Mandatory Disclaimer Thingy: I am not the owner of Twilight, or any of its respective characters. That honor belongs to Stephanie Meyer. I'm just using them for this story. I promise, I'll return them in pristine condition. Maybe not Edward, he might be a little dirty.

A/N: I originally planned on posting this chapter tomorrow, but decided that since I won't have time, I'd do it tonight. This morning, my husband suffered from multiple seizures and is now hospitalized. His family and I are waiting for him to wake up and come out of it. The reason I'm telling you this is because real life has just kicked me in the head, and I may not be able to post for a while. It all rests on what happens when he wakes up. I have a couple of chapters written and will try to post them when I can, but as far as writing the rest, it all depends on the condition he's in when he snaps out of it.

The song for this chapter is Nobody's Daughter by Hole.

I would like to thank Mizzdee, Dinx, and JointGifts for being my betas and for giving me the encouragement and criticism I need to make this story worthy of all of you. I'd also like to thank the readers that take the time to review. You girls crack me up and humble me with your words. Thanks to the rest of you that read as well. It makes me smile that you are interested in what I have to say.

Okay, enough with the gooey emotional stuff. I'll let you get to it.

Chapter 10

~.~.~

Nobody's Daughter

June 19, 2003

I sat in silence, with my feet in the seat and my arms wrapped around my knees, as we drove down the 101. Traffic was sparse, but the compulsion to get to Seattle General was trying to claw its way out. Sue, of course, drove as fast as she could while obeying the traffic laws. Still, I had to beat back the desire to tell her I'd pay the ticket if she'd just go faster.

My head leaned against the window, and I watched the cars pass by us. All of them probably had a mundane destination; the drivers might be going to work, visiting a relative, or off to some place for fun. Try as I might, I couldn't feel anything but envy toward them. While I was rushing to a horror I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams, they were off to a place that wouldn't cause them stress, heartache, or pain. I hoped, as the tears began, they knew how lucky they were and how fortunate it was their loved ones were safe and not on the precipice of death.

Edward's last moments in that hospital room were still fresh, and I could almost smell the blood. One of the hardest things I'd ever witnessed was watching helplessly as he was prepped to leave. He had always been my protector, lover, and heart—now he was in the biggest fight of his life. Get yourself together, I thought as I angrily swiped away my tears. Sue was, thankfully, quiet during my mental breakdown. My mind drifted, trying to protect itself from the hell raging inside me.

~.~.~.~

July 20, 2000

I lay naked and spent on top of Edward, enjoying the rare sun on my back. His hands ran up and down my sides, and a satisfied smile graced his lips. When he'd suggested we go to our favorite place, a small clearing deep in the forest, I'd been skeptical. Forks wasn't known for its hiker-friendly weather, and I didn't want to be caught out in a downpour. The elements had cooperated and as I was basking in post-coital bliss, I was glad I'd agreed to come.

Since graduation, there had been no time for Edward and I to spend together. Parties, friends, family dinners, and parents had taken up all of our spare moments, not to mention, a ridiculous amount of college and future talk. I still was undecided about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. At eighteen, it was hard to imagine what kind of career I'd want to have for the next twenty, thirty, or forty years.

The day had been flawless and exactly what we'd both needed. We had come to our secret spot with a picnic basket and a quilt. Edward had insisted on being the one to bring the food, so we'd munched on peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches, sliced apples, chips, and juice boxes. It was so juvenile but so Edward, and that made it perfect. A patchwork quilt was draped across the grass, and we lounged on it. Enjoying each other's company had turned into a heated make out session, and the heavy petting had turned into sex. While it wasn't the reason we'd ventured to this location, the release was welcomed.

"I love you," Edward whispered into my hair. I smiled and buried my head into his chest.

"Love you, too," I mumbled.

He slid his hands down to my ass, grabbing the flesh and cupping it. I pressed myself into him firmly as a show of affection. Edward rolled us over so we were on our sides and scooted down so we were facing each other.

I brushed my hand across his cheek, enjoying the roughness of his stubble. His eyes closed, and he tilted his head to the side. I loved moments like this, lying naked in each other's arms without a care in the world. He turned his head and captured my mouth in a kiss, easing his tongue past my lips. There was no rush, no urgency, only love and devotion. I ended it with a few pecks and looked into his eyes. How I ever got lucky enough to love and be loved by Edward I'd never know, but I wasn't going to question it.

"So..." Edward started. "Have you decided where you're going yet?"

