Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all the interest in the story and I'm SO SORRY it's taken so long for an update. School's just so busy right now and I haven't had much time. Anyways, here's another chapter. I hope you enjoy it =)
Days passed and Bella watched as Edward got worse and worse. His nights were filled with coughing and his days were spent watching the rain with laboured breathing. Two days after being diagnosed, Carlisle came in to check on his son.
"Good afternoon, Bella." Carlisle greeted the girl, who was sitting next to Edward, running her fingers through his hair.
"Hi."
"How are feeling, Edward?" Carlisle turned his attention to the very pale boy lying under the blankets. Edward tried to answer but broke into a coughing fit.
"I'll take that as an answer." Carlisle said, sitting on the edge of the bed as Bella pulled her feet up to make room. Unearthing a thermometer from his bag, the doctor slipped it into Edward's mouth once his coughing fit subsided. While waiting for it to yield a number, Carlisle pulled out a stethoscope. By now Edward knew what to do and sat up straight as his father slid the icy cold device under his t-shirt. Edward tried to take deep breathes but ending up wheezing instead. Carlisle sighed as he took the stethoscope out and the thermometer beeped.
"What is it?" Bella asked, watching Carlisle's concerned face as he read the number.
"His fever is getting worse. It's up to 103 now."
"Is there anything you can do?" Bella asked. "You know, to make him more comfortable?"
"I'm afraid medicine won't help him," Carlisle said. "But you can certainly keep him cool with a compress. It will make the fever much more bearable."
Bella nodded.
"What about the cough?"
"We can try a damp, warm towel. It'll act as a vaporizer but it'll be more effective because it'll be directly on his chest. I'll have Esme soak it in some herbs that will soothe his throat, too. I'll send her up with everything in a few minutes."
Bella nodded.
"Thank you."
Carlisle smiled and looked at Edward, who had turned towards the window again. He didn't appear to be listening.
"You're the best thing for him, Bella. I'm merely making this bearable but you're the one he's fighting for."
Carlisle stood up.
"I'll be back later. Don't hesitate to call me if needed." He said as he gathered his things and left the room.
Bella turned her attention back to Edward, running her fingers through his damp hair.
"He's right, you know." Edward said softly.
"About what?"
"I'm fighting for you, Bella. I love you."
"I love you, too. I just want you to get better soon."
"Me too, Love."
The two sat in silence, watching the intricate rain drops form patterns on the window.
"It's like they're racing." Bella said, watching two raindrops slide down the pane of glass.
"That one will win." Edward said pointing at one drop that was beginning it's descent.
"I bet that one will beat it."
Edward and Bella watched as the two raindrops advanced from the starting line. About halfway down the window they merged into one path.
"And two became one." Edward said softly, taking Bella's hand. He kissed it gently.
Esme arrived carrying a tray. She set in on a side table. Bella unlaced her fingers from Edward's and got up to look at what it all held.
"I figured you might want some lunch." Esme said when Bella saw a sandwich on a plate.
"Thanks." Bella said, picking it up and taking a bite.
"If either of you need anything else, just call." Esme said, leaning over to kiss Edward on the forehead.
"Thanks, Esme."
Esme smiled sadly at her sickly son and left. Bella helped Edward sit up a little, using pillows to support his upper back and neck. She lifted the fluffy white towel from the tray and laid it gently on Edward's chest.
"Feel good?" Bella asked and Edward nodded.
"Yeah."
"Good."
Bella turned back to the tray and saw a small basin of water and a white face cloth, matching the towel. She moved the basin and the cloth to the bed and resting them in her lap, she moistened the small cloth. She began to dab at Edward's face and neck.
"How long have I been sick?" Edward asked after a few minutes.
"Three days. Carlisle said you should die within a week of getting sick."
"Are you scared?" Edward asked Bella again.
"I'm scared of not having you come back."
"I'll wake up, Bella, and then we'll go for a nice, long walk in the meadow."
Bella nodded and bit her lip.
Hours passed as Edward continually got worse. Bella never left his side except to call Charlie once and awhile and let him know she was okay. He didn't necessarily approve of all the time Bella was spending away from home, especially with a sick Edward, but Carlisle calmed most of his fears by ensuring he wasn't contagious.
On night five, Esme came into Edward's dark bedroom. Edward was coughing hard, hardly having time to recover after each spasm. Bella was sitting with him, rubbing his back and sponging his face.
"Bella," Esme said softly. "Why don't you go and lay down in the family room? It's been days since you've slept."
"I'm fine." Bella said.
"Bella, go. I'll be fine." Edward wheezed. Bella looked at Esme.
"Please? Just for a couple of hours. I'll stay with him."
"You'll wake me up if anything changes?" Bella asked and Esme nodded.
Bella left, hesitating in the door. After seeing Esme pick up the facecloth, she left and found an empty family room downstairs. Settling onto one of the soft couches she fell asleep almost instantly.
"Esme," Edward wheezed. "Do you think it'll happen soon?"
"Carlisle seems to think so. Your fever keeps rising and breathing is becoming harder."
Edward nodded as another coughing attack came. Esme helped him lean forward and like Bella, rubbed his back until it passed.
"Make sure she's okay, alright?" Edward said, lying down again. "When I'm gone."
Esme nodded.
"We'll keep an eye on her. Not that she'll be anywhere but at your side." Esme added with a smile.
"Make sure she takes care of herself."
"She'll be alright, Edward. We'll see to that."
"Promise me."
Esme looked into Edward's eyes and for the first time she saw something in them: fear.
"I promise, Edward."
Alice came into the family room just before dawn.
"Bella?" She said softly, shaking the sleeping girl's shoulder gently.
"What is it?" Bella exclaimed, startled. "Is Edward okay?"
"It'll happen soon." Alice said. "I just saw it."
"I thought you couldn't see his future?"
"I couldn't until now. You'd better get up there … he was asking for you."
That was all Bella needed and she left the couch and bounded up the stairs. Esme met her at the door.
"I was just about to get you."
"I'm here."
"I'm going to get Carlisle. We'll be right back."
Bella nodded, not really paying attention to her words. Edward was lying flat on his back, his chest barely moving with each breath. His eyes were sliding closed longer and longer with each blink. Bella ran to his side. Kneeling on the floor, she grabbed onto his hand.
"Bella," Edward was struggling to speak.
"Shh, I'm here." Bella pushed a strand of hair out of his eyes. "It's okay."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Carlisle came in, followed by Esme and the rest of Edward's family. Carlisle sat next to Edward and listened to Edward's lungs with his stethoscope.
"It won't be long now." He said, taking the stethoscope out of his ears. Bella began to stroke Edward's extremely warm cheek as the rest of the Cullens hovered near the doorway.
"You'll wait for me?" Edward asked softly. Bella nodded, trying hard to control her tears.
"I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere."
Edward smiled softly before his eyes slid closed. Bella held her breath to see if they would open again but they didn't. His chest was barely moving at all. Carlisle came up behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder. At his touch, Bella allowed the tears to flow down her cheeks.
"It's alright, Bella. His suffering has ended."
One more chapter after this one … review?