Characters belongs to Stephenie Meyer. This is just a fanmade story by me.

Yep. New story. If you've been on my website (link on my profile) you would've seen a small preview of it there. I'll be posting small previews of other upcoming stories there, too, and a small summary of what they'll be about. Currently you can see this one, 'A Soulmate for The Soulless' and 'Never Let This Go'.

I just practically finished this chap, but fear not! I have written quite a lot on future chapters of this one already. Edward's such a natural character for me to write on that I can write him all the time. Meaning quick updates! Awesome, right?! =)

Anyways.. this new story.

Explanation: I've always wondered what actually happened before he met Bella, and I know a lot of people like writing their own versions of it and all, but I really wanna make it more believable. No offense. Of course this story's also AU (how can it not be?) and every chapter will be Edward's POV. None others. Not Carlisle's, not Esme's, not anyone's except Edward's.

This is Edward's story from a few days before his transformation, up to the point where he meets Bella at lunch. This will end where Midnight Sun begins.

..NOW YOU ENJOY YOU GOOD FOLKS OF FORKS!!!!

One second ago I had been on the edge between life and death, I was sure. My body was covered in sweat from the anxiety, knowing my time was up, but my mind was still entirely elsewhere. I wondered if this was what it had been like for my mother and father, and some of my friends that had already passed. I wished it hadn't.

My father had died only days before my mother had started showing the same symptoms he'd had. We both knew instantly what would happen to her as well, but Elisabeth Masen were not one to call it quits like that. She was strong, much stronger than any woman I'd ever had the pleasure of meeting, and getting to know.

At first she tried to tell herself that it was just a regular cold, which was obviously not true. When she began to throw up blood she stopped denying it, and told me, her only son, to get as far away from Chicago that I could. She urged me to save myself, but how could I possibly leave my mother alone in the state that she was in? And besides, I was sure that this illness would be around for quite awhile. I was sure it would catch up with me at some point, so it was meaningless for me to run now and not be there for my mother in her time of need.

Four days ago she had turned for the worse, but she still fought against it - even if the doctors told her to not strain herself. It only weakened her.

At that time she was in the hospital, and I was happy about the fact she was being treated by the best doctor around, Carlisle Cullen. I was grateful for his presence in our town, and our lives.

By the worried looks he kept giving my mother, when she wasn't watching, I could tell that she was going to leave us soon. I wished that I was just imagining it, that it wasn't true, but I knew I had it right. I was never wrong. For some reason I had this uncanny way of knowing what people were thinking about when I watched them. Their body language and their words.. I knew exactly what they were thinking about, but it wasn't as if I heard their thoughts though. I just knew.

- - -

The last time I had visited her was three days ago, and it was early in the morning. And as I sat by her side, I felt very, very warm. And slightly shaky. I convinced myself that it was just because I was afraid for my mother, which I really was, but I knew better. The disease that had killed so many people already, including my father, had now hit me. It had hit me hard.

The drops of perspiration began their descent on my cheeks, and I started feeling light-headed. My hand reached up to wipe the wet sweatpearls away, but before long I had fallen off my chair, and when I came back to consciousness I found myself waking up in a hospital bed. It was in the middle of the night by the looks of it – it was completely black outside, and I wondered how long I'd really been out.

Still feeling weary, I turned my head slowly to look at the clock on the lightyellow-colored wall.

1:25AM.

I looked around the room, searching for my mother, and found her in the bed next to me, sleeping. At least she was still here, beside me. I smiled a little.

The door opened a second later and in came the one person I really wanted to see again. I had questions for him, and I hoped that he could give me answers.

"Carlisle," My voice croaked, more hoarse than usual.

"Edward, you're awake," He said in a gentle, but quiet, voice. Relief colored it, but somehow it was still sad. I knew why.

He walked over to me, and sat himself carefully down next to me, touching my forehead lightly, checking my temperature. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel warm, and tired." I started to get up.

"You need to rest, Edward." He placed a cold hand on my shoulder, pushing me back into the pillows. "Save your strength." His tone had grown more caring.

"I have it too, don't I?" I stated the obvious.

"Yes." He confirmed my suspicion with a frown on his pale face.

I was still astounded that he was a doctor actually. Not because I thought he lacked competence, for that he surely did not, but because he was just so young! He couldn't be much older than me, but he still claimed to be around 30 years old. I knew better, but still kept quiet. He was more brilliant than anyone I'd ever met and so I wouldn't ruin everything for him. He was the best thing that had ever happened to Chicago, and really, he was the best thing that had happened to the world.