"No, but I need to soon," I said.

College had been a touchy subject with Edward the last few months. Ever since Carlisle had started in on the importance of choosing a good undergraduate medical program, Edward had refused to discuss the topic. He had never wanted to follow in Carlisle's footsteps, but the elder Cullen ignored that fact. Instead, he all but pushed Edward to apply to his alma mater, Yale, and a few other Ivy League schools. Edward indulged him at first, by taking the applications only to throw them away later, applying to only the schools he wanted. However, when Carlisle discovered, by accident, what his son was doing, he flew into a rage. It was pretty bad, from what I was told, and Edward ended up sneaking into my room that night. I never understood Carlisle's obsession with Edward becoming a doctor. My dad, and even my scatterbrained mother, just wanted me to be happy and choose a major I saw myself enjoying.

"Oh," Edward said. He left his statement hanging in the air. I'd known for a while that he'd decided to not go to college and was trying to find a job instead. Edward encouraged me to make a decision and go experience life. I was holding out on choosing a school because I hoped he would change his mind and pick one of the schools that had accepted both of us.

"Edward, why don't you just look at some of the schools...?" I started to say. Edward shook his head with a scowl, cutting off my inquiry. He untangled himself from me and reached behind him to grab his gray boxers. I watched him sit up and put them on. He brought his knees up to his chest, folding himself over and hugged his legs. I rose up and shuffled over the pile of discarded clothes on the other side of the blanket. Edward's shirt was on top of the pile, so I grabbed it and put it on. The fabric was warm from the sun's rays beating down on it. Crawling behind Edward, I got up on my knees and pressed my chest against his back. My head lay on his shoulder, and I reached up and ran my fingers through his silky auburn hair. The tension began to dissipate, and he leaned into me.

"You should just forget about me, decide on a school, and find some rich college boy that will love you like you deserve," Edward advised. I stilled, upset by his words. What was he trying to say, that he didn't want me anymore?

"Why would you say something like that?" I whispered.

"Because it's true," he said.

I stood up and began to quickly search for my clothes. Tears streamed down my cheeks while I started to put them on. Large hands grabbed my wrists from behind, stopping me. My eyes closed when I felt the heat of his hands. His touch burned me and me feel great pain.

"So, what...you just brought me here to fuck me one last time before you dumped me?" I asked. Edward pulled me into him, crossing his arms over my chest and burying his face in my hair. He held me tight, and I wanted to cry. I didn't, though, because I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of my tears. He didn't need to know how bad he'd broken me.

"No, that's not why we came here. I just..." he paused. He turned me around and looked into my eyes.

"Fuck," he muttered.

"When you go off to college, you're going to find someone better, and eventually, you'll leave me," he confessed. I started to argue, but he placed his finger on my lips. It was a silent plea to let him finish.

"I just wanted to have you one last time, before you realize what a worthless loser I am."

"I'm not going," I said.

"Bella..." Edward warned.

"No," I said. I held my hand up, cutting him off. "This is bullshit. One moment we're having sex and you're telling me you love me, and then the next you say that I need to go to school so I can find someone else? No, I don't want anyone else. I'm not going."

He blew out a heavy breath and stared at me. I squared my shoulders, prepared to fight him on this. Like always, Edward was making decisions about my life based on his skewed sense of right and wrong. This was not a war he was going to win.

He grabbed a hold of his hair and pulled hard. "Damn it, Bella. Can't you see I'm trying to do what's best here? I'm not cut out for college."

I glared at him, daring him to continue. "I don't care. I love you, and I'm not going anywhere. I'd rather wait a year...or whatever if it will give you some peace of mind. Maybe..." I paused. "You'll find something you're interested in and we can go together."

I pleaded with my eyes for him to understand. What I really wanted was for him to go, too. He didn't want to be a doctor; I was fine with that. However, the possibilities were endless, and Edward could find something else that interested him. He was silent, and his hands were still buried in his hair. I reached for his hands and massaged them, hoping to coax him into relaxing his grip. He lowered his head and placed his forehead on mine while his hands dropped to his side.

"Bella, please," Edward pleaded with me. "Let me, for once, do the right thing."

"But it's not. Don't you see? I need you," I begged.

He closed his eyes and swept me up in his arms, crushing me to his body. My face was buried in the crook of his neck. I began placing kisses there, and he squeezed tighter.

"Baby, please, I want you to have everything, and if you stay, I'll hold you back. I don't know if I can let you go if you don't do it now," Edward whispered into my hair.

