Hi all! It's Melissa again, posting for Lara. She's traveling home today, and next week everything should be back to as normal as is possible. I just wanted to let you know that she appreciates all of your reviews and well wishes.

-HoS-

By the end of the third day after she was found, Edward still hadn't gone home. He wasn't willing to miss out on sitting with Maggie because there was no way to know when she might wake up. Esme continued to insist he leave for at least a little while, but he refused each time. It wasn't just that he couldn't stand the thought of her waking up alone; it was more that he wanted to be the first face she saw when she opened her eyes. There was a constant rotation of visitors to ensure he was never alone. According to Carlisle, the general public continued to shower his parents' front porch with gifts. Ben had made the rounds to Edward's house to pick up what was left there, and even the shop had a shrine set up out front. Edward thought the memorials were too much like a funeral, and since not being forced to have one was one thing he could be grateful for, he didn't appreciate the similarities. The flowers would die, the food go to waste, the stuffed animals would be donated. The cards and letters he might keep to give to Maggie one day, just so she would know how loved she was by the people in her city.

Carlisle sat with him for most of day three. He had given much of what was left on his stoop to Emmett and Rose so they didn't have to cook as well as babysit Edward. He brought something for Edward every day to encourage him to eat; usually, it was the donuts. "Edward, when did you sleep last?"

"I've been awake since four."

Carlisle sighed. "And when did you fall asleep?"

"Midnight."

There had been nobody there that late. Other than the nurse coming in to check on Maggie, it was dark and quiet in the room. It should have been the perfect atmosphere for him to sleep. Instead, images of a faceless man grabbing Maggie from the shop plagued his mind. There were no leads at that time, but he'd heard they had the make and model of the tire tracks. Unfortunately, it was a common brand and didn't help at the moment.

"When did you eat?"

It was Edward's turn to sigh. "This morning when the nurse brought me breakfast."

"Well, the backpack I brought you has food, clothes, and toiletries." Edward had been using the ensuite bathroom to shower, but only when a family member was there to watch over Maggie.

As Edward sat next to his father, he realized that he needed to express his gratitude. "Um, Dad, thanks. I know I've been a pain in the ass lately, but I do appreciate what you've done for me."

Carlisle rested his hand on Edward's shoulder. "Of course. You're going through a difficult time; nobody expects you to be any more or less than what you are."

Any more or less. There was nothing left inside him, no feelings, no emotions. He'd emptied himself of all of it, knowing that if he didn't, he would turn into a raging monster hell-bent on revenge. He had to bide his time, and he'd made peace with that. Maggie would always come first, but until she woke up, there was nothing. It was hard to remember to be polite, or to be grateful. He was just numb.

Emmett came and Carlisle left. It would almost be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. They were all watching him closely to ensure he didn't crack in a permanent way.

"Anything?" he asked Edward.

He didn't take his eyes off her. "No, nothing."

At least Emmett didn't sigh like it seemed everyone else did.

They sat in silence for a long time until Edward remembered he should ask about Rose. "How's your wife?"

"Worried, but good. Her blood pressure has stayed down since Maggie was found. She's been bored, I think. She's used to having something going on all day, and sitting in the house watching soaps isn't her thing."

Edward hummed. He knew about boredom. "Is the nursery ready?"

"Yep. She's washed and folded everything, rearranged the closet five times, and stocked the drawers of the changing table."

"Any customer complaints?"

Emmett shook his head before realizing that Edward wasn't focused on him, anyway. "No. They understand the situation. I finished the table for the Wescotts since it just needed another coat of lacquer. Ben delivered it yesterday."

"We have to have someone to fill in for Rose. You know, eventually." Assuming he ever had a reason to go back to work and make a living the way he used to, he would need a receptionist while Rose was on leave.

"She had some ideas about that, but I told her she should run them by you first."

Edward snorted. "Why? She can make that decision herself. I trust her."

"She was worried she'd pick someone you didn't like." Emmett sat back, crossing an ankle over the opposite knee. "She's considered Bella, Katrina, and Makenna."

Edward drummed his fingers on his knees. "Bella has a job. Katrina is, what, in high school or barely out? Makenna might be a good pick. I thought she worked at the Thriftway."

"She does, but apparently it's 'the worst.' Rose likes Bella, that's why she considered her."

"She's a dispatcher. I don't see her giving that up to be an interim receptionist for eight weeks."

"Probably not. According to Angela, Bella is friends with Jasper and his wife, Maggie's teacher."

Edward recalled seeing Alice at the search, where she informed him she was Mrs. Whitlock. "I like Alice. Too bad she has a job."

