A.N: Whoaaa guys! I love you! I got… 6 reviews after my absence! The same again would be lovely, any more would be fantabulous! Please and thanks : )
So I like this one, and so does my beta. Do enjoy.
XXX
Chapter 3 - Nightmares
'Dear God, please just let this be a bad nightmare.'
- Roy Horn
A child's face loomed out of the darkness.
Perhaps my unconsciousness had chosen that time to play tricks on me, because the face that I could see seemed sickeningly familiar. When I tried to recall a name, or even a place where I'd seen the face before, my mind rebelled against me. It was startlingly familiar, yet I was certain that I had never seen it before.
The child had a found face, with chubby cheeks and plump red lips. He had soft red hair, and russet skin, with bright hazel eyes that seemed to gleam through the gloomy atmosphere of my dream. As the child looked at me, his eyes widened, exposing the clear whites of his eyes. His mouth popped open in shock, exposing a small set of perfect creamy teeth.
I was overtaken with the irresistible urge to bring him into my arms and hug him; he looked scared, and all I wanted to do was comfort him.
"No," the little boy whispered brokenly, his eyes fixated on me. "Mommy."
The air whooshed from my lungs in a quick gasp, rendering me quietly terrified and momentarily defenceless. I stared back at him in anguish, his name finally coming to my mind, as did the place where I had first met him.
Harry Clearwater; Forks Hospital, Room 6.
A hideous, ripping sob escaped from my chest and I stumbled backwards, tears forming in my eyes as I blinked hard, trying to dispel them and calm down. Loosing control of my emotions would solve nothing, I already knew that; but I couldn't quite figure out how to get a handle on them.
"Phasing…" the little boy said, his voice childlike and nervous. It cracked.
He approached me, his entire body becoming visible through the darkness. I almost smiled as the tears ran down my cheeks; he wore a little navy blue T-shirt and some beige cargo pants.
"Phasing…" he repeated, sounding a little firmer. "Phasing is bad."
As he spoke, it seemed as if he'd set the catalyst for a disaster. A metallic clang echoed through the darkness, reverberating through my bones. I jumped back, momentarily startled before trying to reach out to Harry, to protect him.
"Don't phase Mommy," he said, as my hands sought him through the darkness. "Don't. Please."
There was a terrifying, high pitched shriek that echoed through the darkness, and Harry's mouth dropped open in fear. A small whimper escaped him before he was suddenly sucked backwards through the gloomy darkness, further and further away from me.
"No!"
"Leah, Leah, what's wrong?"
The darkness of my room seemed sickeningly familiar, only reminding me of the hideous dream. I cringed violently, looking for Edward but not quite being able to focus on him as the words of my unborn son echoed through my mind, haunting me.
Two cold palms suddenly rested against either side of my face, lightly cushioning my cheeks and pulling me around to look at my husband. Edward looked even more terrified than I felt, if that was possible. His eyes were widened in alarm as he repeatedly asked what was wrong.
The dream seemed so realistic, so vivid. I felt my grip on reality slackening as I thought, the words stuck on repeat, echoing through my mind as I panicked.
Phasing is bad.
Was it just a link from my subconscious, an old guilt about my unborn son because I had been incapable of controlling my temper, and for that reason he had passed? Or was it something more… My Father had always claimed I had an eerie sixth sense, a knack for feeling when something was not right.
My mind whirred with speed, considering everything. Numerous options flew through my mind.
In phasing, I had lost my first child… for a moment, I considered. What if I could become pregnant, so long as I didn't phase…? How would I possibly know; I had never tested out the theory, and I was the only female shape shifter known to the La Push legends.
My idea was derailed as I thought it through. Edward was a vampire. The scientific side of things told me that it was impossible for him to ever contribute towards a baby…
"She's not responding."
My head snapped up, my grip on reality suddenly coming back as I looked at my husband. My eyes locked onto Edward's black ones. I noticed that he appeared beyond alarmed, silently appraising me from where he sat on the edge of our double bed.
"She responded to that," he repeated down the phone.
"No," I said. My voice was wrong; it was hoarse, and it cracked. "I'm okay. I'm sorry."
