Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

A/N: I would just like to note that (in a good way, I think) I don't dive straight into the romance. Anyone reading this from my other stories already knows that. (-; I like to really set up a story. So if you'll stick with me, we'll get this ball rollin'. (-: I always appreciate reviews (I'm not joking here, guys)!

Two

Waiting was exhausting.

The waiting room was a great, open atmosphere. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows lined the far side of the oblong room, showing part of the medical campus's courtyard below and the oyster of misty grey dawn light opening up in the east.

The chairs were plush and comfortable. Juliet had situated herself in one that sat back-to-back with the one her mother sat in, who also sat beside her brother. The rest of the extended family would trickle in as daylight grew. The sleepy light that now filtered through the windows made Juliet yawn and glance down at her third cup of coffee. The nurse, Marty, had been kind enough to replenish her supply each time she drained a cup. Now Juliet resolutely set the cup on the coffee table in front of her. She wasn't much of a caffeine drinker to begin with.

She wasn't sure if she found the silence unsettling or comfortable. What could they possibly fill it with? This day was anything but ordinary. It had been nearly twenty-four hours ago that her father received the call for his transplant—it wasn't something that could be planned.

Juliet swallowed hard, pinched the skin near her wrist, and shut her eyes. It couldn't be planned because someone had to die in order for her father to live. She had known that since she was ten, when she had first stumbled across her father's medical ailment after finding a bill in the mail. He had only been placed on the list months ago from this day, but even back then his doctors had known it was an almost definite likelihood.

This thought always brought a confluence of others upon her. Who was the donor? That was something that wouldn't be answered for years, if at all. How did they die? She wasn't sure she even wanted to know. It seemed like a morbid thing to wonder. So many more questions lingered in the back of her mind. Questions she didn't dare ask answers for. It was hard enough even thinking that, yesterday, a death had occurred to give her father the gift of life. While she and her family sat waiting for good news—dear God, please let it be good news—another family was mourning.

How could she ever repay them for such a thing?

Silently, she sucked in a deep breath and released it. She wasn't going to think of these things now. Not now. She couldn't bear it. Tears were already beginning to prick at her eyes and she couldn't have that.

Checking her cell phone, she found it was six o'clock. Two hours into the twelve hour surgery. What was it Marty had said after they took Dad into surgery? That hearing no news was good news? Yes, that was it. But she would give anything right now to know how her father was doing.

Two hours later, the elevators near the check-in desk dinged, revealing more people Juliet didn't know. At the moment, the check-in desk was empty. It was too early on a weekend for someone to be working it. The waiting room wasn't private, as Juliet had always imagined it to be. There were several other families seated throughout the room, all trapped in a fragile silence no one dared to break. Her heart went out to them. Today was a very trying day.

Her mother shifted in the seat behind her. Juliet turned to her, steeling herself. She found her mother's eyes on the floor, imbued with the kind of fear one could only have when facing the unknown. Juliet's brother, nearly her twin in appearance, sat gazing out the window indifferently. It was his typical demeanor in regards to their father. Indifference.

Raw anger surged through Juliet, and she bit it back, holding in the nasty retort she wanted to say to him. It was very much unlike her, but also very common of her to disagree with her dear brother. How could he be so emotionless when their father could die at anytime? How dare he? Realization dawned on her seconds later as she looked at her reflection in the glass, caught her eyes staring back at her. She saw nothing in them. She, too, put up walls to remain emotionless. She had no right to question her brother.

Instead, she returned her eyes and thoughts to her mother. Her mother always reminded her of a flower; bright, something that made you smile, emanating sweetness. Now, her mother seemed more like a wilted flower than anything else. The cheeriness Juliet had come to know vanished, replaced by a look of misery.

Juliet stood, switching seats so that she sat across from her mother. She rested a hand on her mother's arm, catching the blue eyes that reflected her own. She gave her mother a smile. "Mom," she said in a hush, so as not to disturb other families in their same position. "How are you? Can I get you anything?"

Her mother returned the smile, though hers was thin and tired. "No, sweetie. You've already done so much. And you look exhausted."

"So do you."

The look Juliet received was familiar—that motherly look that said don't you do that. Only Juliet now came to notice the dark lines in her mother's face that made her look older. Since when had those been there?

"You should get some rest, Julie. It's going to be a long day."

Juliet returned to her original seat in the pretense of taking a nap. Sleep would not come for her, she knew. It'd been weeks. She would not sleep when her father needed her strong and steady.

An hour later, the elevator dinged again. Only this time, faces Juliet recognized appeared as the doors slid open. This is it, she thought to herself grimly. Let the masquerade begin.

Immediately she stood to greet her extended family. It had been doubtless that they'd come, considering they were more like immediate family than extended. She hugged her aunts and uncles and cousins, giving them reassuring and bright smiles. She could see the relief spread across their features. They must think: if Julie is okay, then everything must be okay.

