AN: Thanks again for all the reveiws and alerts! Thanks Evie! And in case you are wondering " -- " means some time has passed, let's say an hour or so.

Disclaimer: This is for this entire story, i do not own twilight or any characters from there. Ms. Meyer does.


Chapter 8: Confrontations

-- Edwards's POV

Two days.

Forty-eight hours of watching.

Watching helplessly as Bella drained away.

The symptoms had a hold of her and were ruthless.

Every four minutes she would begin to heavily cough up blood. Her chest heaved with every wheezy breath she fought for. Her fever still boiled, reaching a devastating 106.2 degrees. Her shakes had calmed, but that brought me no relief as I knew slowly that was at a point where her body was giving up. Her skin was no longer ivory or gray, but taking on a blue tint.

She was circling the drain.

I was going to lose her.

But I couldn't bring myself to move.

I couldn't do anything but stare at the dying angel before me.

Carlisle was continuing with the medicine but we both knew it was no use.

And as I thought that, my father appeared at the foot of my bed.

He looked thoughtful, his face drawn, looking older then ever before.
"If she was going to survive this, she would have responded by now." He spoke steadily as I stroked her flaming check.

I stayed silent.

I knew this already. The logic was irrefutable.

But I didn't need to hear it from him too.

It only made this that much more real.

He exhaled, no doubt running his hand over his face. I didn't glance over my shoulder to check, my eyes were for Bella alone.

"I don't know what else to do Edward."

And I was left alone with my angel once more.

--

Just as I was settling further into my memories so I could escape the hell or reality, Rose stormed into my room.

I really didn't want company.

"I thought you loved her!"

My head snapped up.

How dare she! What did she know of love like this? What did she understand of my feelings for Bella?

I growled menacingly.

"If you really did love her, they why are you putting her through such pain! Prolonging her agony, dying in that bed with nothing to look forward to but death. When instead she could be going through the same pain but instead knowing that she was turning into a vampire and it would end in three days!"

She glowered at me once more and stomped out, luckily not waiting for an answer.

For I didn't have one.

--

What was I doing here?

Was I really just watching Bella waste away?

But Jasper's voice interrupted my trail of thought, "What do you plan to do Edward?" I felt like saying, 'Well if you didn't interrupt me, I might have gotten that far.'
But instead I closed my eyes, refusing to make eye contact.

Minutes ticked by as Jasper waited for my answer.

My mind swirled, every second spent with Bella flew by.

Could I really give that up?

Could I really just let her slip away when I have the power to save her?

No.

I couldn't.

I was entirely too selfish.

I wanted many more days with my love.

I wanted all of eternity.

But even if I wanted that I couldn't stop my voice from cracking as I spoke, "If it comes to it, I'll change her . . . Right before."

He was silent.

"And if you miscalculate the timing, and you're too late?"

I shook my head.

Another question I did not know.

And along with that same question, many more mocked me.

Jasper mutely nodded and left me to myself.

--

I mentally groaned as Alice appeared before me.

Why couldn't they leave me be! First Carlisle, then Rose, and Jasper was bad enough, Alice would be even worse.

It was my decision!

Bella wasn't their mate.

"But she's our family too Edward!" Alice fumed. Sometimes I hated when she did that.

"So?" I immaturely asked.

She breathed deeply through her flared nostrils.

Alice was beyond angry.

Alice was pissed. And that was never a good thing.

I waited for the explosion and surely did she deliver.

"What the hell is wrong with you!"

"What?!" I sprang up and stood before her.

She equally met my hard glare, the foot difference in height not bothering her at all.

"Why are you doing this to Bella?!" She yelled.

"Because I am not going to damn her to this existence, I refuse to!"

"I refuse to lose my sister!" Alice screamed. "I am NOT going to idly stand by and watch her die!"

I growled at her implications.

No one was going to touch my Bella!

I don't know how long we squared off, our eyes never leaving each others.

She huffed, but I knew better then to believe Alice was done.

But instead of immediately storming out, she glanced to the bed and her face crumbled and despair washed over her features as she looked at what had become of Bella.

With one last glance, Alice left too.

It was then I realized that this wasn't solely my decision. Alice was right.

Bella was family.

I sunk back onto the bed, and folded Bella into my arms.

I still needed to think.


AN: I hope you don't hate me for prolonging this! Thanks for reading!!

For you Americans, I hope you had a fun and safe 4th of July! For everyone else, umm, happy holidays, if you had any! Last chapter is next!