Good news, everyone! Hah, I sound like the Professor from Futurama. I love that guy. "Good news, everyone! I've taught the toaster to feel love!" Yeah, he's entertaining.

Anywho, while away on my vacation I got bored and wanted to do something constructive, so I wrote out the plot outline for the rest of the story! I think it's rather interesting. I like it. Doesn't matter if you like it or not, so long as I'm pleased with it. But I do hope you enjoy it. It's some of my best plot yet!

Unfortunately, because of the creation of the plot outline, I have come to realize that there are only four chapters and an epilogue left. Depressing, eh? I do wish I could drag it out longer, but there's just no way. It wouldn't be good if I tried to drag it out.

So, on that note, I will be…70 percent focused on this story for the next few weeks! (10 percent margin for Aro, 10 percent margin for Wicked (which I was supposed to update in JANUARY, so you can all allow me that ten percent), 10 percent for my History project that I'm going to fail if me and Miranda don't start working on it)

And so, as I so often say in my annoying and fanatic matter, ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

Random Dedication Time! This chapter is dedicated to whoever liked the last chapter and reviewed, Casper (who always chose me over Felicia), Jumper (who ran away from me), Ross for my dress (It's green! 8D), and The Used for being a really superb band.

Disclaimer – I own all species of Gresh-Batlings and my shoes and PEPSI, but I am not affiliated with anything in the Twilight series or Stephenie Meyer. Nor do I own The Host –sigh– but I'm working on it! And I may possibly co-own an alternate ending to Blood Promise (Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, unreleased fourth book (GO READ NOW!)) if all does not turn out well…

Soundtrack:

Inevitable by Anberlin

(I like this song, and it also SORTA fits with the chapter….a teensy bit. I dunno. I was going to do another song, but I decided to save it for the next chapter. So, if somebody could please remind me in a review or something that the soundtrack for the next chapter is Simple Life by Carolina Liar, that would be great. And also if someone could remind me later that chapter eleven's song is Amsterdam by Anberlin, that would be great as well.)

It took a few moments for the world to return to me. I felt Esme shaking my shoulder and felt the vibration of the monitor as it droned out the same continuous tone, but I could hear and see nothing. I wasn't breathing. Everything had gone by so fast, and now it was as if time had stopped and I was frozen in the same moment, the same horrible, terrifying moment, for the rest of eternity.

And then I opened my eyes.

"…How?" I whispered, my breath coming in sharp gasps. "Wh-what happened?"

Esme sighed in relief at my responsiveness, then sat beside me, taking my bandaged hand gently in hers.

"When the two vehicles collided, he must have jumped to cover you. He received most of the impact. He has head trauma."

"How long?" I asked, knowing she would understand my question.

"We don't know," she whispered, and I saw a tear slip down her cheek. But I was too far gone in my rage and pain to feel any pity.

"That's not good enough!" I stormed. "You have to know! The doctors have to know! Someone has to know! I will not lose him!"

I began to shake violently, sobs racking my body. I curled into a ball on my side and wrapped my arms around my knees, wishing to disappear. Wishing to die. Wishing to be anywhere but here.

"Shh, Bella, it's alright," Esme said, wrapping her comforting arms around me and rubbing my back. "He'll be fine. Everything will be all right."

"No it won't," I moaned. "Nothing will ever be alright. It's my fault. I'm so sorry. So, so sorry, Edward." I began to sob heavily, and was unable to talk.

Esme stayed with me, whispering soothing words in my ear, until I finally cried myself to sleep.

--------------------------------------------------------x

Three days and much pain medication later, I was deemed well enough to be discharged. I thanked the doctor profusely, then turned to Alice, who was sitting beside my bed.

"Can you help me out?" I asked, gesturing to my hospital gown.

I had broken my arm, fractured a bone in my leg, and received several bruises, cuts and lacerations. There were pins in my arm, as well as a cast, and I had a cast and crutches for my leg. I was so bandaged up I looked like a three-year-old had gotten hold of masking tape and I was the only person around.

Because of my injuries, I was unable to change by myself. This also meant that I would have to get help showering. Thankfully I had Alice around.

Once I was dressed, Alice and I left the room and headed down the hall.

"Can I see him?" I whispered as she led me through the halls.

"You need some real food first," she replied, though I could hear something hard in her tone.

She brought me to the hospital cafeteria and had me sit down while she went to get me some food.

"And Bella finally emerges from her Hobbit Hole," I heard Jasper say as he scooted in beside me.

