Author's Chapter Notes:
You will recognize the bones of Bella's phone call to Renee from BD in this chapter. I am trying to keep things fairly canon, though I'm going to wander off the canon path rather sharply in the next chapter. :) Just a warning.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Twilight related. All hail the great SM.
EPOV
"Hey, Billy." Charlie's voice drew my attention. I had only vaguely recalled his phone ringing. "Yeah, I was just leaving. The Cullens are still here, and Renee's in with her now. I'll meet you downstairs and fill you in before I go. Is Jake with you?"
"Of course he is, Charlie. You know how he feels about Bella. She needs all the loving support she can get." I heard Billy's side of the conversation easily. I barely resisted the urge to sneer at the implication that Bella didn't have enough of a support system already.
"The Cullens have been great and I'm sure she'll feel better knowing you and Jake came by to see her, too. But...I really need to talk with you before you come up," Charlie said, his voice low as he walked towards the elevators. I caught a random thought from Charlie about Billy's prejudice against our family followed by a stronger thought, determination to let Billy and Jake know how grateful he was to me for saving Bella and that he supported our relationship. I was unable to stop my grin of amazement. Despite the conversation with Bella earlier, I hadn't expected Charlie to come around so completely.
One parent down, one to go, Carlisle thought to himself and I nodded, turning my full attention to the conversation going on in Bella's room. I had been following it, of course, but it was mostly just Renee fussing over Bella and Bella reassuring her mother that she would be okay. Once Renee's initial reaction to her daughter's pain played out, however, she was quick to notice other things. Like the ring on Bella's left hand.
"Bella, how beautiful. Where did you get this?" Renee asked gently, lifting Bella's hand to look closer at the ring. I wasn't surprised to read Renee's suspicions in her mind. Bella's mother was extremely observant, but she was waiting for Bella to confirm or deny. I heard Bella's soft sigh, watched through Renee's eyes as she visibly gathered herself.
"Edward gave it to me. It was his mother's. Mom, he asked me to marry him." Bella said in quiet, hoarse whisper. The last sentence was almost too soft for human ears, but Renee heard it. Bella peeked up at her mother, her expression cautious. When Renee merely sighed, a sound of resignation, Bella's brow furrowed in confusion. Renee chuckled softly.
"I knew it was only a matter of time, Bella. I won't say I'm thrilled, but I can understand. I'm surprised it's taken this long, honey."
"But...you...how...I…." I listened to Bella's shocked litany of not-really-coherentness and couldn't keep a grin off my face. I ducked my face toward's Alice's shoulder and she patted my cheek. She managed to keep her face neutral but she was vibrating in her seat with glee. I heard a faint chuckle from Jasper.
Well that's a bit of a shocker. She was honestly terrified of her mama's response. I think she underestimates Renee. I nodded in response to Jasper's amused thoughts. Even Charlie had been certain that Renee would squawk and huff about their daughter's upcoming nuptials. Bella always managed to surprise me with her reactions to things. Her father was almost completely predictable so it made sense that she had gotten her mental versatility from her mother. Oh how I longed to wrap myself up in her thoughts. I was reminded of the moment when I had gotten a glimpse, one snapshot of her mind. Unfortunately I had only seen pain, terror and need. Need for me to save her.
Mood swings, little brother? Jasper asked curiously. I shook my head slightly and focused back on Bella and her mother.
"Oh, Bella, honey. You sound surprised, and I'm guessing it's because you were afraid of what I was going to think." Renee leaned over and kissed her daughter's forehead, much as Charlie had done earlier and Bella just stared at her with wide eyes. Renee sighed and slumped back into her chair.
"I know I've said a lot of things about marriage and stupidity - and I'm not taking them back - but I was talking about me, not you. Commitment was never your problem, sweetie. You and Edward have a better chance of making this work than most forty-year-olds I know." Renee chuckled softly, then she sobered again. "He's almost lost you twice, now, Isabella. It's only natural for him to want this now."
"You're not... mad? I just thought you would want us to wait for, I don't know, a few years," Bella croaked, her voice conveying bewilderment.
"Well, sure, I wish you'd wait a few more years. I mean, do I look old enough to be a mother-in-law to you? Don't answer that. But this isn't about me. This is about you. Are you happy?"
"Yes. Deliriously, incandescently happy," Bella said, her ravaged throat making it only a whisper of sound, almost too soft for even my vampire ears to pick up from the waiting area. Renee had tears in her eyes as she leaned in to rest her head on Bella's shoulder.
"Then I am happy for you. I know recovering from this will be hard for you. You'll be able to lean on him, I'm sure. I'm so grateful to him for saving you. I'd hate to lose you, Bella," Renee said softly. I heard the sob in Bella's voice as she stroked her mother's hair and I felt my unbeating heart break.
"I love you mom." Because she couldn't promise her mother that she would be around for a long time. I was going to steal her away soon. Jasper squeezed my knee in a comforting manner. He was probably wondering how the conversation going on in Bella's room could make me both sad and joyful at the same time. Two days ago, the joy wouldn't be present. Two days ago, I had still been struggling with the need to make Bella immortal.
