A nightly haunting
Once Emmett took Bella home she flopped on her bed and began to cry. She felt a cool breeze and then heard a pain filled voice, "Angels shouldn't cry. Bella I'm here."
She lifted her tear stained face from the pillow, "Edward? Go away. You promised me you'd go to the light. You promised me."
Edward pressed a charm into her hand. She closed her eyes as the visions of the night her best friend died flashed before her eyes. Flashback: Bella sat in a chair beside Edward's hospital bed. His mother was out in the hall talking to a doctor.
It was time to let him in on her secret. Bella took his had in hers. It shocked her when he opened his eyes, and whispered, "Bella. You are still here. I thought your mom would have made you go home hours ago. You look tired."
Bella shook her head, "I'm not. Mom thought I should stay so you weren't alone. Do you want me to leave?"
Edward shook his head, "That is the last thing I want. What I do want is for you to get out of that chair. Come up here and sit with me. Why are you sad Bells? I'm going to be fine. My mom says the doctors are wrong. Trust me."
Bella got up on the bed beside Edward and rested her head on his chest. After while she said, "There's something I have to tell you. Edward. Please don't freak out. I can see and speak to the dead."
A small smile was on Edward's face when he answered, "Why would that freak me out Bella? I think it's cool that you can do that. Are there any ghosts here now?"
Bella shook her head, "It's going to stay that way. Edward I want you to promise me something ok. Promise me that I won't ever have to cross you over. If you die I want you to be at peace and to go right into the light. Do you promise?"
Edward nodded and stroked Bella's hair, "Get some sleep Bella. I'll still be here when you wake up."
Bella fought back a yawn, "I'm not tired. I want to talk to you."
Edward flashed a small smile at his friend and asked, "Since you don't want to sleep; what you want to talk about?"
Bella tried not to cry, "I don't know. I want to talk about everything and nothing. Then I want to wake up with you smiling at me… like you are right now. That's not going to happen though is it?"
Edward heard the sobs Bella was holding back and whispered, "Bella I'm not going anywhere. I promise. If something happens to me though I don't want you to cry; promise me."
Bella nodded against Edward's chest, "If you promise to go into the light."
Edward started to answer but Esme came into the room along with Alice and Rosalie. Alice's boyfriend Jasper stood behind her rubbing her shoulders soothingly. Alice wasn't comforted by this though and went to stand by Edward.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she took his head, "Edward; please you can't d…"
Edward didn't let his sister finish he asked Bella to shift over on the bed and then patted a space beside him, "Allie I'm here and I'm going to be fine. Don't cry."
Esme went over to the bed and spoke for the first time, "Edward your dad would have been here but he had to work. He said to let you know not to hold on for him son. If it hurts too much as your mother I'm begging you to just let go."
Edward shook his head, "I'm not going anywhere."
Esme kissed her son's forehead, "You just rest son."
Rosalie saw the tears in her sister's eyes and asked, "Alice do you want to take a walk with me?"
Alice shook her head violently and a tear landed on Edward's hand. He put his hand on her cheek, "Allie what did I just finish telling mom? Go with Rose. I'll be here when you get back."
Alice got off the bed and Bella moved so she was centered on Edward's chest, he saw her yawn and laughed, "Go to sleep Bella."
Esme saw the dark circles under Bella's eyes and agreed, "You need some sleep."
Bella shook her head, "I'm afraid to sleep. I don't want… if you… Edward…"
Edward rubbed Bella's back and put her hand over his heart. As long as that beats I'm still here."
When Bella refused again Esme said, "At least let me get you a coffee dear. Edward do you need pain meds or anything?"
Edward shook his head and turned to face his friend again, "Bells? Look at me."
Bella looked at Edward and yawned, "I'm not sleeping. I want to be awake incase anything happens. I'm your best friend. Like I promised you when you got sick every time you were in the hospital we'd get through this together."
Edward smiled, "You've been through hell and back with me Bella. I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't with you…. I…"
Everything started to happen at once. Esme dropped the coffees she'd been carrying and rushed over to her son's bedside. Edward coughed and blood came out of his mouth. Bella didn't even think about the mess she just buried her face in his chest and whispered, "I'm here Edward its ok. Look at me…"
Edward gasped out in between coughs, "Where are Rose and Allie?"
At that point Alice and Rose came back. Alice tried to run to her brother's side but Jasper held her back, "Alice honey, give him some room."
Once Edward calmed down he motioned for Alice to come over to the bed. Esme sat down in a chair and stroked his pale face, "Baby if it hurts its ok to go. We love you so much Edward."
Edward's eyes started to flutter shut but he fought it, "Bella?"
Bella closed her eyes and tried to keep tears from escaping, "Yes Edward. I'm right here."
Then the monitors went off all at once; Carlisle was one of the doctors that rushed into the room. He grabbed the paddles and said, in a firm voice, "Bella you need to move now!"
Bella scrambled blindly off of the bed and barely heard the calls of charging and clear. She felt nothing, she heard nothing but she didn't cry. She was going to keep that promise to Edward. Esme pulled her into a hug and choked out in a mangled sob, "He's gone." End Flashback:
Bella stared at Edward in shock, "Why did you show me that? Why are you still here? You promised me! I can't help you unless you tell me why you are still here! Edward…!"
Emmett came into the room along with Charlie and Renee. She dropped to her knees with her face in her hands. Emmett saw the cross necklace, and gently shook her shoulders, "Sis what's the matter? You just started screaming. Are you feeling alright? I just came to tell you dinner was ready but if you aren't hungry I can bring something up."
Bella threw her arms around her brother, "Emmett it hurts so badly all the time. Why won't it ever go away?"
Renee pulled Bella away from Emmett, "I know sweetie. You and Edward were very close and it hurts. This is the second panic attack you've had today honey. It's not healthy. I think at your next appointment with Carlisle I'll have him look into therapy."