I didn't realise that tears had formed in my eyes; I hastily brushed them away before they could fall, and in another instant Edward had crossed the room to wrap his arms around me in a soft, yet amazingly comforting embrace.
I let out a shaky breath, leaned into him heavily.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked, his breath tickling my ear.
"Just surprised," I knew that he wouldn't miss the way that I avoided the question.
"That doesn't answer the question," Edward replied; I knew he wouldn't let it go, either. It was another one of the traits that I could fine both irritating and endearing.
A crackling sound came from below; I looked down to see my mobile in Edward's hands.
Edward shot me an apologetic look as he pressed the phone to his ear.
"She's fine now," he said. "Just a little shocked, I think."
"Can I speak to her?" Carlisle's voice replied.
Edward didn't reply, just handed me the phone and muttered a quick apology.
"Hello?" my voice was still hoarse; I coughed, and hated the way that my throat burned as if I was swallowing vinegar.
I felt a quick draft as Edward disappeared, but tried to ignore that for the moment.
"Leah," Carlisle said, his voice warm yet concerned. "Are you okay? Edward told me that you were experiencing symptoms of shock…"
"I was just taken by surprise," I replied, my voice steadier, but my throat still burning as Edward suddenly reappeared.
He was holding a glass of water. I smiled and blew him a kiss - feeling much more normal - before downing half of the glass.
"If you're sure," Carlisle didn't sound convinced.
"I am," I said, focusing on anything but memories of my nightmare. "Goodnight."
I put the phone down and threw it across the room - luckily Edward's vampire reflexes made sure that he could dash across the room, catch it in the palm of his hand, and place it back on the side of the bedside table. He then proceeded to pick me up and carry me back to the bed, sitting down so that I rested on his lap.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice calm. He wasn't trying to force an answer; he was just asking.
"Just had a surprising dream," it sounded better than saying 'nightmare.' What grown woman was still having nightmares that she couldn't handle, anyway?
"I didn't hear anything," Edward sounded forlorn.
I was surprised. Normally Edward heard all of my dreams and frequently commented on them; particularly if they were about him.
"Oh," I said, leaning back into the crook of his neck. For a moment, we just sat together in silence, before I leaned into him and closed my eyes, trying to dispel any lingering images of my son.
XXX
"Ugh."
I awoke with a banging headache pounding repeatedly at my skull. I stumbled blindly from my bed, clutching my head with one hand and vaguely regretting not getting drunk the previous night. At least I would have had a reason for the headache if I had decided to drink.
I staggered blindly towards the bathroom, muttering obscenities as I stubbed my toe on the doorframe before reaching the bathroom cabinet, pulling out a Tylenol, and swallowing it whole. I instantly regretted it, as the sensation in my throat felt as if I was going to get bruising.
I leaned back against the pillows as I returned to the bedroom, enjoying the coolness. I wondered where Edward was, and I was just about to summon the energy to grab my phone and ring him, when I heard the front door close gently.
I listened to Edward's ascent up the stairs, and heard the banister creak as he swung around it lightly. A moment later, the door to the bedroom swung open with a barely audible 'thump' as it bounced from the wall behind it.
"Good morning, my beautiful wife," Edward said with a grin, pulling me into a hug.
"Ugh," I moaned.
"Headache?" he asked, sounding slightly concerned.
"Yes," I replied grouchily.
"Well don't worry, the Tylenol will kick in soon."
Edward went downstairs to make me breakfast - bless him - while I had a quick shower. I changed into a stretch-cotton T-shirt and some skinny jeans, looking towards my slipper boots before shrugging to myself and pulling them on. I also wore the wolf socks that Seth had gotten me the previous Christmas.
I skipped from the bathroom, humming happily - because my headache had subsided - and jumped onto the already made double bed, smiling as I caught the scent of pancakes.
"I love you," I said, as Edward opened the door.
He beamed, ran to the bed and put the pancakes down, before suddenly picking me up and delivering the most passionate kiss he'd given me all week. I kissed him back, glad that I'd chosen to brush my teeth before breakfast, and let out a sigh of disappointment as he pulled away.
