I want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone reading. Really I appreciate it so much.

As I am still new to writing, and even newer to fan fiction, I'm a bit, unsure of myself in my writing. Your lovely reviews really give me the confidence to continue.

A did get a few concerns about this being a 'typical' plot line. I'm sorry if you feel that way. I'm trying to make sure that my story is as original as possible, but obviously, there are so many stories out there it'd be almost impossible to be sure. While I can't promise you haven't read a different version of this story before, I can assure you that I am doing my best to make this original and personal. The conflict coming up in this story, in my opinion, is not expected, which makes it even more difficult. Please enjoy and thank you for reading!

-Ella

CHAPTER NINE

I'LL FIND A WAY


-EDWARD-

I drummed my fingers on the table anxiously, waiting for Bella to arrive. We were supposed to be meeting for lunch today and I had some really important news to tell her.

I'd signed the contract with Volturi Records a month ago and I'd gotten immediately to work on putting together a record. The company had provided me with a manager, but after working with Alec for a month, I'd politely informed him and the company that he was going to be replaced. He was juggling too much and he didn't care about me. I was a no name newbie and he had his sights on bigger fish. Jane had consented the change, though she hadn't been happy about it, and I'd managed to convince her that I could find a suitable manager who would do exceptional work.

She had no idea I was talking about Bella.

Though Bella was nothing except polite to Jane, we both got the feeling that Jane really didn't like Bella. My love had a theory that it was because Jane wanted me, but I didn't like to think about that. I didn't want anyone but Bella.

I glanced down at my watch impatiently. She was running slightly late but more than that, I was anxious to see her again. I had been spending crazy hours at the studio lately and though she had tried to come with me in the beginning, she had stopped coming as frequently. She had said that Jane's constant underhanded comments and looks were not worth the aggravation. I had been more than a little disappointed.

"Hey baby, I'm so sorry I'm late. I was just on the phone with Victoria." Her sweet voice cut through my thoughts and I looked up at her and couldn't help my smile. She was wearing jeans and a simple dark purple blouse that I loved on her. She looked amazing and she wasn't even trying.

"Hey." I said standing and pulling her to me. She giggled but didn't protest as I leaned down to kiss her. She snaked her arms up my chest and I felt her fingers wind in my hair. God I loved this woman. "God I miss you." I said when I finally pulled away from her. She smiled and reached up to kiss me again.

"I miss you too baby." She whispered. I smiled and pulled her down next to me in the booth.

"So how is Victoria?" I asked.

"She's good, still bitching about us having to quite playing for her." Bella rolled her eyes and I knew that despite Victoria's complaining, she was actually happy for us. "She says hi by the way." Another eye roll told me that Bella was certain that hi was meant to be flirtatious. "She also said she wants us to come in when we can and check out her new act. She said they aren't as great, but the get the job done."

I smiled. "That sounds great." I said honestly. Bella nodded and curled into my side as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"How has your day been?" She asked. I sighed.

"Crazy. I finally got rid of Alec." I told her running a hand through my hair.

"Yeah? Who are you going to replace him with?" She asked curiously. I smiled at her and cocked my head to the side.

"How would you feel about it?" I asked softly. She gasped, her eyes wide.

"What?" She asked. I nodded and took her hands in mine.

"I trust you more than anyone else in this world. Plus, that means you'd be working while on the road." I said smiling. We had plans to start touring in just one short month. It was almost no time to cut any sort of demo, but the label just wanted me to have something small, an EP to get the hype going about who I was as a musician.

"You really want me to be your manager?" She asked. I nodded.

"Only if you want to baby. If you'd rather do something else I can find someone," She cut me off.

"Of course I'll do it." She said grinning. "You think I'd let just anyone take care of you?" She asked raising an eyebrow. I couldn't help how good those words made me feel and I grinned.

"God I love you." I said swooping in to kiss her again. She giggled.

"I love you too." She murmured against my lips. I smiled at her and wrapped an arm around her.

"What do you want for lunch?" I asked handing her a menu. She smirked.

"Nothing that's on the menu." She said giving me a sexy as hell look. I groaned. Yeah, I had really missed my girl.

"Why don't we take something home?" I suggested. She grinned and kissed me again, her tongue sweeping against mine.

"That's a great idea."

Jane hadn't said a word about Bella being my manager when I had announced it the next morning, but it was clear she wasn't happy about it. I didn't really care though because as far as our contract was concerned, she had absolutely no say in it.

