Disclaimer: I still own nothing related to Twilight. It all still and forever will always belong to SM.

Author Note: I can't truly thank everyone enough for the reviews. Ah…you guys are so great. I actually have 101 reviews. Whew. Sorry for not updating for a while I have been really busy with some stuff in my life. Also all grammar/spelling errors are my own seeing how this chapter wasn't able to be beta'd.

At the end of this chapter please, if your going to leave a review, give your honest opinion and thoughts on this chapter/story as a whole. It would be most appreciated. : )

Previously

We sat there in silence for a moment, both consumed with worry for our loved ones, but in a way both outsiders. Me, from the shared family grief, and him, in a way, as well. I could tell he felt the same hesitation as me to go into Esme's room, not feeling entirely like he should be there, having been so far from his family for the last few years.

So we both sat there, waiting for news, not talking, but each taking comfort from the fact that there was someone there beside us who felt our pain.

Now

I sat in the hospital room of the ICU. I held my baby's hand praying to God that he would survive. I needed him to survive because I couldn't lose him. It would kill me. The wires and machines never allowed me to sleep. I was always filled with fear that one the machines would go off and it wouldn't mean anything good.

I had been at the hospital all week long. That's how long Ethan had been in this place. Esme was thankfully recovering, although slowly and painfully. I was very pleased to know Esme was getting better. It allowed me to breathe a little more easily, knowing she wasn't going to die.

Everyday I woke up and somehow found the strength to go on. I knew that I needed to be strong for Ethan. When he woke up he would want me and I knew that if I was in my own hospital bed from dehydration or not eating enough, I would be no good for him. That was something I wouldn't allow to happen. So everyday I made sure to eat and drink even if it was just something little.

I stroked Ethan's hair and thought back to the night one week ago when Carlisle came out to see both Edward and I.

Flashback.

As Edward and I sat in the comfortable silence, it made me feel better to know that Edward was somehow, although it wasn't his child, was going through the same thing as me. The thought that Edward was worried and anxious about Esme helped us connect just slightly because we were each hurting for two people whom we loved.

"Bella."

I hadn't even noticed Carlisle was standing in front of me; I had been too preoccupied in my own thoughts. His face was calm which allowed me to think that Ethan was still alive. I made a move to stand and Carlisle waved his hand, wanting me to sit down.

"How is he Carlisle?"

Carlisle's eyes didn't meet mine. I felt my stomach drop at the scenarios that ran wildly through my head. My sudden thoughts from just a moment ago of Ethan still being alive vanished, leaving me filled with a cold pit in my stomach.

"Oh god, he's not…he's still-"

"Yes, Bella he is still alive, although he isn't in any way in good shape."

I nodded feeling the tears enter my eyes. I refused to let them fall until I heard the news. Until I heard exactly what condition and how severe Ethan was I would not cry. The situation at hand wouldn't allow me to cry.

"Bella you must understand that Ethan was hit on the same side of the car as Esme. He took just as much if not more of the brunt that Esme did."

"I know."

"He's in critical condition. He has four broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken ankle, a bruised pelvis, a ruptured spleen which had to be removed, and he also has a very small skull fracture."

It seemed like Ethan was so very bad off, that it didn't seem possible he could even be…no I knew I couldn't think like that. My little boy was so very strong. He was stronger than any person I knew, stronger than me. The only reason I had strength was because of him, he gave it to me. All I could do was nod, feeling numb.

"Bella, for right now I've done absolutely everything I can for him. It's in his and God's hands now. You must have faith."

It seemed that all I could do was nod. The tears that had a few minutes ago been swimming in my eyes were gone. Now all I felt was burning need and instinct to see Ethan, to see with my own two eyes that he was still alive. .

"I need to see him."

"Of course, but I can only allow you in there."

I looked up nodding, but not wanting to be alone. I shuddered, not from cold but fear, fear of what I would have to see. I would be all by myself, no partner or even friend to support me. I stood, shaky, and followed Carlisle. I looked behind me to see Edward looking distressed as he sat behind just staring at me.

Now…

I was shook out of my thoughts by a gentle squeeze on my shoulder. I jumped just slightly before turning around. Alice stood behind me a sad smile on her face. I smiled back, before turning around to look at Ethan. Since it had been a week and Ethan's condition hadn't changed he had thought it would be okay to allow a few more people in the room. I was always going to be grateful to both Carlisle and Alice for the support and love they had given me in the past week. I reached out and gently stroked the locks on Ethan's head. I heard the scrape of a chair and saw out of the corner of my eye, Alice sitting next to me.

