I Love My Family
Chapter Eight: Out of the Ashes, Phoenix Rises
A/N: They say that for every door that is closed a window opens somewhere. This is something that our dear Bella is going to learn first hand. Enjoy.
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge
Myth is more potent than history
Dreams are more powerful than facts
Hope always triumphs over experience
Laughter is the cure for grief
and that Love is stronger than Death"
-Robert Fulghum
I took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom slowly. Mrs. Murphy was laying on her side all cozy and tucked into the comforter. She looked like she was sleeping peacefully.
"I've sent my nurse back to the lab with some samples to see just what we're dealing with here," Carlisle was speaking calmly, "Her fever has stabilized but it is still hovering around 101.9. I gave her some meds so she's resting comfortably for now."
I caught the 'for now' and my breath caught. "What do you think it is, Carlisle?" I tried to keep my voice even.
"Well, her lungs are a bit congested, she has a fever and her skin is clammy. Good news is she has stopped her delusional mumbling. I am thinking she has the beginning symptoms of pneumonia. We will know as soon as we get the results of the tests. Bella," he put his hand on my shoulder, lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. His golden eyes were soft and comforting,"You just may have saved her life."
My eyes widened and the tears started to sting as his words sunk in. Edward stood behind me, put his arms around my waist and held me tightly. Leaning back against his chest, I wrapped my arms around his.
"I've ordered round the clock nursing care. My personal nurse has volunteered. She has been through quite a lot with me..." his voice trailed off as he looked out the window. I quickly caught the lifted eyebrow and curious look on Edward's face as he no doubt heard the finished thought. I would have to remember to ask about him that later.
Edward and I sat on the couch and talked for a while until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Carlisle had gone home as did the others long ago. Nurse Stoker arrived and settled in for her shift with Mrs. Murphy, bringing a couple of books and a lap top to keep her occupied while her patient slept.
I don't remember how I got there but I awoke the next morning in my bed with Edward's arms around me. I stretched out and felt a beautiful "Good Morning" swirl around on my neck. "Well, afternoon, actually." He corrected himself.
"Afternoon?" I sat straight up. It was then that I noticed it.
I was in my pajamas.
"Edward!" I whispered loudly in case we weren't alone. "Explain this now!"
He was chuckling. Chuckling. I would give him something to chuckle about. I balled my hands into fists.
"Just what is it that you are asking me to explain, Bella?" He was leaning up on one elbow and smirking at me.
I got up out of bed and gestured wildly at my attire. "This! How do you explain what I'm wearing??"
"Um, yes..." he put hand to chin, narrowed his eyes, studying me, "they are a rather inexpensive set of matching blue and yellow duckie flannel pj bottoms and tank top I would say, but on you...sexy." He was eying me up and down and then he stopped right below my chin. I looked down in horror to see my two nipples standing at attention quite plainly through the light blue cotton fabric. I could feel the heat rage across my face in utter embarrassment. Where the hell is my bra?
I did a quick turn and ran into my closet. I threw my very thick flannel shirt on and belted it across my chest.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU EDWARD CULLEN !" I yelled from inside the closet too embarrassed to come out.
I was sitting on the floor in the corner under some old hanging things when I saw him squatting down to look at me face to face.
"Alice." He said plainly with a cherubic look on his face.
"Go away Edward." I moaned out from underneath my hands.
"Alice changed you out of your clothes. Will you come out now please? Or shall I take up residence in there with you?" He extended his hand to me. "Charlie's on his way home. Why don't you get dressed so I can come by properly then we can go see Mrs. Murphy."
I grabbed his hand begrudgingly and let him help me out of the closet. He stood before me tenderly gazing into my furious eyes, occasionally reaching up and picking a dust bunny out of my hair. Alice. Stupid Vampires and their stupid Vampire speed.
"I'll be back in thirty minutes, okay?" He leaned down and place a gentle kiss on my lips before disappearing out the window. I heard his merry little giggle fade off into the trees.