"Jasper, how many times must I explain?" I asked, faking exasperation. "This is not Lord of the Rings and you are not the King if the Tree People."

"Tree People? Way to mock my species, Bella," he said, putting a hand over his heart in offence.

I shrugged (painfully).

"How are you?" he asked gently.

"I've been worse," I replied, and he nodded.

"Alice is really taking it hard," he said offhandedly.

I froze. "What?"

He sighed. "She's blaming herself for the accident. She thinks that since you were rushing to the hospital because of her, it's her fault the accident happened."

"But that's ridiculous!"

"I know," he sighed. "Although put yourself in her place. You would blame yourself too. You blame yourself in your position, even though you're technically the victim."

"But it is my fault," I whispered. "If I had told him, he wouldn't have got mad at me, and I wouldn't have been upset, and he wouldn't have tried to console me, and we would have been able to dodge that car."

Jasper shook his head. "Let's not get into this now. Although personally, I blame the drunk guy driving the lunchbox." (Jeff Dunham reference...the car was a Prius...)

Alice returned just then with my lunch and smiled halfheartedly when she saw Jasper.

"Hey, Jas, didn't know you were still here," she said, slumping into her seat across from us.

"Had to make sure my best friend was okay," he said, gently wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

I smiled warmly at him. "Thank you, Jasper."

"I-I'll be right back," Alice stammered, standing up so quickly she swerved dizzily for a moment before assuring us she was okay. "Umm…bathroom break."

I nodded as she sped away.

After a moment, Jasper looked at me and asked, "Shouldn't you go talk to her?"

I shrugged (again, painfully). "If she wanted to talk to me, she would have asked. I think this is something Alice needs to deal with herself before she talks to anyone about it."

Jasper sighed. "I wish she'd talk to me. I want to help. Guess she sees how much of a failure of a boyfriend I am, too."

I rolled my eyes. "What are you talking about, Jasper? You are aware you were the only one – other than Carlisle, Esme and I – that could save her from permanent mental trauma, that could help her in that situation, and did so. Right?"

Jasper gave me a confused look. "Yes, and…?"

"And," I said, "She always confides in you her secrets. Always. You know more about her…probably more than I do, even, and I'm her sister. You've always been her best friend, Jas, and she loves you. Is that not enough?"

"I guess so." Jasper closed his eyes. "I was so scared, you know. I've never been more afraid in my entire life."

I sighed and ran my undamaged hand through my messy hair, a habit I had picked up from – well, you know. "I know, Jas. I was scared too. Every time I think for sure it's the end, that it's worse than the last and she'll never recover from it."

"Is that possible?" Jasper asked, his voice reduced to a frightened whisper.

"Sometimes." I noticed the look on his face, and smiled reassuringly. "The doctors are insistent that it can't happen with her case. It's not severe enough. You have nothing to worry about, Jasper."

He sighed with relief. Then, pausing for a moment, he said, "I was scared for you too, Bella."

I frowned. "Why?" I asked.

"You were…" He closed his eyes. "You looked so…fragile. I've never seen you so fragile, so breakable, before. It scared the life out of me. I don't…I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Bella. You're my best friend. You've always been my best friend."

As I watched him struggle for words, I realized how much I had always depended on Jasper to hold me together. How much we all had. He had always been the empathetic one, the shoulder to cry on. He had held all our problems in strong arms, and not once had I ever considered that he may have had his own.

I suddenly felt a surge of guilt. "I'm so sorry, Jasper," I whispered.

He looked up at me, surprised. "For what?"

I sighed and closed my eyes. "I've always dropped my problems on you, and never once stopped to wonder if maybe you had your own. And for that, I am truly sorry."

Jasper chuckled and wrapped his arms around me. "It was my choice to help you, Bella, not yours. It's just the way I am. My problems were never real problems to me, anyway. You and Alice and Emmett and Rose were always my top priorities. You all always had bigger problems than I ever did, anyway."

"How could Rose have problems you didn't? You're twins," I said, furrowing my brow.

"There was always a little more expected from Rose than there was from me. And not just from our parents. Guys always expected her to put everything on the table at the snap of their fingers, just because of how she looked."

"Are you saying your sister looks like a slut?" I asked, raising my eyebrow quizzically.

"Yeah. Totally a whore," Jasper deadpanned. Then, continuing on with the earlier conversation, he said, "You don't have to worry about me, Bella. I've always been perfectly content with what life has to offer me."