"He's going to be fine Bella."

"Y-you don't know that so please don't say that to me." My voice came out shaky, something I hadn't intended.

"Bella, you have to have faith. Ethan is such a fighter and he isn't going to let something like a car accident get him down." Alice's voice was filled with promise and conviction. Even though I had doubts the tone of her voice alone made me want to believe her.

"How's Esme doing?" I ignored Alice's statement, not wanting to comment on it, but in the end excepting it in my own way. I wanted to focus on something other than Ethan for just a moment.

"She's doing better. She wants to come and see you but Carlisle won't let her. He won't let her out of bed for anything, it's driving her crazy."

I chuckled just imagining Esme's frustration at being able to get out of bed. I had yet to see her and I felt terribly guilty. I knew I could go see her and she would be able to provide me with love and comfort that only a mother could do. She was the only person who could even come close to understanding what type of position I was in.

"Ali, I want to go see her. Would you mind staying here with him?"

"Of course I wouldn't. I won't leave Ethan."

I smiled gratefully before kissing Ethan on the head and giving Alice a quick hug.

I knocked on Esme's hospital room before entering. No one was in the room. The TV was on and Esme smiled happily when she saw me. I smiled back and took a seat next to the bed.

"I think I need a hug."

I smiled before as carefully as possible giving her a hug. While I was held by Esme I felt safe, like all of a sudden everything would be okay. I wanted to stay in Esme's arms but I didn't want to hurt her, so I stepped away and sat in the chair, that was next to her bed.

"How are you?"

"I'm doing better. Still very, very sore, but thank goodness there are things like pain medication."

I couldn't help but nod in agreement. I knew how it felt to be in pain. I had tripped and hurt myself enough through the years that I was also grateful there was such things as pain medication.

"How are you my dear Bella?"

I swallowed thickly and tears flooded my eyes. I would think with as much as I'd cried in the past week I would no more tears left to shed, but apparently I did.

"Oh honey. Shhh…it's going to be alright. I promise you that."

I chocked back a sob at the reassuring words that Esme directed towards me.

"I keep hoping that he's going to wake up and ask for his mommy. His injuries are so severe and he's so little."

"Bella, sweetie, I know as a mother myself what it's like to worry about your children. I worry about all of my children everyday. I just find faith that I've done what I can to raise them and they must make they're own decisions."

"Esme, Ethan isn't raised though. So what do I do now? I feel so helpless and useless."

"You have faith. I know you keep hearing that, but you've done what you can so far for Ethan. No one could ask anything more from you. Plus you are doing everything that you can by staying with Ethan and supporting and loving him. He's going to be so happy to know that you stayed with him this whole time."

I took in the words that Esme directed at me. I knew she was right. It just took hearing it from someone who was a mother herself for it to really sink in.

"I know. I guess it just took hearing it from you, whom I consider to be a mother to me, for me to truly understand."

"I'm glad you do. The one thing I can promise though is you will never stop worrying about your children, even when they have children of their own."

I chuckled softy, knowing this was true. It was clearly visible to see that Esme had yet to quit worrying about her children every single day of every single moment.

"I know. It's been so wonderful to talk with you. You've really done the job a mother should."

"Well, I consider you like a daughter, so I'm glad I did that job."

I hugged Esme, not wanting to let go, but knowing I'd have to eventually.

"You should probably be getting back to Ethan."

"Yeah, I probably should, but I promise to come visit again."

"You do that and give my love and warm wishes to Ethan."

"I will."

I gently bent over and gave Esme another hug, before quietly leaving the room. As I walked down the hall I found a new strength that I didn't know I ever possessed. As I entered Ethan's room, I felt better. Although seeing Alice missing from her seat made me worried, but the person who had taken her position made me smile, if only a little. Her position had been filled by Edward.

Author Note: Alrighty…so this chapter was pretty long and made up for everything, well the not updating for while part right? It was my longest chapter yet at over 2,000+ words. I hope it made up for everything and wasn't a disappointment. . Wow…so I would love to make it to 120 reviews…hint hint. Hehe. Anyways thank you, everyone who has been reading this story and giving it a chance I appreciate it. Hopefully there will be another update sometime this week, but I can't make any promises because I am going to be really busy later this week.

XoXo,

Kaylee