Oooo you just wait, Edward Cullen, when I'm a vampire you'll never wear clothes again! HAH! Oh! I laughed to myself at the thought of an eternally naked Edward. Then, suddenly the more I thought about it, it wasn't so funny anymore. I took a cold shower.
As we pulled up to Mrs. Murphy's house I was struck by the improvements the Cullens had made to the little cottage in the one afternoon. Instead of the ramshackle wooden structure in desperate need of TLC, there stood a clean little cabin in the woods. A brand new dark green roof sat upon a much brighter looking place. Someone came by and pressure washed the whole outside, windows and siding revealing the white underneath. The brush and debris that had been accumulating for years all around had been removed. There was a lovely stone slab walkway leading up to the front porch which sported a fresh coat of forest green paint and new brass fittings on the front door. The trees were all trimmed thanks to the monkey boys and the stack of wood logs formed a great fence to the side on the property line. A new porch swing hung near the picture window. Every window had cheery flowery curtains hanging in them. Smoke poured out of the chimney giving the air that woodsy wintry smell. I sighed with great joy at the marvelous transformation. I leaned into Edward's side and he wrapped his arm around me, kissing the top of my head.
"Come on inside, there's a surprise waiting for you." He whispered to the top of my head.
He knocked lightly on the door then opened it up slowly. I looked up at Edward anxiously. His answering smile made my heart thump wildly which in turn made his smile widen.
"Go on, Love."
I entered the bedroom not knowing what to expect. What I saw shocked the bejeebers out of me. Mrs. Murphy, looking a whole bunch not like death warmed over, was sitting up in bed getting fed chicken soup by Esme.
She looked up when she saw me and a big smile burst over her face.
"Bella!"
Mouth open with pleasant surprise, I walked over to her and hugged her. Tears started to slide down the corner of my eyes. When I pulled away, she too, had a tear rolling down her cheek. We smiled at each other and then burst into laughter.
"You look better!" I said, settling on the edge of the bed. Esme came back in with a bowl of soup, bread and a drink on a tray for me. There was a little flower in a tiny vase on the tray.
"I feel better. Thanks darlin' for takin' such good care of this old foolish woman."
"No, no," I started to protest, "It was Dr. Cullen and his family who did all of this," I gestured around the room with it's now bright and cheery appearance.
"Well, that may be, but if ya dint happen upon me that day...who knows?" She stared out the window. I bit my lip at the thought of what might have been.
Nurse Stoker came through the front door and started to take Mrs. Murphy's blood pressure and temperature so Edward and I excused ourselves to the other room. We stayed for another half an hour or so, until it was apparent that she was ready to get some rest. I bent down to kiss her on the cheek good-bye and she whispered if she could say a word to 'my young man.' I nodded yes.
Edward bent down to kiss her on the cheek and she reached over and took hold of his hand.
"Young lad," she began quietly just for him to hear and I let myself out of the room. I tried not to listen, to give them their privacy only stirring when I heard Edward speak-
"On my honor I promise you."
He came out of the room with a smile for me on his perfect face.
By the next morning, she was up and able to make it around the house unaided and by the morning after that she was singing happily in the kitchen, fixing some sort of Old World concoction that smelled like heaven. Nurse Stoker was released to go back to her normal duties.
Over the next few months, Edward and I dropped in on Mrs. Murphy from time to time. And every time we were there, a Cullen or two was there or had just left. Esme and Charlie continued to bring groceries by. The usually aloof Rosalie brought over a big, fat gray tabby cat to make better use of the cat food. Mrs. Murphy called him "Bear" because he reminded her of Emmett who liked to come over and do the man-type chores for her like shovel snow and take out the garbage. Alice, being Alice, came over every few days to do her hair and nails or take her into Port Angeles or Portland to go wardrobe shopping.
Jasper surprised me the most by coming by to visit every evening just to keep her company until she went to sleep. They would sit by the fire while he read to her and she would tell him stories of her childhood in Ireland. He took to calling her Grand Ma Ma which pleased her to no end.
