Ch. 3

A loud rushing sound thumped dully in my ears. All I could see was a red glow in the blackness. Slowly, other sounds faded into appearance. There was a loud, rhythmic beep and an obnoxious buzz. My arms felt like they weighed a thousand pounds each and it seemed I couldn't move a single part of my body. I slowly fought to open my eyelids and after what seemed an eternity, they opened up just enough to take in the blindingly bright light. I snapped my eyes back shut and let out a groan. Instantly, I felt someone at my side.

"Bella!"

"Bells!"

My heart started to beat wildly in my chest at the sound of my name. Anxiety pounded the blood rapidly through my veins. I had no idea why I was so nervous. I slowly reopened my eyes. I peered up at an angel. His warm, golden eyes were wide with relief and he took my hand in his.

"Bella? Sweetheart, I'm here. Everything's going to be alright." With his free hand, he brushed his fingertips lightly across my cheek. He leaned down and lightly touched his lips to my forehead. I tried to smile up at him, but my face felt stiff and frozen.

"Edward?…" His name came out a choked whisper.

"I'm here, baby. I love you." I did my best to reach my face towards his and he seemed to understand what I wanted. He chuckled and leaned down to kiss me. I sighed and tried to remember exactly what had happened. I had been with Edward. The doorbell had rang. I had answered it…it was….Jake…Jake! My heart was beating crazily against my ribs.

They fight. Paris falls.

"Jacob…Where's Jacob?" Edward's face went hard, but he didn't answer. Instead, I heard a voice that made me happier than I had been in a long time.

"Hey, Bells. I'm right here. No worries." I felt his large, hot hand pat my shoulder. Relief coursed through my body and I turned to look at Jake, who was towering over the other side of my bed. I could feel tears in my eyes as I reached for his hand. I held it in mine for a brief second before I broke down. Loud sobs racked through my body and I covered my face with my hands.

"Bella? What's wrong!"

"Bells? Its okay! Don't cry." I took a few deep, calming breaths and looked back up at Edward and Jacob.

"You're both okay? You didn't hurt each other?" Both of their eyes widened.

"Bella…"Edward began. "We didn't get hurt. The only one we hurt was…you." He looked away, shame twisting his angelic features.

"He's right, Bells. We hurt you. Whichever one of us hit you…" Jake swallowed and started again. "You were thrown against the wall hard enough to be knocked unconscious for eleven days…" Jacob looked away.

I could feel my eyes widen. My lips parted as I stared at the two most important boys in my life. "E-eleven days…?" I could hear the disbelief in my voice.

"Yeah, Bells. After three days, the doctor was getting really worried, at one week, he was sure you had to have a problem in your brain that hadn't shown up in the CT-scans. I was terrified. We didn't know if you'd ever wake up." There was grief in his chocolate eyes and I nearly cried for the pain that they held.

"I'm fine, Jake. Really. I promise…I think." I scrunched up my face, trying to feel for any injuries. Edward noticed my expression and spoke.

"No, you're right, Bella. You have no physical injuries and worst fear was that you had brain injury, but you're reasoning and responding has proved that that isn't an issue." Before I could tell what he was going to do, Edward swooped toward me and took me in a humongous hug.

"I love you so much, Bella Swan. I was so worried." He tenderly touched his lips to mine. "I am so ashamed of myself. Neither the dog nor myself thought about your safety at all and acted as though we could do what ever we wished. We didn't even leave Charlie's kitchen before attacked each other! I showed absolutely no self-control. It was disgraceful." Edward sighed, mournfully. I had to get rid of the look of self-hatred on his beautiful face. I wanted to say something, but Jacob cut me off.

"Cullen," he spat in an almost disgusted manor. "I think I'm going to throw up now so I'll leave, but before I do just give one second alone with Bella." Edward squinted his eyes, suspiciously before responding.

"Fine." Edward gave me one last peck before turning and striding out of the room.

Jake pulled the la-z-boy to the edge of my bed with ease. "So…Bells…I-I…" His cheeks turned red as he tried to conjure up the words.

"Spit it out, Jake!"

"Okay, okay…you answered your door in a towel and I…I was wondering…don't yell at me, kay?" I raised a single eyebrow, but said nothing. I wasn't going to make a promise I didn't know I could keep. "Did you two…" He faded off the end of the question, implying the obvious.

"Ewww! Jake! I am NOT going to talk about this with you!" My brows were knitted together and my mouth was twisted in an angry scowl, but I could feel my cheeks burn, making my humiliation apparent. "It is none of your business what Edward and I do while we're alone together!" Jacob's eyebrows flew upward.

"I knew it! You did, didn't you! Oh my God!" He buried is face in his over sized brown hands. "I can't believe he would do that!"

"He could do that! Jake, I had a little bit to do with it!" Jake dramatically gagged before continuing. "Yeah…but he knew what he could do to you! He knew that he could hurt you, but he did it anyway! That asshole! How selfish can someone be!" I gasped.

"No, Jake! I'm the one that asked. I practically begged him. He wouldn't do it because he thought he would hurt me!"

"You BEGGED him! Ugh! God, Bella! I don't want specifics!" By now, Jake was shouting at the top of his lungs, and both of us were red in the face.

"Jake, calm down. Edward and I are together. Forever. But I don't want it to mess up you and me. I love you so much, Jake! You're my best friend." Jacob bit his lip, thinking deeply over my words. He finally sighed.

"Yeah…I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I knew it would happen sooner or later. It's still…eww…though, ya know? But I want us to still be friends, you're right."

"No, I don't know." I laughed. "But yeah, I am right." This time, he laughed. He bent down and gave me a hug, kissing my hair. "All right honey, you need some rest, so I should go." He stood u, turning towards the door. "Oh, Bells," he turned back to face me. "I'm sorry about what happened. No matter which one of us did it, I'm sorry. I don't want you to be hurt." I smiled slightly. "Thanks, Jake, I know you both didn't mean to."

Jake left the room, closing the door slightly behind him. Would this destroy our relationship? It was awkward enough as is without something like this. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. All the tensing and stress were making my body ache more than ever. Without a sound, Edward was at my side again. He took my hand in his and lightly placed a kiss on my palm.

"Did you hear all that?" I muttered, keeping my eyes closed.

"Yes. Did Jacob upset you? I almost broke it up there for a minute.

"No…I'm, I'm okay. I'm just worried things will be awkward now."

"I understand. But everything will be all right. Actually…" He paused for a moment. It seemed like he was trying to decide whether or not to tell me.

"Come on, Edward. Please." He stared into my eyes with his entrancing gold ones. He scrunched his eyebrows and grinned. "Oh, all right…" He sighed before continuing. "Jacob Black and I were at an armistice while you were unconscious. There was no ill will, no harsh words, nothing. I wouldn't go as far as to say we were buddies," he grimaced. "But, we didn't fight. Both of us thought that we might be the one responsible. Neither were willing to blame the other incase it was us who had done it…who had hurt you."

"Oh, Edward. It doesn't matter who did it. I'm all right and I'm here with you. Everything's okay." He smiled after a moment and said, "I think now that he knows about…us…that he has officially given up trying to take you from me. And I think, while we'll never really be friends, Jacob Black and I can co-exist- for you." He added hurriedly. He reached out his hand and started to play with a loose strand of hair that had fallen by my cheek. "I love you, Bella. More than you'll ever know."

"Oh, Edward," I sighed, closing my eyes and pulling his face near mine. I took his lips in a tender, thorough kiss before adding, "I love you, too."