Chapter 2: Reunion
(Bella PoV)
Carlisle pulled out his cell phone, keeping his arm around me while he pressed the '2' on his dial pad. He put it on speaker, placing the phone down to my level so I could hear the conversation. The line rang twice before Esme picked up. My throat became constricted as I listened to my mother's worried voice.
"Carlisle? What's wrong?" She asked, worry laced into her words.
"Nothing, Esme. I need you to come to the hospital, to the intensive care unit, room 307," Carlisle assured her, pulling me closer.
"Why? Carlisle, please don't—" She started but I interrupted.
"Esme?" I said her name softly. There was silence then a deep sigh in relief.
"Bella, oh sweetheart, are you ok? I'm on my way over right now." I could hear shuffling as she prepared to leave for the hospital. My voice broke as I answered her.
"I'm ok. I just….I want to see you," I told her, tears starting to fill my eyes. Carlisle rubbed my arm in comfort, kissing my forehead.
"You will, sweetheart. I'm on my way. I'll be there in 15 minutes, ok?"
"Ok," I whispered before Carlisle said or goodbyes and hung up. Just as he was putting his phone back into his pocket, a nurse came into my room.
"Oh, Dr. Cullen, I'm so glad I found you. Dr. Gerandy told me to inform you that the conference was cancelled and you do not need to stay longer than necessary. He understands you would want to get back to your family," she rushed out in a hurry. Carlisle smiled back at the young intern nurse.
"I understand. If you could, ask him if my position is still open. I would like my job back if possible," he said. I looked up at him, confusion in my eyes. He smiled at him as the nurse rushed off to deliver the message.
"Why do you want your job back?" I asked, curious and trying to suppress my hope.
"So I can have access to equipment to use for you during your pregnancy." He said, smiling at me. My eyes betrayed me as I tried to be calm and not express my burning desire to believe his implied words.
"We're coming back, Bella. We all are. Once Esme arrives, we will figure out the details, ok?" Carlisle assured me, to which I just nodded silently, hoping to God that he was telling me the truth. He held me in silence for a while until a knock on the open doorway caused me to look up. Esme was standing there, the same as how I remember, but my memory hadn't done her beauty justice. She hurried to me as tears blurred my vison and she lifted me into her arms, clutching me to her as she spoke softly.
"Oh Bella, oh, sweetheart, it's ok, it's all fine," she assured me, rocking me back and forth while Carlisle wrapped his arms around her, encasing me in their embrace. I clutched their clothing, not being able to bear having them leave. I sobbed freely now as my real parents comforted me.
"Mom, Dad," my mumbled plea caused their arms to tighten. After I had calmed down, I looked up at Esme. Her eyes were worried and sad, telling me Carlisle had told her what I had said. But her eyes also held curiosity. She smiled down at me nervously.
"Carlisle said you have something to tell me sweetheart," she said, nervous that it would be more bad news. I smiled softly, taking her hand and placing on my stomach.
"I'm pregnant," I whispered, looking up at her with the hope I'd tried so desperately to retain. Her eyes widened then filled with tears she couldn't shed. She flung her arms around me once more, hugging me fiercely as she started to dry sob. I was startled and sad that she was upset. I started to slump but Carlisle rubbed my back.
"She's not upset, Bella. She's happy, just like I am, that you are giving us this gift," Carlisle told me and one look at Esme's face confirmed that belief. I smiled to myself and let them hug me once more. After a while though, Carlisle let go of us, getting off the bed. I stared at him in fear but he kissed my forehead affectionately, reassuring me that he was going to down to the front desk to reclaim his position, then become my doctor so I could go home sooner. I nodded before turning to Esme as he left. Esme lifted me easily, placing me under the bed sheets and tucking me in.
"Would you like to talk to Edward before the others come back?" she asked. I froze at his name, tears starting to fill my eyes. She shushed me gently, smoothing the tears from my cheeks as she waited for my answer. I thought about it. I wanted him back so badly. I needed him. Our baby needed him. But what if he doesn't want me or the baby? I don't think I could take his rejection again. He told me he didn't love me, that no one in his family did. But here Carlisle and Esme just proved part of his statement wrong, for them at least. I looked into my lap.
"He told me he didn't love me. That the rest of you didn't love me anymore or that you never did. I-I can't take it again," I mumbled, looking up at my mother. Her mouth was open in an "O," shocked at this new information. Then she crushed me to her chest, denying all that I believed.
"He lied, Bella. He loves you more than his own life and he will love this baby just as much. We all loved you. We only left because Edward wanted to give you a chance at a normal human life," she told me. I clung to her, every cell in my body begging to believe her. I'd already begun to hope.
(Carlisle PoV)
I closed my eyes as I heard Bella confess Edward's words to her when he left. He had never told us what he said to her but I guess now I know why. To say I was mad was an understatement. I sped through the halls, trying to overcome the anger in my system at Edward's callousness and stupidity in regard to Bella. He nearly destroyed and only his baby gave her the will to live. I thought bitterly, seeing red as I thought of my eldest son.