Working with Bella was a dream come true. Of course I would have preferred that it was us making music together, but since the label was only interested in me, I'd have to hold off on that dream for now.

We were in the recording studio most days, working tirelessly on new material for me to record. Bella offered up our songs and I had told her absolutely not. I wasn't going to use those until we were cutting our own album.

So instead I struggled to come up with my own songs.

Of course everything I did write was about and inspired by Bella. She was my muse, one hundred percent. I knew without her I'd be nothing spectacular.

I was sitting at the piano, staring at Bella through the glass of the recording studio. Jane was standing next to her, looking irritated but I ignored her. Bella gave me a small smile then frowned, reaching into her pocket to retrieve her phone. She frowned at the number and answered the call. I stopped playing when her face grew more confused. What was going on?

Bella was still and then I saw her eyes widen and suddenly it looked like she wasn't breathing. I was off the piano bench and ripping into the studio faster than I could blink.

"Baby what's wrong?" I asked reaching for her. She stared at me in shock and held out the phone to me. I glanced at it but it was a restricted number. "Hello?" I asked, taking the phone and bringing it to my ear.

"Hello, is Bella Swan still there?" The woman asked. I stared at Bella who was starting to shake.

"Yes, she's shaking. Who is this? What do you want?" I demanded, wrapping my arms around my girl. She sank into me.

"My name is Linda, I'm from Forks Community Hospital. We have a Charles Swan who was admitted about thirty minutes ago to the ER. He was in an accident." She informed me. My heart stopped.

"What? How is he? We're on our way." I said tugging Bella to move. Jane started protesting but I shot her a nasty glare and she wisely shut up. I looked down at Bella who was shaking.

"He's stable at the moment. Fortunately there wasn't too much damage apart from a broken leg and a small concussion." She told me.

"Is he awake?" I asked.

"No the doctors have sedated him for the time being."

I sighed. "We'll be right there." I promised before hanging up. I got Bella tucked into the car with her seat belt on and then ran to the driver's side before ripping out of the parking lot and heading west. "Baby talk to me." I coaxed. She looked at me.

"My dad was in an accident." She whispered. Big fat tears rolled down her face.

"I know baby, we're going to see him right now. The nurse said he's okay though. A broken leg and a small concussion. He'll be out of there in no time." I insisted. Bella reached over and took my hand in hers.

"He has to be alright." She whispered. I gripped her hand and brought it to my lips.

"He will be baby."

Charlie was awake by the time we got there. Bella tore into his room frantically and he looked up from his hospital bed and rolled his eyes.

"Jeez Bella. Don't give me a heart attack." He complained. Bella ignored him and threw herself down to hug him.

"Daddy, are you okay?" She cried. I saw Charlie's face soften as he hugged his daughter.

"Yeah Honey, I'm fine." He reassured her. She let out a small sob.

"When I got the call I was so worried." She said pulling back and staring at him. Charlie shifted uncomfortably.

"Sorry to worry you Bells. Honestly they make it sound worse than it is." He tried to insist. Bella looked at me and I stepped up beside her.

"We're glad to see you're okay Charlie." I said sincerely. Charlie grumbled.

"Of course I'm okay. I'm one tough guy." He said indigently. Bella rolled her eyes and wiped her cheeks.

"I know daddy. I just," She paused and shook her head. Her silence spoke volumes and we all nodded somberly. "Can I get you anything?" She asked changing the subject.

"I'd love a sandwich." He mumbled. Bella laughed despite the tears that still lingered in her eyes.

"Okay dad, we'll go get you one. Anything else?" She asked. Charlie shook his head.

"No I'm fine Bella, really." He insisted. Bella nodded and stood, kissing his cheek.

"We'll be right back." She promised. She clutched my hand in hers and led me outside to the hallway. She looked at me and I wrapped my arms around her as she sank against my chest. "God I was so scared." She whispered.

"I know you were baby." I said softly. She wound her arms around my waist. I held her for a long moment before she pulled away and took my hand. I brought it up to my lips and kissed it gently before leading her down the hall in search of a sandwich.

Bella was silent as we drove to the tiny deli that was Charlie's favourite and ordered him a sub. She wouldn't look at me at all and even when I asked her if she was alright, she just gave me a tired, unfocused shrug.

I pulled into the parking lot by the hospital and turned to look at her. She looked down at her hands silently.