Carlisle checked in on her when he had the chance. I was there on more than one occasion when he arrived. She would ask him some seemingly random medical question and as he went into these long, technical descriptions, sitting close to her and holding her hand, she would close her eyes, lay her head on his shoulder and smile peacefully. I asked him, one time after the first instance I witnessed this when I was at the mansion, why she seemed to get such enjoyment out of the details of whatever malady they were discussing.
"It's very simple, Bella. I remind her of her Mr. Murphy who, as you know, was a surgeon in London when they met. She likes to close her eyes and remember him when I'm talking to her. It doesn't really matter what I'm saying, it's the sound of my voice that soothes her, keeps his memory within reach."
More and more I was stunned by the Cullens and their beautiful giftings from their hearts. I knew from what they told me, that they were not all this unselfish and kind hearted before in their mortal existence. Just as surely as I knew that this must have come from their long years of immortality. Being a vampire may have taken their human-ness, but it greatly strengthened their humanity.
Mrs. Murphy passed during the next summer when the dogwoods bloomed and the scent of fragrant flowers filled the air.
Alice arranged the funeral, a quiet graveside service that the Cullens, Charlie and I attended. Afterwards, Charlie went home and I went back to the mansion with Edward. The mood at the house was melancholy, each couple locked in some sort of silent dance with each other, clinging onto one another. Alice and Jasper silently held hands and stared out the big picture window in the living room out into the forest. Emmett and Rosalie were sitting on the front steps, arms wrapped around each other in silence. Carlisle and Esme, hands together, fingers entwined, foreheads touching sat on the couch in silence.
Edward took my hand and kissed it, looking deeply into my eyes. I was afraid just then. Something stirred in the back of my mind. Humans die. They don't. This is why they don't get close to humans. It's too painful for them to go through this over and over again throughout the centuries. That's why they're clinging to each other-they are miserable with their loss and worst of all I brought this on them. I brought this pain into their lives.
"Let's go for a walk?" Edward asked sweetly. He was studying my face anxiously watching the moisture fill my eyes.
No no no! I was screaming furiously inside my head. This way waaay too familiar. Is he going to tell me something I desperately don't want to hear? Not today! Not now! Has he finally realized the damage that loving me has caused his family? He took my face in his hands and smiled easily.
"Bella, let's go to our meadow. I want to be alone with you. Please?"
Lost in his eyes, ever unable to refuse him, I nodded and we walked out the front door. As we made our way around Rose and Emmett still sitting in their silent embrace, Rose actually smiled warmly at me.
"Have fun, kids," Emmett chuckled softly. Getting more curious as the minutes passed.
Edward looped me around and onto his back in one smooth motion and off we went flying through the trees. He was thoughtful as he ran. I pressed myself even tighter to him.
The clearing was glorious of course, filled knee deep with wildflowers of every color. "Oh!" I gasped at the sheer wonder of it all. The beautiful faces of the flowers just seemed to smile up to the sky. He let me down gently and turned to face me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"It's breathtaking here, isn't it?" I whispered..
"Yes, yes you are..." he breathed, leaned down and kissed me gently. "Bella, I have something I need to tell you..." He began but I couldn't let him continue.
I panicked and asked him something quickly-"What was Carlisle saying about Nurse Stoker that day?"
"What?" My question had taken him by surprise.
"You know that day in (gulp) Mrs. Murphy's house he was saying something about the nurse being through a lot with him?" I was grabbing at straws now.
"Oh, um..yes...she has been his personal nurse since she was first assigned to Carlisle upon our arrival in Forks. She is an exceptional human in that if she has, and I'm sure she has, been a witness to many events that were, shall we say, not altogether possible for a human doctor to accomplish, she has kept her nurse's oath and unfailing loyalty to Carlisle and has kept it to herself. He trusts her implicitly. It's highly unusual that any of us allow ourselves to get close to a human for that very reason," he smiled and stroked my cheek, "and then there are also exceptions like Mrs. Murphy..."
"Listen, Edward..." I interrupted, a tear escaping the corner of my eye, " I'm really sorry I got you all involved with Mrs. Murphy...I...I...I see what it's done to your family! What I've done to your family!" I was sobbing now.