After reinstating my position at the hospital, I stepped outside to call Edward. His phone went to voicemail, as per usual. I decided to leave him a message.
"Edward, if you love any of us anymore, pick up the phone. Lives depend on it." I said shortly and hung up. I'd let the anger start to slip through my words, letting him know it was serious. Not 2 minutes later, he picked up.
"What is it, Carlisle?" Edward replied, emotionless.
"I need you to come back to Forks Hospital. It's important."
"I'm not going back there."
"It concerns Bella."
"I told you and everyone else to leave her alone!" He roared into the phone. I fought to stay calm but I let my voice become low and dangerous.
"I am your father and you are my son. The situation is not reversed. I am free to do as I like. All I am asking you is come here for a day and then you can leave. If you love Bella as much as you say you do, you will come. If you love me or Esme as much as you say you do, you will come," I hissed. He was silent, shocked by the acid in my words.
"I'll be there tomorrow morning."
The next morning, I waited outside for Edward to arrive. Esme and I had stayed with Bella all night, reassuring her that everything would be fine. Esme stayed with her now, as she was slowly becoming undone at the thought of seeing Edward again. I just hoped Edward would come to his senses.
The silver Volvo pulled into a space and Edward stepped out. I gestured for him to come to a corner of the parking garage, blocking my thoughts as he approached. He was annoyed, still believing his leaving was best for Bella. But his eyes told a different story. He was in pain, coming back to this place where he'd had the past moments of his long life. I watched as he approached, coming a foot away before stopping and watching me intensely, suspicious due to my clouded thoughts.
"Are you happy now? I came. What do you want?"
I ignored his attitude. It was about to change drastically.
"Bella is severely sick." I said simply, watching his face became enraged as he figured out I had been in contact with her.
"Why—" He started to yell but I cut him off.
"Bella is severely sick because Charlie has kicked her out and disowned her, along with Renee and Phil. She has been living in her truck for the past 2 weeks, starving herself because she cannot afford food. She cannot sleep because she has nightmares and cannot get comfortable enough to sleep. She became sick with the flu and she cannot afford medicine so the illness has cascaded into a severe case that can be fatal. She is in the hospital because one night, a car hit the back end of her truck and knocked her out. She has been in the hospital ever since. Her illness is spiraling out of control and if nothing is done about it, she will die. But she did not do anything for herself until two weeks ago. And do you know why?" I asked. He was standing still as stone as he realized all that had been done to his mate since he left. I continued on though.
"Because the night of her birthday, you two slept together and she is now pregnant. Charlie and Renee tried to force her to have an abortion but she couldn't because she wanted something to remember you by because you cut her where it hurt and told her that none of us loved her!" I was yelling now and Edward was shrinking further with each word. His eyes were so confused and horrified but a glimmer rested there too at the thought of Bella pregnant with his child.
"She is in pain. You put her in that pain. Now you are going to fix it. Correct?" I finished. Edward blindly nodded as his emotion began to take over him. I sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder, making him look at me.
"Bella needs you, son. The baby needs you. That baby needs its father and Bella needs her love back. You screwed up, we all did by listening to you, but now we can make it right." I told him, my anger ceasing as I watched my son buckle under the consequences of what he had done. He nodded, wanting to get back to Bella as soon as possible. I took him and led into the hospital to the ICU.
Esme was outside the door as we approached and she took her son into a hug, saying nothing, just calming him gently with her presence. He hugged her back then slowly entered the room.
(Bella PoV)
I looked up as I felt a familiar presence in my room. My eyes went widen and tears began to fill my eyes for the millionth time in the past 24 hours as I looked at my visitor. He stared back at me in the same, his eyes filling with venom tears he would never shed. He approached me and sat in the chair beside me. We stared at each other for a long time before he spoke.
"Bella, I'm so sorry, I never meant—" I put my hand over his mouth. I took a deep breath.
"When are you going to leave again?" My question was simple and to-the-point. I needed that answer. He took my hand from over his mouth to rub his cheek against it as the tears in his eyes filled to the brim.
"Never," he promised. And I believed him, more than I ever had in my entire life. I nodded and leaned forward, bringing is head up to mine. Our lips touched and everything felt right. We kissed for a moment before breaking apart. He leaned his forehead against mine before he fell apart. He started to sob and I pulled his face to my chest, intertwining his fingers and mine while my other hand ran through his hair. He sobbed into my chest, mumbling apologies over and over again. I shushed softly, leaning my head on top of his.
"It doesn't matter now. You're here. Now," I whispered as Carlisle and Esme came back into the room. Esme sat on the edge of the bed next to me and began to rub Edward's back as he cried into my neck. Carlisle placed a hand on Esme's shoulder which she took, watching their son fall apart in my arms. I looked back down at him and moved my hand from his hair to around his neck bringing his face to mine to kiss once more. When we broke apart, I placed my hand against his cheek. I smiled at him softly.
"It's ok now," I assured him. He nodded and buried his face into my shoulder. And I knew as I said the words that they were true.
Hope you enjoyed it! Two reviews and I will update!
~Melinda