"I understand that. I just can't help the guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach." I sighed.

"Well, would it make you feel any better if you bought me a cookie?" Jasper asked hopefully.

I smiled. "Always, Jas."

----------------------------------------------------x

I walked into the bathroom to find that Alice had locked herself in a stall and was trying to muffle the sobs.

I sighed, and rapped gently on the stall door. "What's wrong, Alice?" I asked hesitantly.

I heard some shuffling around, then a faint clicking as she unlocked the door. Alice emerged from the stall, mascara smeared down her face in rivulets and her nose bright red.

"I look like Rudolph the fucking Reindeer," she choked out, catching her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

"Alice, look at me," I demanded. She continued to stare pointedly at the wall. "Look at me!" I yelled, my voice ferocious. She jumped back slightly, then hesitantly looked up at my face, her eyes wide with fear.

My face softened, and I held her face in my hands as I said, "What is wrong with you, Alice?"

Tears streamed relentlessly down her face. "It's all my fault," she whispered, her dark eyes shot through with a regret that strangled my heart.

"No, it's not," I said fiercely, releasing her. "Alice, that's bullshit, and you know it."

"But-"

"No!" I turned away from her, gripping the counter to steady myself. "You have epilepsy, Alice. It's a disorder. You couldn't have prevented it, no matter how much you're convincing yourself you could. No matter what you did, you still would have had that seizure. We," I refrained from saying his name, to hold myself together long enough to convince her, "would have still come rushing to the hospital. It still would have happened. It was inevitable."

Through the reflection in the mirror I saw Alice shake her head, slowly and stubbornly, and I let out a frustrated huff, pounding my fists on the counter.

"What do you want me to say?" I bellowed, not bothering to hold myself together anymore. "Do you want me to admit that it's all my fault? Because it is, you know. It's all my fucking fault. I should have known he would have been mad at me for not telling him about your problem, I should have known he'd yell, I should have known he'd unintentionally place all the blame on me, and I should have known I wasn't strong enough to keep from letting my emotion show! I haven't been that strong since I met him, and dammit, I should have known!"

I pulled back my fist expertly and smashed it into the mirror, too frustrated and angry and tired and heartbroken to notice how the glass painfully slid against my knuckles, making rivulets of blood slip down my hand. Then I turned, leaning back against the counter, and began to sob, shaking so hard I barely had the strength to remain standing. Eventually, I slid to the ground. I was so far gone in my pain that I didn't notice.

I knew Alice was yelling something at me, becoming panicked when I was unresponsive. The truth is, the building could have been in flames and I wouldn't have noticed. I stayed curled up under the counter, rocking myself back and forth gently as harsh sobs continued to rack my body. Every intake of breath hurt, and I just wanted it to end.

I was vaguely aware of doctors lifting me from the floor and putting me on a stretcher, but I was too weak to fight them off. I just lay there, blank to the world, relishing in the comfort of my own mind.

I closed my eyes, feeling the delicate snowflakes pierce my skin. I had never seen snow so light, so gentle. Each flake resembled tiny fairy lights falling from the sky.

"It's so pretty," I said, smiling hugely up at my father. He grinned back warmly and took my hand.

"This is life, Isabella. This is everything I always want you to have. Always," he said, looking ahead into the empty park.

I didn't understand why the conversation had taken such a solemn turn. "What do you mean, Daddy?" I asked, my voice sounding small compared to the miracle snowflakes falling around us.

"Well," he said hesitantly, still looking away. He was never good with emotional things. "One day you might have to live without us. And when that day comes, I want you to be happy. I want you to be safe. I want you to live. For your mother, for me."

"I promise," I said, holding out my pinky for him. He chuckled lightly, and hooked his much larger pinky onto mine.

"Let's head back, kiddo," he said, taking my hand gently in his own. "Your mother's probably waiting."

Pulling me along by his side, we walked through the snow-veiled park towards our home, and my mother.

Unfortunately, my father was never good with goodbyes, either.

--------------------------------------------------------------x

Light shone through my eyelids, making everything glow a dull orange. I groaned, pulling my good hand up to cover my eyes.

"She lives," I heard someone say from beside me. I was still only half conscious, but I could have sworn it was Emmett.

"Somebody turn the freaking light off," I grumbled, attempting to open my eyes and blink a few times from behind the shield of my hand.

"And she speaks, too," Rosalie said lightly, as she crossed the room and flicked the large overhead light off.