The passion between us will never die, I thought to myself with a smile. Most couples were settling at this point, still kissing but not with the same amount of passion and lust as they had when they first met. For Edward and I, the spark had never flickered, not even for a second. It burned just as brightly as it did when we first met.
"No, it will never die," Edward said, his voice deep. "It will never waver, not even for a second. I believe in us."
I smiled. "So do I," I replied, before he leaned forwards to resume our kissing.
XXX
At six o'clock in the evening, I found myself dressed in a plain black hoodie and some old baggy jeans, as well as my favourite - if not slightly worn - pair of white trainers. Everyone's favourite weather girl had predicted a thunderstorm, and so we were going to play baseball.
"Ready?" Edward asked. Rather than meeting up with the rest of the Cullens at their house as normal, we were going to meet them at the baseball field. It wasn't as large as the one at Forks, but it certainly did the job that it needed to.
"Yep," I replied, slinging my backpack over my shoulder before climbing into the car eagerly.
Edward chuckled at my enthusiasm, and gently slung one arm around my shoulders as he gunned the engine of the jeep and sped towards the field.
XXX
"Leah!"
I grinned in satisfaction as the ball whizzed towards me. Alice's bowling techniques had nothing to be desired; she had the poise and angle perfect as it barrelled towards me at top speed. For a moment, I thought that my timing was off as I brought the bat forwards, and - with an almighty 'BANG' - hit the ball into the surrounding forest.
I ran.
I slipped slightly on the damp grass, but ignored the sensation as I passed first base, turned slightly and charged towards second.
"STUMP IT!" Rose was yelling. Sometimes, she could be almost as competitive as her husband.
I didn't stop, didn't consider looking left or right and loosing my concentration to see where the ball was, and how far off I was being out.
I looked from the corner of my eye.
Emmett held the ball, and he was already throwing it to fourth - and I was already past third.
I leapt through the air, fully intending to phase mid air, when suddenly, a sense of deja vu went through me, leaving me confused as the words echoed through my head once again.
Phasing is bad.
I was completely disorientated as I heard Rose and Emmett's cries of triumph from afar. Rose, at fourth, held the ball in one hand, triumphant.
I walked off of the field and sat down on the grass, watching the game.
"Are you okay?"
Alice appeared in front of me, a concerned expression on her face. Her brow was creased in thought.
"Yeah," I said with a shrug. "Just off of my game."
"You didn't phase," Alice said. I looked around; the other Cullens seemed to be oblivious to our conversation, yelling obscenities as they tried to get other players out.
"I decided not to," my voice didn't sound quite as innocent as I'd expected.
"I know," Alice replied. "Why?"
"It doesn't matter," I said.
"If it's bothering you…"
"Don't worry, Ali," I said, my smile slightly forced. "I'm fine."
Alice brightened, apparently fooled by my expression. "Okay, if you're sure!" she said, standing. "Remember, if you ever need to talk about stuff, I'm here!"
She skipped away, and I watched her go with a sinking feeling in my stomach.
What's wrong with me? I asked myself, quietly worried about my own mental state. Why am I lying to my family?
XXX
A.N:
Phasing Forms - Thanks for reviewing : ) I love music, so I couldn't resist overdoing it a little bit. Love the piece, as well, even if teenagers aren't meant to be fans of orchestral music lol.
National Anthem - SpongeBob is still my favourite TV program. : ) thanks for your review!
Marie One - Thank you! *sends smiles back*
Bibika94 - The action starts here : ) explanations… well, I wasn't planning on including it actually, but I might do. Just in case I don't; Jacob and Bella were in a car crash - just a human disaster, but lethal enough. Hope the update was soon enough, thanks again for your review!
Brankel - I used to do Easter Egg hunts too! One time, it was snowing in April (bit weird for England) but I still went outside looking for eggs. I love Emmett's kiddie side, it makes me laugh. Thanks as always!
Jada91 - Thanks for reviewing!
EVERYONE: Let me know your thoughts, and I apologise that this update was later than expected, I got banned from FF for having an illegal summary. Hmph. So if any of you guys read Because You're Worth Fighting For it now doesn't exist because I only had a copy on FF…
SAD FACE! I was quite proud of it.
Anyway, byez!