I held him closer, trying to show him without words my love for him. He lowered me to the ground and placed his hands on my hips. My hands slid from his hair, down the sides of his face, and rested on his forearms.

"Then don't. Don't let me go," I urged.

Edward crashed his lips against mine, meeting me in a hungry kiss. His tongue invaded my mouth, dominating me. I was raised off of the ground, and we moved. Seconds later, he lowered me onto the quilt, my mouth still attached to his. He broke the kiss and pulled his shirt off of me. His hands kneaded the skin on my torso while I fastened my mouth to the side of his neck. I sucked hard, wanting him to know he belonged to me.

"Oh God, Bella," Edward grunted.

His hands left me, and then I watched as he slid his boxers down his pelvis and legs. When they were off, he laid his body on top of mine, taking my face between his hands. I opened up for him, and he lined his pelvis up with mine.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a soft voice. "I'm never going to be able to watch you walk out of my life after this, so I need to know if this is what you want."

My heart melted and my stomach clenched with his words.

"Yes, Edward. I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I promised.

I gasped as he entered me without warning. Foreplay wasn't necessary; we were both ready and needed to claim each other. He began to thrust roughly, holding onto my hips and digging into the flesh. I threw my head back, and he began placing open-mouthed kisses on my neck and under my ear. They made me shiver with pleasure, and with each press of his lips, I could feel the intensity of his possessive claim to me.

"You...are...my...girl," he groaned. Each word was punctuated with a rough, powerful thrust. I reached up and gripped the sides of his hair, pulling his mouth to mine. His tongue pushed its way in, and he dominated with his hot mouth. Surrendering to his demand, I relaxed and took all that he gave me. Placing my legs around his calves. I held tight to him as he pounded me into the earth. His cock hit that delicious sweet spot inside of me, causing me to try and match his pace.

"Ohhhhhhh, Edward," I cried.

He pulled back and looked down at me, stopping completely. I started to complain, but he rose up on his knees and flipped me over onto my stomach. His large hands returned to my hips and yanked my ass into the air. I felt his teeth sink into my lower cheeks and I let out a yelp. Christ, his bite made my spine tingle and my outer lips quiver. He chuckled and then pushed inside me slowly with a moan.

"Oh, fuck me. God, you feel so good like this!" Edward called out.

He began his brutal advance again and a smacking sound echoed though the open space. My head rested on my crossed forearms, and I could feel every inch of him inside me. My entire being began to detach from my body, and I knew I was about to come. Suddenly, he pulled me up by my hair, making my back arch. I tried to support myself with my arms, but they felt like rubber.

"Edward, I—I," I pleaded.

Edward must have read my mind, because he reached underneath me and pulled me into his lap, never breaking his movements. My hands grabbed the back of his head, holding on to his auburn hair, and my head lolled back on his shoulder. I felt one hand latch onto my breast while the other dipped down and began circling my clit. Incoherent babble fell from my lips, unable to express the feelings racing through me. Edward was my everything, and I knew my happiness, love, safety, and well-being was wrapped up in him. His demanding hands, possessive thrusts, and rough kisses told me that I was crucial to his survival and that he finally understood we could never be separated without killing the other.

It was too much, and I began to feel my release. My mouth opened in a silent scream, and my pussy convulsed, milking him for all he was worth.

"That's it, baby," Edward crooned in my ear. "See how I make you feel. Only I do this. Ungh."

He began to impale me on his cock harder, and I moved my pelvis up and down as I rode out my orgasm.

"You're mine. Say it," he demanded.

"I'm yours, always yours!" I screamed. The last of my release fluttered through me, making me slump forward. Edward wrapped his arm around my torso and held me to his chest as he erratically and mercilessly pounded into me. I pulled the hair on the back of his head and turned my head, biting his jaw.

"I'm coming! Bella!" he exclaimed. I began riding him as he lost his rhythm to the ecstasy overtaking him, and I could feel stream after stream coat my insides. He stilled and laughed manically with his head resting on the back of mine. We were both panting, trying to come back to reality.

He hugged me to him and tapped the side of my hip, which was a silent plea to move off of him. I slid off his legs, turned around, and then collapsed onto my back on the quilt. Looking up at the blue sky, I let my thoughts drift to the man that was now lying beside me. If I had to, I would spend the rest of my life proving my love for him.

"I love you—so much," I said, turning my head in his direction.