"I love you, too, honey. I just want you to live a full, happy life. I hate that you have to go through all this treatment. I hear it's...painful," Renee said with a hitch in her voice.
"My life will be so happy and so full of love. No matter the pain, with Edward by my side I can endure anything, if it means I can keep him forever. I swear to you." Bella's voice was shaking, no more than a whispered croak of sound. And I knew she was talking to me as much as her mother. She was trying to reassure me, even as she said goodbye to her mother. It helped me bury the last of my guilt, despite the fact that Renee was crying in earnest now. Bella just continued to stroke her hair.
"Dr. Cullen." Billy Black wheeled into the waiting area, flanked by Jacob and Sam. They all hesitated on the edge of the room, eyes darting around to see the other families here and the volunteer at the visitor's desk. Carlisle stepped forward to greet Billy as the rest of us stayed seated. There was no need to draw more attention to the Quileutes. Heads were already turning.
I can't believe they didn't just turn her if she's as bad as Charlie said. She must have refused to be turned. Maybe she's finally come to her senses. Jacob's thoughts were pathetically hopeful. I wanted nothing more than to put him straight but I resisted the urge. He would understand soon.
"Billy Black, Sam, Jacob," Carlisle addressed them. He didn't move into their personal space however, and they stopped several feet from him.
"How is she?" Billy asked, his usually impassive face worried. His internal comments were ridiculous. Are we sure they didn't bite her? Charlie said she was in a lot of pain and her voice was almost gone. Maybe she's in the middle of the change.
"She's in a lot of pain, but she's stable. Her mother is in with her now," Carlisle said quietly. He glanced at me and I rolled my eyes.
"He thinks she might already be changing," I muttered high and fast. Both Jacob and Sam glanced at me, knowing I'd said something but not what. Carlisle was quick to try to reassure him without verbally denying Billy's thoughts.
"She has burns over 45% of her body, her legs and feet. If she follows the course of normal treatment, she will be here for at least three weeks, maybe longer. After that, treatment for burn patients is a long and brutal process of surgeries and rehabilitation," he stated bluntly. Jacob shifted uncomfortably behind his father, his thoughts dwelling on the fact that Bella would be in severe pain. His face twisted into a grimace. Sam patted his arm in a comforting manner.
"I suppose it's a good thing Charlie has good insurance, then," Billy said sharply, eyeing Carlisle distrustfully. He seemed reassured that we hadn't already started the process of changing Bella, but Carlisle's 'if she follows the course of treatment' statement had caught his attention. To my surprise, Jacob put a hand on Billy's shoulder. He leaned down at whisper to his father.
"I don't trust them either, dad, but please don't start something here. I need to see Bella," he said, his tone borderline desparate. I saw a quick flash of Charlie in his head.
'I don't want to hear that ya'll stormed up there and started something with the Cullen's. Dr. Cullen and Edward saved her life yesterday and that deserves a little respect. I know there's some bad blood there, but if you can't play nice for Bella's sake, don't visit at all.'
I couldn't keep the grin off my face, but I was polite enough to keep my head down. Through Carlisle's eyes, I saw Billy's expression soften. He cleared his throat and looked Carlisle in the eye.
"Charlie says you saved Bella's life. Thank you." It sounded completely forced, but it was more than I'd expected from him. Behind them, Sam just sighed as his expression wavered between anger and blankness. His thoughts were a swirling mass of dark emotions. I knew from Bella that he blamed us for his misfortunes and perhaps our presence had caused him to phase. But we were not responsible for his imprint, Leah Clearwater's broken heart or Emily's injuries. Fate just happened to be a cruel bitch sometimes.
"Actually, it was all Edward. If he hadn't come home early from his hunt, things might have turned out differently," Carlisle said, his tone quiet enough that none of the humans across the room could hear him. All three Quileutes turned to look at me then, sitting between Jasper and Alice. No one said anything to me, though. Instead, Jacob cleared his throat and moved from behind his father's wheelchair to approach the vistor's desk. The woman there was elderly, her mouth almost always turned up into a warm smile. I liked her, and not just because she'd been willing to call the nursing station on my behalf earlier to get me back to Bella faster. She had a genuine sense of compassion and a dry sense of humor that came across strongly in her thoughts.
"Excuse me, please. I'm here to visit Bella Swan," Jacob said hesitantly. The woman looked up at him and blinked, taking in the huge frame, dark skin and the faint woodsy smell of him. Well, somehow I doubt he's related to that sweet young thing. She pictured my Bella from the photo I had showed her from my wallet earlier.
"How are you related to Miss Swan?" she asked sweetly. Jacob frowned.
