella and with her came my real reason for being who I am. These thoughts filled my head, I couldn't stop any of them and yet everything seemed to lead me back to Bella. From my past to Bella, back to my past; I can't out run my past but all I want to do is run back to her. Yes, all I wanted right now was to be with Bella. She was ill and she would be worried if she woke with me gone. I had to rush back to her because I needed her but Bella also needs me. I wasn't truly paying attention to where I was going but I turned around, running straight for home; straight to the women I love.
…
It was early the next morning by the time I had arrived back to Bella's only to find that Carlisle had brought her to our house. Esme had offered to Charlie that she take care of Bella since he had to go to work. Charlie probably only agreed because Carlisle is a doctor and he was taking time off to watch over Bella. As soon as I found out from Chief Swan that Bella was at my house I rushed over there. It was still very early and she was very sick so it was no surprise to find her sleeping. Esme told me they had offered her any room in the house with any of the beds but she refused to sleep anywhere but my room. Alice's bed was moved into my room for the time-being. Bella was fast asleep in the middle of the luxurious fabrics and pillows. She looked like a princess straight from a fairy tale, minus the fever and deep circles under her eyes. Still she was the most beautiful sight I could have imagined at this moment. I wasted no time as I rushed to the side of the bed, careful not to touch so I didn't wake her. I just couldn't stand being that far from her any longer. Bella was resting on her side, facing me. Her hair pushed back away from her face and her hands carefully tucked under her head; just as a small child might sleep at night.
"I'm sorry my Love." I whispered softly. "I'm home now. You'll be feeling better soon. Everything is going to be alright now."
I watched as a small smile formed on her tinny, paler lips as I softly brushed my finger tips across her cheek. Soon, Bella would be waking and another day will begin. She will slowly start to feel better day by day, until she is back to normal. Bella will regain her strength and the sweet color I love to see in her cheeks. Soon this week will just be another memory … part of the past. But for now, it will be a chance to take care of my Love and wish her well. I won't panic like I had the other day. I know Bella will be alright and I always knew that but I let my past fears sink back into my mind. Without realizing, I allowed my memories to mess with me!
"Edward, my son. Are you alright?" Carlisle came walking in behind me and placed his hand on my back, not in comfort but rather in a simple gesture of welcoming me home.
"Yes, father. I'm perfectly fine." I answered back honestly as I watched my beloved Bella sleep peacefully again.
"I'm glad for that. You had your mother and I a little worried but we are all happy to see you're better." he said before leaving.
I was more than content to stand beside this bed all night and for the rest of the time it would take for Bella to get better. I could watch her sleep for days on end like this and never want to move. However, Bella clearly had other plans because it wasn't too long until she squeezed the hand I had taken to hold. Her eyes slowly opened and she gifted me with her full smile. She was flawless.
"Are you ok?" Bella whispered as she looked up at me with that beautiful smile. "Where have you been Edward?"
"I had to go clear my head." I said hesitantly. "I'm sorry I left Bella, I shouldn't have gone when you needed me here. Is there anything I can do for you? Can I get you anything?"
"Yeah." Bella said with a smirk before gently tugging on the hand that was still holding hers. "You can get in bed and lay with me. Just watching you stand there is really making me dizzy."
I chuckled a little as I carefully moved Bella over on the bed so I could lay down beside her. Bella wasn't completely satisfied with that so she crawled into my arms and snuggled as close to me as she could. She was adorable even if she was sick. She was still smiling brightly, not as brightly as if she were healthy but close, when Carlisle came back in to check on her. Esme and I were both really happy to see some color returning to her cheeks. In a few days Bella will be as good as new and I'll make sure she celebrates properly. I don't care how much complaining Bella does, when she's healthy enough I'm taking her on a really expensive date.
"I don't care what it is … NO!" Bella said stubbornly.
"How can you say no when you don't know what it is?" I asked teasingly as I smiled down at her again.
"Edward, I may not be feeling well but I know that smile. I can see something forming in that head of your's and I said no." Bella said with a little more force.
Narrator's POV
It started off as any other day but a lot can happen in a day. Bella and Edward were spending another peaceful morning in bed. Edward wrapped Bella in his arms and planned their perfect date!