"Edward," She said finally looking up at me. I looked over at her and gently brushed the hair from her eyes.

"Yeah baby?"

She looked down a moment then looked back up at me, fresh tears in her eyes. "He's going to need me." She whispered. "With a broken leg he's not going to be able to do anything around the house. I'm going to have to move back to Forks to help him until he recovers." She said softly. My heart split in a million directions. I was in awe of her and her selfless love but I was also pained because I knew that that meant she wasn't coming with me on tour. I knew I couldn't even ask it of her. Her father needed her and she needed him.

"I know baby." I said quietly. She kept staring at me and in her eyes I saw all the things that had gone unsaid. I unbuckled my seatbelt and tugged her across the center console until she was in my lap. I leaned down to kiss her gently, trying to chase the guilt and sadness from her eyes. "It's going to be okay." I whispered. She didn't respond but hung on to me tighter. I held her for a long moment, drinking her in. I could feel my heart shattering at the thought of what was ahead of us, but forced my feelings down. I couldn't focus on that right now. Right now the most important person in my life was scared and sad and needed me to be strong. I dropped a kiss on the top of her head before squeezing her. "Come on, let's go give your dad that sandwich." I said quietly. Bella nodded and swiped at her eyes. We clambered out of the car and immediately I wrapped my arms around her. She clung to me as we walked back into the hospital.

Charlie was sitting up in bed, scowling at the TV when we came in.

"Ain't nothing good on." He grumbled, turning off the old screen. Bella sighed and brought him his sandwich, taking it out of the bag and setting it up for him. "Bells I can feed myself." He grumbled when she started cutting the sandwich. Bella looked at him with big glassy eyes and nodded, dropping the little plastic knife and sliding him his food. Charlie looked at her a long moment then sighed.

"Thanks for getting this kids." He said quietly. Bella nodded and took a deep breath. I stepped up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Is there anything else we can do for you?" I asked. Charlie shook his head and wiped at his mouth after taking a large bite of his sub.

"No, but I can't wait to get out of this place." He grumbled, shifting in the hospital bed. Bella bit her lip.

"When can you leave?" She asked. Charlie sighed.

"I'm not sure. I know they want to keep me here tonight and the doc said something about tomorrow as well. Probably after the weekend?" He said shrugging. Bella nodded and glanced at me. My heart clenched. Three more days with my girl. That was it.

"I think Edward and I are going to go to the house and get it ready for you." Bella said quietly. Charlie eyed her suspiciously.

"What's there to get ready?" He asked.

"There is no way you're going to be able to navigate that house in crutches." She said shaking her head. "We're just going to make sure pathways are clear and everything is easy to get to." She told him. He harrumphed but then conceded, focusing again on his sandwich. Bella leaned down to kiss his cheek and gave him a small smile. "We'll be back tomorrow." She promised. "Goodnight dad." He mumbled an unintelligible response around his sandwich, but nodded to both of us as we left.

The Swan house was small and simple and somehow completely Charlie and Bella. It was the first time I'd been there and I took my time taking it all in. The house small and slightly cramped, but comfortable.

"Edward will you help me?" Bella asked quietly. I turned my attention from the photos of young Bella up on the mantle to see her gesturing to the sofa. "I'm going to set up a bed down here since there is no way he's going to be able to go up those steps." She said eyeing the brown staircase. I nodded and moved to help pull out the fold out bed from the sofa. We set it up and Bella got to work putting fresh linens on it.

It didn't take all that long to get his house ready and soon Bella was standing in the middle of the living room, her big brown eyes watering.

"Baby." I whispered, moving to wrap my arms around her. She sank against me.

"My heart is breaking." Her voice cracked over her admission and I hugged her tighter. I could feel my own heart shattering.

"Come on," I said quietly, lifting her up. She stared at me in surprise as I started up the stairs toward her childhood room. I pushed open the door and carried her to the small twin bed. I set her down gently and knelt in front of her, carefully tugging off her shoes. She stared at me in surprise but didn't say anything. I took off her cardigan and blouse and helped her out of her bra before shrugging out of my own shirt and offering it to her. Her eyes widened even more and she slipped my shirt over her head. Next I helped her out of her jeans before pulling her up on the bed and tucking her under the thick purple quilt. I slipped off my own shoes and jeans before climbing in next to her. It was a tight fit since it was twin bed, but that didn't matter. I pulled Bella to me and held her tightly. She took a deep breath then wrapped her own arms around me. She was silent a moment and I bent down to kiss the top of her head. "I love you." I murmured.