I heaved a sigh of relief and removed my hand from my eyes. I blinked a few times, my eyes adjusting automatically to the not quite complete darkness. There was a small table lamp on to my right.

"You alright, Bella?" Alice asked anxiously, leaning over me.

I met her eyes, and guilt flooded me as I realized how frightened she was. "Yeah, I'm fine," I mumbled, looking away.

Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie were all crowded around my hospital bed, looks of concern plastered on their faces, though they tried to hide them.

"What happened?" I asked. "Why do you all look as if I'll die or scream or something at any moment?"

They exchanged glances, and Jasper cleared his throat. "Uh, Bella, do you remember anything that happened yesterday?"

I frowned. "I remember talking to you, then going off to look for Alice, then…nothing."

"Nothing?" They exchanged glances again.

"All I remember is…I dunno. Fragments of a dream."

"Do you suppose it could have been what happened yesterday?" Alice asked cautiously.

"Not possible," I said. "The dream was about my father."

Alice's eyes widened, and she looked worriedly at the others. "Bella, you haven't dreamed about your father since the night after…you know."

"I know," I said slowly. "That's why it's so weird. I don't really remember it." I frowned, and paused for a moment. "I don't think it was really a dream. It was more of…a memory."

"Of what?" Alice asked gently, watching my face with concern.

I closed my eyes. "The night before they died," I said, my voice seeming to ring in the silence that followed.

My eyes suddenly flashed open. "Why the hell do I feel like someone ran a truck over my hand?" I said, turning my head painfully to try to get a look at my left hand.

Jasper was the first to recover and answer me. "There was an accident yesterday. You punched the bathroom mirror."

I love how my friends and I use the word "accident" to refer to someone completely and totally losing control of themselves.

"Oh, great," I muttered, lifting my hand for inspection. It was heavily bandaged, and a few spots of blood seeped through the white gauze.

"Do I have to pay for that?" I asked, honest concern in my voice.

Emmett laughed. "No, honey. The hospital has insurance for a reason."

I sighed. "Good."

It was at that precise moment, when my eyes roamed over the room, that I realized this was a two-person room.

My heart froze when my eyes fell on the bed on the left side of me.

The figure had a cast on one arm and a brace for both legs. There was a large white bandage wrapped around their middle, and smaller bandages covered the body, especially the head. The monitor beside the bed beeped faintly, but there was no movement from the patient.

And, of course, who could this be but the man I had been asking to see for several days now?

My eyes flashed shut tightly, but I was unable to chase the image of Edward from my mind. I knew now why no one had wanted me to see him.

"Bella," someone said calmingly. I opened my eyes and turned them on the person who had spoken, who happened to be Rosalie. Hmm. I thought only Jasper could sound so calming in the hardest of times. Well, they are twins.

Rosalie's question broke me out of my musing. "They wanted you to try talking to him," she said softly, gently, soothingly. "Sometimes with coma patients, that's all it takes to wake them up. Well, that and a few days of rest."

I nodded, then sat up slowly and cautiously. In my haste to be out of my hospital bed before, I hadn't waited for all my wounds to heal, most importantly the slight head trauma I had received.

I rose from the bed in one (ungraceful) movement, then, at an achingly slow pace, made my way to Edward's bed.

It was even worse close up; his wounds seemed that much more amplified in severity, and his bright, deep emerald eyes were cut off from the world by smooth eyelids that seemed at this point to be closed for the rest of eternity.

I sank into the chair beside him, gently taking his right hand, which was unharmed.

"Hey, Edward," I said softly, watching his face for any sign of recognition. Nope, none so far. "We're all kinda worried about you. I'm really worried about you. Suffered quite the hit, didn't you?" I smiled halfheartedly. Then my face - and words - became serious. "Edward, please wake up," I whispered, hating the desperation in my voice. Hating how he didn't respond. Hating all of it. "Please wake up. I need you. Always will. Please, just live. For me? Please?"

My dream came flashing back to me, the memory of the most horrible day of my life. "I want you to be happy," I whispered, echoing my father's words. "I want you to be safe. I want you to live. For me. Please."

And then his hand moved in mine.

It was just a twitch, a brief, meaningless movement, but it was enough. Tears streaked down my face. "You'll wake up soon, Edward," I whispered, smiling as the tears continued to make their path down my cheeks. "And when you do, I'm going to kiss you senseless."

----------------------------------------------------------------------x

Days passed by in a flurry; what felt like weeks were merely seconds, and what felt like seconds were whole days.

