Beep, beep, beep. Besides Bella's breathing and her mother's sniffling these were the only sounds heard in Bella's room. It had been three days since we defeated James and she still had yet to awaken. I had come to the hospital the night she was brought in and had not left since. As far as Renee' was concerned I was "sleeping". My eyes were closed but every part of me was awake, longing for an awakening. A stirring began in the bed only a few feet away from me. I fought instinct not to open my eyes.
"Mom?" Bella whispered. Renee's eyes opened and a certain light took hold of her. "Sweetheart? Bella I'm right here."
"What happened?" I listened as Renee' recounted what she thought happened. I never wanted to see Bella in pain, but so much of me wanted what Renee' had said to happen. What I did to her was far worse. I told her that she shouldn't love me, but I should have controlled my own emotions. I should have been strong enough to say "No!" Yes that would have hurt her some but it wouldn't have almost killed her. The room turned silent and I heard her go out of the room. I came to life and walked over to Bella.
"You're here! You stayed with me the entire time." Her voice cracked and I could tell she needed to rest.
"Of course I stayed. I will never abandon you. We killed James and his mate, Victoria she ran off. Alice tried to track her but from what she could see she had taken off for good."
"Edward, thank-you. You risked your family's safety for my own and I am alive because of you." I rubbed her cheek. "No Bella you're in here because of me. If I kept you at a safe distance you would never have gotten hurt, you wouldn't be in here. Bella I have to leave you. You have to be safe that is all that has ever mattered to me." She began to cry lightly and every part of me began to die. "You… You can't leave me. No! We are strongest together. What are you?"
"Shh love." I kissed her forehead and her heart rate picked up. The monitors began sounding and I could do nothing but smile, chuckling silently. "I love you so much. I don't want to be anywhere that isn't with you." She calmed herself. "Don't say that to me, ever." I gently climbed onto her bed. I started to rub her head, cautious not to knock her breathing tubes. She exhaled, still breathing uneasy. As she grabbed my hand she lay her head on my shoulder and I continued to console her. She went to sleep a few minutes later. As she slept I thought about what I said to her. I could NEVER leave her and I was going to make sure that for the rest of her natural life with me she was never anything but happy. "Sleep well my Bella. Sleep well."