Her sobs broke free and each one ripped through me painfully. There was nothing worse in this world than seeing my girl cry, and the worst of it was that I couldn't do anything to fix it. Instead I just held her and let her cry until she finally drifted asleep, and it was only then when her breathing evened out and her heartbeat slowed, did I let my own tears fall.

The next morning both Bella and I were exhausted from the emotional day before. We didn't talk about it as we got ready for our day, but I knew that all those emotions were still there, lying just beneath the surface, waiting to come out again.

Bella was strong though and kept on fighting to put on a good front as we got ready to head back to the hospital.

By the time we got to Charlie's room, she had even managed to smile again.

"Hey dad, how are you?" She asked coming into his room. He grunted at her.

"I hate these damn hospital beds." He complained. Bella smirked.

"Well we got the pull out sofa all ready for you." She told him. Charlie groaned.

"I hate that damn bed too." He said shaking his head. Bella shrugged.

"Well that's your lot until you're better and climb the stairs without crutches." She told him firmly. He sighed in resignation.

"You kids heading back to Seattle today?" He asked looking at me. Bella nodded.

"We're going to go home and get ready." She said quietly. Charlie nodded.

"That's right, you're touring next week aren't you?" He asked. I nodded, still unable to say anything.

"Edward is going. I'm coming back here." Bella told him. Charlie looked at her in surprise.

"What do you mean you're coming back here?" He asked sending me a sharp glare. Bella rolled her eyes.

"Dad, you can barely manage to take care of yourself when you're at 100% health. How do you think you'll fare injured?" She asked taking Charlie's accusing glare away from me.

"Dammit Bella I can take care of myself just fine." He said shaking his head. Bella stood firm though.

"Don't give me that. I'm coming back to Forks to help you out and there is not a damn thing you can say that is going to change my mind." She said sternly. Charlie stared at her a long moment.

"I don't want you missing your life for me Bells."

Bella sent me a glance and I nodded, removing myself from the room. She and Charlie needed a moment and I was more than happy to give them one. I waited out in the waiting room for Bella to come back out. My phone rang in my pocket and I glanced at it, rolling my eyes. Jane. Again.

She had called at least a hundred times since we'd bailed out of the studio yesterday.

Deciding it was best to just grab the bull by the horns, I answered the call.

"Edward where the hell are you?" She snarled. I sighed and leaned my head against the wall behind me.

"Family emergency. We're in Forks." I said tiredly.

"I don't care if your fucking mother is on her deathbed!" She screeched. "We are going on tour next week! You have work that needs to be done!"

My hands flexed in anger and I barely contained my scathing comments to her.

"I'll be in Seattle tonight." I snapped. I ended the call before she could say anything more, and promptly shut off my phone. Deep breaths Cullen. It's not going to do you any good to be furious. It's not going to do Bella any good to be furious.

That last thought zapped all my anger away. Bella needed me to be calm. I'd deal with Jane later.

Bella came out a few minutes later and motioned to her dad's room.

"He wants to say goodbye." She said quietly. I nodded and kissed her forehead before walking back to Charlie's room. He looked up at me when I came in and nodded for me to take a seat. I settled down in the chair and waited for him to talk.

"How long are you touring?" Charlie asked. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"Two months minimum. They want me on board for the West Coast and the South. They think my music will do well down there." I explained. Charlie nodded.

"What do you think of Bella staying here?" He pressed. My chest constricted painfully.

"I think that I'm going to miss her like crazy but I know that she needs to be here. I would never keep her from doing what she needs to." I said quietly. Charlie nodded and gazed at me.

"I'm sorry I'm taking her from you." He said finally. I looked up at him then and he seemed completely sincere.

"I don't think you are." I said after a moment. "She's your daughter. It's me who has taken her form you."

Charlie smirked at me. "I know she loves you more than anything." He said shaking his head. "You're her future. At least she thinks that." He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Charlie, she's my everything." I said passionately. "When I get back from touring I'm planning on asking her to marry me." I admitted. Charlie nodded as if he had expected as much.

"Bella is one in a million." He said after a moment. I nodded in agreement. "Don't fuck it up. I know what goes on on these tours." He said gesturing vaguely.

"There isn't a force in this world that could make me even think of jeopardizing what I have with Bella."

Charlie nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then be safe and come home to our girl soon. She says she'll be okay but I know my daughter. She's going to be heartbroken while you're gone."