Juliet felt a swell of guilt in her stomach. She had never been a great liar. She hated lying at all. Yet it seemed in this time of need, she was a pro.

Hushed conversations struck up, now that everyone was here. They continued to ask: How did he look when he went in? How did he feel? Was he ready for it? What about the doctor?

Questions about the doctor gave Juliet pause. She remembered amber eyes on her after she gave him the pleading look thinking, please, please let him live. She prayed for it constantly. Now this doctor, Doctor Cullen, would prove to be her angel or not. That kind smile he had given her lit a flicker of hope inside Juliet. As the hours dragged on without word, which was good, her spirits lifted ever so slightly.

Six hours into the surgery.

Halfway done. She smiled a little. Her father would always be the one with the comforting smile and easy jokes. He would be the one telling them, don't worry, it's halfway done. She took this job as she went around to her family, making sure everyone had what they needed. It seemed everyone needed a smile.

Going on seven hours into the surgery, half the family got up to make a food-run to the cafeteria in the main hospital. Juliet wasn't hungry. Now she sit across from her brother who was four years her senior. His girlfriend had come to 'support' him—Juliet immediately quelled the bitter thought. The girl was sweet—a cute, petite blonde—but Daniel was chattering on about sports and anything that didn't involve family. As usual.

His girlfriend, Anna, gave Juliet a glance that said I know. Juliet clamped her teeth together, realizing she let her mask down for a moment. Though she found it comforting that she wasn't the only one who saw that Daniel had extreme apathy when regarding family, now was not the time to dispute over that.

The elevator stopped at this level again. The loud ding always made Juliet cringe and tore her eyes from whatever she was staring at to the sliding doors with hope that seemed almost ludicrous. Sometimes she thought that, like Anna, her boyfriend would come around. But she often forgot—ex-boyfriend.

Instead of seeing her ex, Juliet saw a small pixie girl. She was simply stunning. Short, dark auburn hair, bright eyes that looked like chips of amber, a petite frame filled with grace. Seeing this girl removed any negative thoughts from Juliet's mind for a fraction of a moment. She looked familiar in some strange way.

The girl glided out of the elevator and glanced around the waiting room expectantly. When her eyes met Juliet's, the girl broke out in a small smile. Juliet's face reddened as she glanced away, but her attention immediately returned to the stranger. Now she was gliding away, towards the door that led back into the ICU. Maybe she was visiting a family member.

Eleven hours into the surgery.

One more hour to go. There hadn't been any news yet. Surely, this was a good thing. Juliet wanted to stand and pace like several members of her family were doing, but she couldn't. She had to remain strong and composed or she would shatter into something that couldn't be fixed. He'll be just fine. She repeated that to herself over and over again as she pinched the skin at her wrist. Then, as she did every hour, she made sure everyone was doing well.

Her mother was in shambles. The light haired woman sat alone on a bench far away from the others, her shoulders drooped, her eyes on the floor. Juliet quietly took a seat beside her.

"Mom," she urged. "Let's go sit with the others. They need us right now."

Her mother said nothing. She only stared unseeingly at the ground. In her mother's hands was her father's wedding ring.

"Mom," she tried again. "He'll be just fine. There's only another hour to go and we haven't heard anything. That's good."

Smiling sadly, her mother finally met her eyes. "I know, sweetie. I was just wondering what we'd do without him."

"We won't be without him."

"No, I don't think we ever would be." Her mother brushed dark strands of hair from Juliet's eyes. "I can see part of him that lives on in you."

Just as those words crossed her mother's lips, a door down the stretch of the room opened up. A woman in scrubs walked out, calling "Young family? The Senator's family? If I could have a word?"

A rush of fear surged through Juliet. She stood stiffly, along with her mother, and joined the mass of her family that crowded around the woman. No no no no no no no no, Juliet thought, biting her lip hard. He's fine. Of course he's fine. He has to be. Dread filled her to brim as silence stretched on while her brother and Anna took their time striding over. Then the woman spoke.

"We couldn't have asked for the surgery to have gone any better," the woman smiled. Juliet wanted to fall to her knees with relief. "Doctor Cullen is finishing up now, but he'll be in shortly to tell you how things went and give you a brief talk on what to expect."

There were murmurs through the room. Other family's stared at them with a mixture of hope and uncertainly as they hugged one another and smiled and grinned and laughed. Juliet took in a deep breath. Finally it felt like she could breathe again.

Her mother no longer looked like a wilted flower. She was bright and beaming, but there was still something sad in her eyes. And Juliet knew what it was.

This wasn't the end. This was only the beginning.

The thought chilled her. But then she remembered the look Doctor Cullen had given her and realized that she really did have an angel.

How could she ever thank him?

Review? I promise we'll see some more of our favorite doctor in the next chapter… (-: Give me some thoughts!