Edward frowned, "Whatever are you talking about? Do you think they are sad? You think that they are in mourning, don't you?" He pursed his lips.
"Well...ya?" What the hell?
"No, Bella" He hugged me to his chest. He pulled back slightly, lifting my head to look into my eyes, "We are not in mourning for Mrs. Murphy. We are sad, mostly for your loss and ours, to a point, but to us, death is just a natural progression of a human's life and we have learned to have the proper perspective about it."
He lead me to a clear, dry patch of ground amongst the flowers. He sat down in one graceful movement and patted the spot in front of him. "Proper perspective?" I sat down in front of him and he took my hands in his. His face was excited like he had a secret he was bursting to spill.
"Yes. When someone...someone not like us dies, it affirms something strong within us. It confirms...no it strengthens the love we have for each other. The literally undying love we have for our mates intensifies. That we shall not be planting each other, excuse the phrase, watching each other wither and die. That we will have all of eternity to express our feelings of gratitude for the other and that time itself is not going to cause the separation. Ever. We celebrate that Bella, each one of us. Can you understand that, my dearest Love?"
"Yes," I whispered, knowing in my heart it was true. Because I wanted that, all of it-all the time in the world just exploring new ways to love Edward.
"Do you remember that day Mrs. Murphy spoke to me alone?" I nodded, oh yeah. "She said to me 'She loves you with everything that she has locked inside her heart.' She challenged me to find the key and release your love and that I will be Blessed for the rest of eternity.' She said, 'Women like Bella only come around once to each lifetime.' And to 'Cherish you, honor you and never let you know a day of sadness caused by my own foolishness.' "
Tears of happiness were flowing freely down my face at the kind words my friend had spoken on my behalf to the man I adored. He caught a tear on his fingertip and spoke,
"'Trust her and she will complete you. Love her and you will complete her.' Those were the words she spoke to me that day and then I answered her with all my heart-'On my honor, I promise you.'" He kissed my hands and then the tears from my face.
"As you know," he stood us up, still holding onto my hands, "I haven't had a mate to share any kind of feelings with at all. I've always gone off by myself to contemplate what it meant to me, so much different than anyone else. I became increasingly appreciative of my family, but no more. But what good is eternity if you are not in it with me? And now," his smiled lit up his whole face and mine, "I'm ready, Bella."
"Ready, Edward? For...what, exactly?" I bit my bottom lip, suddenly confused at the turn this conversation was taking.
"I'm ready to give you what you want, when you're ready of course." There were a few things I wanted from Edward...which one was he referring to? Stupid things went through my head as I tried to grasp what he was trying to tell me..
"I'm completely ready to have you for all eternity without any reservations, no hesitation whatsoever on my part. Damn my soul if I've damned yours! I need to...no more than that I want to make you my immortal. More than anything I've ever wanted in my life. I will happily, joyfully and with a free open heart change you so that we may live out each day together until eternity runs dry. Oh Bella!" He cried my name, pressing our lips together, urgently needing to feel mine on his.
My head swirled. If he hadn't been holding me I surely would have been on the ground. As it was, when he broke the kiss abruptly, I was panting roughly. He said it...he said the words I had longed to hear since I realized what he was and who I wanted to be. He was choosing me to live with him, to become like him, because he wants me to be immortal with him. Because one short human lifespan would not be long enough to hold our love.
"Bella," he waited for my breaths to slow and my heart to stop thumping loudly. Looking deep into my eyes, capturing his willing prey in his power he asked, "Will you do me the honor of becoming my immortal?"
"Yes, oh Edward, Yes!" I threw my arms around his neck.
Immortals together.
I said a quick prayer of thanks to Mrs. Murphy and then-he-
"EDWARD! Did you just cop a feel????"
"What ?!?! Me? Noooo..."
a/n: Well there you have it.
What did you think of my idea about how the Cullens feel about human deaths?
Please review-If you like it or don't or have something to say about life.
I'm always interested in what you have to say!
Love and lemondrops!
BSL
