Chapter 7- The hospital

The trip to the hospital went by in silence. Besides the roaring siren no other noise could be heard. Renesmee, Bella, Edward, and Jacob had all somehow squeezed into the compact little car. It was amazing really, considering the capacity they usually held.

I stood in the corner trying to be unobtrusive. It was like I was intruding on a private moment as they all hovered around Lizzie in a mourning that was out of place.

"I could have killed her," Renesmee moaned for what must have been the tenth time.

No one tried to tell Renesmee otherwise… They all knew she was right.

Once to the hospital Carlisle properly examined Lizzie. It was the natural choice considering no one else really knew what had happened. It seemed his original diagnosis was correct, and Lizzie suffered no more than a broken leg.

After insistence by the vampires Jacob had been forced into going to get food in the cafeteria Renesmee went with him, Bella, Alice, and Esme all following along behind her. Only Edward remained in the waiting room, listening to Carlisle's thoughts as he looked over Lizzie.

"Are you there?" He asked suddenly, staring into thin air. "I think you are, but I'm never certain anymore."

It took me a moment before I realized he was speaking directly to me. I'd gotten especially good at thinking softly, so it was a surprise that he would be asking to talk to me.

I'm here, I thought loudly. What is it Edward?

"Are you haunting me?" He asked in a whisper.

Of course not… really Edward… You believe in ghosts? I taunted.

Edward ignored my teasing, going on in an uncharacteristically unsure voice. "I know you've been around a lot. I can't hear exactly what you're thinking, only part of it. You really are there though, aren't you?"

Yes, I'm here. You aren't insane Edward, just stressed.

"Why are you here if you aren't haunting me?"

I'm here to protect Renesmee, I thought to myself. I can't go to heaven unless I can make up to her what I almost did. You lot sure make it pretty difficult.

"Was it you that saved Lizzie then?" He asked softly.

Yes… I knew it was going to happen right before it did. I tried to protect her, but I didn't do a very good job.

"Thank you." Edward said earnestly.

For what?

"You saved Nessie's only friend. She would have had to live with the guilt of killing that girl if it hadn't been for you. Whether you're a figment of my imagination or not, you saved one life. Possibly two."

You needn't thank me. I just couldn't bear to let her die. I'd been following those two too long.

"So are you leaving now? Can I go back to hearing only living voices?" Edward asked thoughtfully.

I told you, I can't leave until I make it up to Renesmee. If you could back off a little, it would help.

Edward seemed confused as he looked around a little, trying to find me. "What you did is the best way you could have helped Renesmee…" He murmured.

I thought about that for a while, trying figure things out. Was he right? If so, why was I still here? Why was I still stuck on earth? I guess it wasn't good enough. I thought at last.

We were both quiet a moment, thinking over everything that had happened.

Hey Edward?

Edward looked up again, still trying to figure out where to look in order to be watching the right spot. He missed me by feet.

What did they do when I died? Tanya and Kate I mean…

"They tried to avenge you… No surprise there. We wouldn't let them though. That's what the Volturi wanted, and we couldn't give it to them. In the end there wasn't a fight. You were the only one who died."

Did they… I mean do they…

Edward waited patiently for my question to be finished.

Do they forgive me? I thought as quietly as I could.

"We all forgive you," Edward said softly. "What you did was horrible, and could have gotten all of us killed, but we understood it. Next time though, maybe you should let us explain."

I doubt there will be a next time.

Edward smiled a little, looking into space again. "You said you were going to heaven Irene?"

It hasn't been decided yet. I might.

"At least you have a chance," He said, a note of bitterness in his tone. I was going to tell Edward that he had nothing to worry about. I wanted to reassure him that he wasn't hell bound, and that he and all his family would be together in heaven when they finally did pass. I didn't get a chance though. I blinked, and in that moment was once again back in a completely white room.

"Welcome back to Limbo Irene. Did you have a nice time?" the angel asked, this time much more composed as he greeted me.

"I guess," I said hesitantly, looking for the magical chalkboard that assigned my fate. "So what's the verdict?"

"Well… My instructions before I say anything are to ask you a very important question."

"Okay…"

"Is there anything you want to say or do before you go to your final resting place? Once there you will never be able to return to earth." He said solemnly.

"Can I know where I'm going first?" I asked slowly. He smiled a little, shaking his head.

"I wanted to see my sisters," I said at last. "More than anything I wanted to be there for them. I wanted to follow them for the rest of eternity and be their guardian angel. I want to know that they forgive me…"

"Edward told you that they forgave you," The angel commented.

"I want to really know… to see for myself." I insisted. "Is there a way I can do that?"

"Well… it's against policy, but it only seems fair to tell you. I have two options for you Irene. You have been accepted into heaven, and are welcome to go there now if you wish. Your other option however, is to follow your sisters and watch over them. You will not be able to be seen or heard by anyone, nor see the future. You'll be nothing more than a wandering spirit… In a way though, you'll be with them. When one or both of them is killed you will have the option of going to heaven once more."

"I want to follow my sisters," I said without hesitation. "Please…" I added quickly.

"Very well," The angel said with a kind nod. "I will see you again in two hundred years then Irene."

I tried to ponder what that meant as I saw the white expanse disappear only to be replaced by a new white landscape. I was home again, hovering translucently just behind my sisters.

Even as I watched them talking quietly I realized that this was what I'd really wanted all along. It wasn't as good as being with them, but being there beside them just like old times was more than I ever could have asked for. Until their destruction, which I hoped would never take place, I would follow them to the ends of the earth.

There are three thoughts which I feel must be said before my tale can truly end though.

Carlisle was right…

((This was the final chapter of the fan fiction. I hope you all enjoyed it. Reviews are amazing to me because it gives me a chance to learn what to improve on for future stories. I hope the characters seemed in character enough, and that you enjoyed all of it. I must say, despite my dislike for Edward, I really liked the scenes between him and Irene the best.))