I swallowed back tears and nodded. "Yeah, I will be too."

Charlie gave me a sad smile, and I stood holding out my hand to him. He shook it and nodded to me. "You're a good man Cullen. I couldn't have picked a better one for my baby girl."

I smiled at him and felt a weight I hadn't realized I was carrying, settle off my chest.

"Thank you sir. That really means a lot to me."

Charlie nodded and I gave him one last wave before leaving his room. I found Bella pacing in the waiting room anxiously. She looked up when I approached her and flew into my arms.

"I'm sorry if he was mean to you." She murmured. I chuckled.

"He wasn't baby. Come on, let's get going." I said

The drive back to Seattle was mostly silent. When we got back I told Bella that I had to go into the studio to make up for time I'd missed. She assured me that it would be all right and that she had to get packing anyway. The thought made my heart ache and so, with a kiss goodbye, I dropped her off and drove to the studio, trying to force out thoughts of being separated from Bella.

"Where the hell have you been?" Jane snapped when I called her.

"I'm on my way to the studio. Is it free?" I asked, ignoring her question. She huffed.

"Yes, fortunately for you. I'll be there in ten."

I ended the call and tossed my phone on the passenger's seat. I really didn't want to be working, but I knew that I had to. I'd just get through it as fast as possible so I could be home with my girl.

"Hey baby. Are you up?" I asked stepping into the apartment. I didn't expect her really to be awake since it was well past one in the morning, but I could hear her cello coming from the recording studio, telling me she was indeed up. I smiled, walking down the hall towards the room.

She was playing one of her instrumental pieces. I stood by the door listening to her captivating music. How Volturi could turn down signing her was completely beyond me. Bella was ten times more the musician than I could ever hope to be.

The song was beautiful and sad and haunting and made my heart clench in agony as I listened. Bella was beautiful and eloquent, but when she played, she put it all out there and now I could hear her sorrow, hear her pain and I ached to sooth it all. She brought her song to an end and took a deep shuddering breath. She started playing a soft tune on the strings of her cello and started singing softly.

"I'll find a way to see you again
I'll find a way to see you again

I used to think that anything I'd do
Wouldn't matter at all anyway
But now I find that when it comes to you
I'm the winner of cards I can't play
Wait for me, wait for me
Darling, I need you desperately, desperately here

And I'll find a way to see you again
And I'll find a way to see you again

The rain is like an orchestra to me
Little gifts from above meant to say
Girl, you falling at his feet
Isn't lovely or stunning today
Wait with me, wait with me
I'm alive when you're here with me, here with me, stay

And I'll find a way to see you again
And I'll find a way to see you again

Why do the street lamps die
When you're passing by
Like a hand that won't stay on my shoulder tonight
If you held me close, would you laugh it away
Would you dare the glance that I steal to stay

And I'll find a way to see you again
Yes, I'll find a way to see you again
I'll find a way, a way, a way to see you again
I'll find a way, a way, a way to see you again
I'll find a way, a way, a way to see you again
The rain will bring, the rain will bring, the rain will bring, bring, bring me down
The rain will bring, the rain will bring, the rain will bring, bring, bring me down
The rain will bring, the rain will bring, the rain will bring, bring, bring me down."

Bella let out a sob and set her cello down. I moved from the doorframe and came into the room. She looked up at me startled and I hated the tears that I could see in her eyes.

"Baby, don't cry." I begged, kneeling down and scooping her into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck and sobbed. I held her and tried not to sob with her. Instead I rocked her against my chest, trying not to break down in tears myself.

"I can't let you go." She sobbed. I hugged her tighter.

"You're not baby." I whispered. "I'll be back before you know it." I promised. She shook her head against my neck and clung onto me.

"I need you." She whimpered. "I need you please." My heart shattered all over at her sad pleas. Silently I picked her up and carried her to our room, laying her out onto our bed. She reached for me, wanting me to stay close. I held her in my arms and kissed her deeply, trying to say, without words, just how much I loved her.

When I pulled away there were fresh tears in her eyes. "Love me." She pleaded. So I did. I took my time and together we moved slowly, in no rush to be parted. We made love until the sun came up and when we finally collapsed in a tired mess on our bed, I pulled her close to me and sang her to sleep.

Songs:

Farewell - Adam Hurst

I'll Find A Way - Rachael Yamagata

Links on profile. :)