I wasn't really surprised by the fact that I had been infected by this disease, and it was because I knew it was unevitable. So many victims had already been claimed all over the world, so why would I be one of the few exceptions that did not get it? And remember, I had that little gift of knowing things.

I could see it on Carlisle's face when he came into the room, well, I could almost tell before he even entered the ward. I would not be immune.

"Rest, Edward," Carlisle urged, his voice still ever so caring.

"How's mother?" I asked instead, for I had to know. Was she alright?

"She's sleeping, Edward," he replied gently. "And so should you. Rest."

I frowned at him, but complied nevertheless. But before I went to sleep, I murmured to him quietly; "Wake me when mother is up."

- - -

When I finally did wake up, the sun was shining gloriously through the windows from outside. I felt much better then, and I wanted to go out, to feel the sun's warm rays on my skin, to relax by the cool water. Perhaps mother would go with me to the park later..

That sparked something in my memory.

Mother.

I looked around the room, searching for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. Where could she be? Had they put me in another room while I'd been asleep? Surely they knew around here that I was Elisabeth Masen's son, and so they should have kept me right next to her. So, where was she?

I started feeling worried, and anxious. I think I knew where she was though, and my heart started aching for her. I wished she was here with me, so that once and for all I would be wrong. I desperately hoped I was now.

I waited, and waited, and waited for Carlisle to come and tell me where she was, but he never did. I had enough strength in my body still to call for a nurse though, and so when she came over I asked her where mother was, but all she told me was to wait for Dr Cullen. She told me that he was only working nights, which I found a little odd. Where was he during the days then when the patients here needed him the most? Perhaps he wasn't the angel I had imagined him to be. Or perhaps he was at another hospital, working, and being our town's real guardian angel, like the man I had come to know and respect.

It was around 8PM when Carlisle finally came into the ward where I was resting, but by then I had started feeling way worse. Clammy moisture occupied my forehead, but I was too tired to wipe it off. I was too tired to do anything. I could barely even speak.

"Where's mother?" I choked out, looking up at his kind face.

He came to sit down beside me, looking down sadly on the sickly dirtywhite floor, and by the look on his face, and frame, I knew. I just knew.

She was gone.

"No.." No, no, no, NO. This wasn't happening. I hadn't even said goodbye! I felt my eyes beginning to sting from the oncoming tears. There was no way of stopping them.

"I'm sorry, Edward." Carlisle said sadly, his head still bowed down. He put his cool hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner, but it didn't make me feel any calm at all. "We did everything we could do." And I knew he had. I didn't blame him, or anyone. I knew they'd done everything that was in their power. He probably wouldn't have been able to live with himself if he hadn't. And here he was.

"Was she in pain?" I barely managed to say, choking back tears. My throat was clotted.

He shook his head slowly. "The morphine took the pain away. She was asleep. She didn't feel a thing."

At least she hadn't suffered, and I felt relieved, taking comfort in that knowledge. But it still hurt like nothing else. Both of my parents were gone now, and I was all alone.

"When?" I choked out.

"A couple of hours ago."

"Why didn't you wake me up?!" I cried with all the strength I could muster, which was barely any. I was just so weak. My mind was tired, and so was my body. I craved sleep now, even if I had just woken up a few minutes ago.

"I'm sorry, Edward." He truly looked as if he was ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to wake you." For a brief second I thought he looked angry, but I was sure I was just hallucinating, because what would he have to be angry about?

I tried to swallow, but it was so hard. Swallowing nowadays felt like having razorblades on the inside of your mouth, scratching the fragile skin there, by the palate.

"Rest, Edward." Carlisle urged again, and as I looked into his golden eyes, full of care, I just nodded and closed my eyes. I couldn't do anything else, and I wouldn't do anything else either.

I would rest, and I would get better. And seeing the dedication he showed with his patients I knew what I would want to be when I was older, and when I was free from this thing. Doctor seemed to be a noble profession, and I could only hope to be as good as Carlisle someday. I would see to that he became my mentor, and I had a feeling that he would gladly be it.

How foolish I was to see the war as something noble when it was this that was the only venerable thing to do.

Taking or saving lifes?

This question was easy enough for me to answer now, and I owed it all to Dr Cullen.

So.. the first chapter of a new story. I think this will be my fave story of my own ones, as Edward's my favorite character. I love him. He's so sweet and all..
But anyways.. I'd love it if you took the time to click on the lil button below and leave me a lil comment. It's highly appreciated, peeps. Love yah if yah do, you know. Teehee. Toodles~

OH! Please READ & REVIEW also!! Thank you very much!! =D