He picked up my hand and ran my knuckles over his lips. "Love you too. You're my forever, and not even death can make me stop loving you. You are mine, and I'll never let you go."

~.~.~.~

I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking it slightly. It startled me, and I screamed.

"Bella," Sue said. "It's me, Sue. We're here, honey."

The memories cleared from my head, and I stopped my screeching, suddenly realizing I was curled up in a ball on the front seat. I didn't remember folding in on myself, but it didn't matter at the moment. Sue stared at me, waiting. I stretched out my arms and legs, causing popping and cracking sounds to echo through the vehicle, and it felt good to move.

I reached for the door handle and opened it, unbuckling myself at the same time. As I got out of the car and slammed the door shut, I could see the emergency room entrance. Edward was somewhere inside—my feet moved with purpose toward those doors, needing to find him. My eyes zeroed in on the admitting nurse behind the counter. I flew to the desk and slammed my hands on the counter, panting and trying to catch my breath.

"Excuse me, could you tell me if Edward Cullen has arrived?" I asked.

"And you are?" the woman inquired.

"Um, I'm his girlfriend, but..." I started to say. The elderly lady smiled at me.

"Follow me," she said, pointing to the large double doors.

I wrapped my arms around myself and walked behind her. The smell of alcohol, cleaner, and sickness hit me in the face. It was all I could do to stay standing as I walked through the hall. There were curtains lined up on each side, separating the space into little sections. The thin barrier couldn't hide the discomfort and pain of those housed in the makeshift rooms. The moans and groans of the occupants made me think of Edward, and I quickened my pace, anxious to see him.

She stopped in front a curtain that was at the end, pulling it back slightly.

"Here we are, dear. Now, he's heavily sedated and is hooked up to all kinds of machines. We're waiting for his parents to arrive so we can get consent forms signed and the surgeons can get started. Do you need anything while I'm here?" she asked, concern laced in her tone.

I shook my head no and thanked her. She nodded, walking back down the corridor. The difference between this staff and the ones at the hospital in Forks was like night and day. Already, I felt more at ease, confident that Edward would be taken care of at this hospital.

Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and then opened the curtain just enough to walk in. As I started to pull it back, I noticed Sue standing next to it. Feeling guilty I that hadn't notice her before, I motioned for her to follow me. When we were both inside, I closed the curtain behind me and saw Edward on the right side of the room.

The first thing I noticed was how different he looked compared to how he was when he was rushed out of Forks. The blue gown had been replaced with a white one—no trace of the blood spilled earlier could be found. He was wrapped tightly in white blankets, and his arms were lying straight by his side. There was a tube sticking out of his mouth, presumably the one he received at the other hospital, and it was attached to a machine that seemed to be breathing for him. On top of the machine, a clear cylinder housed an accordion like apparatus that moved up and down, making a whoosh sound with each pass while his chest moved in time with the device. A set of gray wires was attached to a heart monitor, counting each beat while keeping track of his blood pressure. An IV was attached to his arm, and a saline bag was hooked to it by a thin tube.

I walked closer to him and could see that black circles were forming under his eyes. He looked pale, paler than usual, and his cheeks were slightly sunken. The hair on his head was dull, likely from not washing it for two days, and his lips were chapped and cracked. If I didn't know better, I'd guess he was dead with his corpse-like look. He wasn't dead, but, he was close.

"Where the fuck is everyone?" I mused, turning toward Sue.

She wiped her eyes and stared at me. I was instantly jealous of her, wishing I could cry again, but I couldn't—I was all dried up—either from the crying I'd already done or the numbness I felt. Instead, I leaned over Edward and kissed him on the forehead, which was the only thing I could reach that wasn't covered by something.

"I don't know. I thought they would have gotten here before us," Sue replied. I acknowledged her words with a grimace and then my attention went back to the man lying on the gurney.

"I'm here, baby," I whispered. "Sue and I got here as fast as we could. Your family should be here soon. I left the same time your mom did. She went to get your dad and probably stopped to call everyone."

There was no movement or recognition of my words, only the beep of the monitor and the whoosh of the ventilator. I refused to let his unresponsiveness bother me and chose to believe that, somewhere inside, he could hear me. It was the only comfort I could hold on to in that moment.

Sue came up beside me, placing her head on my shoulder and her arm around my waist. I was really glad she talked me into letting her come, because if I'd been there by myself, I'd have been crumpled into a ball on the floor. Her silent support meant more to me than she would ever know.