"I'm Jacob Black. She's my best friend," he said. She's my maybe, could be, almost girlfriend, he thought. I growled softly, more out of reflex than true anger. Jacob flashed a dark look in my direction. You might have saved her, bloodsucker, but that doesn't mean you get claim. I saved her too, not just from physical danger but from when you broke her. I put her back together that time and I'll do it again, if she let's me.
Two days ago, I would have been in such a frenzy that Jasper and Alice would've been holding me down at this point. But for the first time in my relationship with Bella, I was completely secure in her love for me. I refused to let the wolf cub try to manipulate me into a jealous rage. So I merely looked up and met his eyes.
Wow, what's that look? No challenge? He's calm and what, is he sad? Is he giving up so easy? Jacob's thoughts were surprised and cautiously hopeful. At least until he registered my smile. Okay, I admit it might have been a little smug. Maybe a little bit mocking? I shook my head at him and suddenly he wasn't so sure of himself. He turned back to the volunteer.
"I'm sorry, dear, her mother is back with her now. Maybe when she comes out. Her father asked us to let you back to see her, so we'll make an exception to the immediate family only rule." Jacob smiled at her, relieved that he wasn't going to run into any resistance in his campaign to see Bella. He was truly worried about her, despite his seething thoughts in my directions. He moved back over to his father and Sam, who had engaged in a rather stilted conversation with my father. Carlisle chose that moment to speak to them frankly.
"After Jacob has been back to see Bella, we really should all sit down and have a chat. I was going to call you in the morning, but since you are already here there isn't a need," Carlisle's said, making me grimace. I knew this conversation was inevitable, but I had been hoping we could put it off. Jasper's bombshell about Victoria being in Seattle really put a kink in our timeline, however.
"We can chat next time you are all back in Forks. There shouldn't be any hurry." Billy's voice was sharp and he already knew that we wanted to discuss Bella's change. He was determined to refuse us any treaty negotiation and he wanted to delay talking about it until after they'd returned to the reservation with news about Bella's condition. I sighed.
"Tell them about Victoria," I said, my tone again too high and quiet for anyone to make out. Carlisle pursed his lips and then nodded.
"There is an urgency. A certain red-headed female is lurking about Seattle and she has made a number of very unsavory friends." Carlisle was speaking too quietly for the other humans in the room to hear, but he wasn't taking any chances with his words. He saw all three Quileutes' eyes grow wide. They immediately thought of the 'serial killer' that had been plaguing the area. The one the newspapers said had the Seattle police department scrambling for leads.
"Um...is there a good place for us to talk in private?" It was Sam this time. I was surprised that he answered instead of Billy and that Billy defered to him. Evidently being alpha to the wolf pack made Sam the unofficial chief of the Quileute tribe. Interesting. Sam didn't like us, but we were off limits due to the treaty. Victoria and company, however, were vampires that deserved every bit of his hatred and he knew that he could act against them.
"I will go see if I can arrange something," Carlisle said. Alice stood up and moved towards Carlisle. Jasper went with her.
"We'll go find a place. You should stay. Bella goes for hyperbaric treatment at two. We'll be back by then," Alice said, not even looking at the Quileutes. Jasper nodded his agreement and the two glided out of the waiting area without waiting for a response. After that, the Quileutes found a quiet corner of the waiting room to...well...wait. Carlisle moved over to sit beside me and I leaned into him. He put his arm around me and I sighed.
"This really sucks," I said this loud enough for the couple sitting a few feet down from us to hear. They were beginning to wonder a little too much about the odd, whispered conversation with the Quileutes. Carlisle nodded.
"I know, son. Things will work out though, I promise." Again, the words were spoken aloud for the others in the room, but he squeezed my shoulder and repeated the sentiment in his thoughts. I sighed, praying that he was right. Across the room, Jacob decided to go into the giftshop down the hall and Sam talked Billy into visiting the cafeteria. I knew they were hoping to have a conversation out of my range. Little did they know I was currently trying to block the thoughts of every person on the Harborview campus. The only thoughts I wanted to read, however, were closed to me. So I settled on Renee's.
I could tell by the twisted grimace Bella wore in Renee's thought that she was in too much pain. My heart ached as I heard the stupid pain pump beep again, telling her it was too soon. I knew it had only been 23 minutes since the last time she'd used it. At that moment, Renee moved around the bed to get the cup of ice chips for Bella and she bumped into the bed. Carlisle's fingers dug into my shoulder, holding me to the chair as Bella gasped and sobbed in pain. Renee was immediately contrite, leaning over to stroke Bella's forehead and murmur apologies. Bella was weeping now and I bit back a sob of my own, turning my face into Carlisle's shoulder. His arm tightened around me.
"Edward, honey, I brought you some clothes." Esme's soothing voice made Carlisle relax beside me. I didn't relax, but I did look up and give her a thankful smile. I was still in the scrubs I'd gotten at Forks Hospital the evening before. She held out the duffel bag and I stood, giving her a quick hug before I took it and moved down the hall to the restrooms. I made a mental note to save the scrubs. I would probably need them tonight when I snuck back into Bella's room.