In the end, I discovered that a whole four days had passed, and still Edward had not waken up and no one had debriefed me on what I had said to Alice the night I lost my cool.

Emmett and I were sitting on my cot, which had been pushed up against Edward's (comfort reasons), and playing cards. Emmett was attempting to learn Cheat, and failing hopelessly.

"One King," I said, placing down my card.

"One two!" Emmett said, slamming his card down and almost sending the rest of the cards flying.

"You're at Ace," I said.

He frowned. "Oh." He smiled, and slammed his fist down on the card, still placed at the top of the pile. "One Ace, then!" he said, not bothering to change his card.

I rolled my eyes. "Cheat."

"Okay, how come you're so good at this?" Emmett questioned, eyeing me suspiciously.

"I'm magic, Emmett," I responded in perfect deadpan. "I'm good at everything."

"Not everything," he challenged. "I could get more chicks than you."

"Emmett, Bella could pick up twice the amount of chicks you could with the snap of her fingers," Jasper said as he entered the room. "So, did he lose yet?"

"Unfortunately, no." I sighed. "You know, Jas, it would really help if I had an extra player…"

"No way," Jasper said. "This is not a game for the weak at heart, and everything about me pretty much screams weak heart."

"It's not that bad," Emmett said, examining his cards once more.

"Then why are you being destroyed?" Jasper asked.

Emmett glared at him and refused to answer.

"Two threes," Emmett said, attempting to place down the cards.

"Em, it's my turn."

"'Em, it's my turn'," he mocked, pulling his cards back.

I rolled my eyes, throwing my cards and getting up to stand by the window.

"Aw, come on, Bella. You know I'm just joking," Emmett said, walking up beside me.

Suddenly very tired, I turned and gave him a reassuring smile. "Thanks for keeping me company, Emmett, but I think I just want to be alone right now." The word alone caught in my throat, and Emmett smiled sympathetically, gave me a smile, then left the room, dragging Jasper with him.

I cleared the cards off the bed and lay down, turning to face Edward. "Why won't you wake up?" I whispered. I closed my eyes, absorbed in the comforting sound of his steady breathing, and soon fell asleep.

----------------------------xX

I felt a light tug on my sleeve and bolted upright, making my head spin and black dots dance across my vision.

Ever since my parents' death, I had always been hyper alert during sleep, and was able to wake up if someone so much as breathed on me.

I waited for the dizziness to subside, then turned over in the direction of the tugging. This caused me to nearly fall off my cot.

Staring straight into my eyes with his bright and very much alive emerald ones was none other than Edward Cullen. One hundred percent awake.

Oooh, I really like this chapter too. Do you? I hope so. Things are getting interesting in my fantasy land. I think it's my recent book intoxication. What with the books I bought and The Singing and Evermore and Max and (hopefully very soon, I have to wait to borrow it from someone) City of Glass, my fantasy world is working overdrive. I'm temporarily situated in the very colourful and interesting and humorous Pattersonland, where everything has wings and is fully equipped with a built-in self-destruct. Yeah…long story. I have an overactive mind.

ANYWHO. I don't really have anything else to say…except that this was fun to write, and I'm hooked on getting through the rest of the chapters of this (it's fun! Like when I got overobsessed with Reclusion…except more fun! Reclusion was too depressing. But it was freaking amazing to write. But this is more amazing to write. I'm thoroughly enthralled in this. Like I'm enthralled by 3OH!3. They're a good band.), and I had a good vacation, and I may be delayed in writing a TAD bit (not delayed like usual, though. Delayed like by a few days) cuz I have to finish building a popsicle stick bridge with Miranda. Miranda who told me about freaking Sebastien that I love. Stupid Sebastien. Bastard had to make me love him, and he's TOTALLY evil. Evil's hot, though.

DOESN'T MATTER. Point is, review (please? I'll personally make a dedication to every person…ooh! I'll have the chapter in sections and I'll have it labeled with the people who it's dedicated to! So, if you review, you get a special part of the chapter dedicated to you PLUS (when I get to starting it, which will be probably tomorrow if I don't get City of Glass by then) a sneak peak of the next chapter! Come on, people, I'm giving away presents now! Please?

Lots of Love and More of my Quirky Goodness,

Alexa –hearts-
A.K.A. Canada's favourite psychopath with a turtle face and cool glasses and (hopefully?) writing skill AND CURLING SKILL! I have talent. I so got a point. And no one else did. Only me and Cori. That was pro.