They both fell silent, watching the bed and praying for signs that Maggie would wake up. It was an awful kind of vigil, at least for her father. He used to have a full, rich life that centered around his daughter, his family, and his job. He had hobbies like reading the occasional spy thriller, watching sports on TV, and running. Now he had nothing more than staring at a hospital bed.

Ben came in the room, pulling the remaining chair over to Edward's other side and clapping him on the shoulder before he sat down. "Anything?"

"Nope."

"I heard Rose is looking for someone to fill in for her."

Edward squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "I'm liking Makenna for it. Katrina is too immature for me to put up with her for long. Whoever it is will stay on and be an assistant to Rose when she comes back."

"That sounds like a plan." Ben paused, looking at Edward's face for signs that he was overstepping. "I picked up another round of gifts from your house. I brought the stuffed animals here and gave them to the nurse at the desk."

"That's fine."

There was silence again.

"Do you need anything?" Ben asked after a few minutes.

"Dad just brought me clothes and soap and stuff, but thanks."

"I'll get some lunch for us, how does that sound?" He stood, hovering over Edward's seated form.

Edward looked up at him. "That would be great."

Emmett waited until Ben left the room. "I think he's going stir crazy without any work to keep him occupied."

"He can work. Too bad he never learned the carpentry aspect of the job, but he can go in and work."

"Maybe you should tell him that," Emmett suggested.

Edward shrugged. "When he comes back, I will."

The brothers didn't mind not talking constantly, unlike most everyone else that visited. They sat in companionable silence and looked at Maggie. Edward watched her chest rise and fall, the only visible sign that she was alive. He tended to watch the readout on her vitals monitor as well, but mostly he watched her breathe. She looked very young in her sleep to him, her face round and her muscles slack. He could remember everything about her birth and the way she'd filled his life ever since. He couldn't believe how much he missed her. As he watched her, her eyelids fluttered.

"Edward—"

"I saw."

He was on his feet before Emmett even got his name out. He leaned over her, stroking her forehead and speaking softly to her. Emmett got up and pressed the button to call the nurse before joining Edward at Maggie's side.

"Come on, Maggie. It's time to wake up. Daddy wants to see those pretty blue eyes."

Her eyelids fluttered again and she coughed.

Emmett picked up her hand. "Maggie, Uncle Em is here, too. We really want you to wake up."

A nurse walked in and looked at the three of them. "Did you need something?"

"She's waking up," Edward said without taking his gaze from Maggie. There were tears on his face that he left unchecked.

"It's possible that she's in REM sleep." Despite her statement, she checked all of Maggie's vitals and lightly shook her foot.

Maggie moaned a little and coughed again. She shifted her head on the pillow and blinked her eyes open. She stared up at Edward, but he got the impression she wasn't truly cognizant.

"Maggie," he said, exhaustion and exhilaration evident in his voice.

She blinked and smiled, then closed her eyes again. Edward's knees went weak and he started to sink to the floor, but Emmett gripped his elbow and guided him to his chair. If he'd been intently focused on her face before, it was nothing compared to now. Ben came in to find Edward crying and Emmett standing by Maggie's head.

"What's going on?"

Emmett looked up at him. "She opened her eyes, but only for a few seconds."

"Oh, wow." He set the food down on the rolling table and went to Edward's side. "What happens now?"

The nurse spoke up. "Nothing, really. She isn't fully awake, but I will make note of this and inform her physician."

Emmett murmured a thanks as she left. "I'm hungry, how about you, Edward?"

The sound he made was noncommittal.

"Come on, I got you a burger. You're losing weight, dude," Ben said. He handed one of the bags of food to Edward.

Edward broke his intense stare at his daughter long enough to thank Ben and take the food. He did as he was expected to do and ate. His mouth felt perpetually dry, and most of the food he consumed tasted like cardboard. But when Ben handed him a milkshake, he realized that he really wanted it.

"I think you just found the one thing I really want," he told him.

Ben grinned at him. "If you need to live off strawberry milkshakes, I'll bring one every day."

Edward smiled back at him. "Thanks for being here."

"Don't go getting emotional on me." Still, he sat back, satisfied that he'd helped Edward.

Edward's eyes closed as he sucked on the straw. "It's just that my mouth is always dry lately, and everything I eat sticks in my throat. This is perfect."

Emmett chuckled. "I feel like there's a that's what she said somewhere in there."

"Daddy?"

The three of them stopped talking and looked over at Maggie. Emmett wisely took the milkshake from Edward before he dropped it.

"Oh, baby girl." He stood so he could lean over and kiss her cheek. "How do you feel?" He picked up the hand closest to him and squeezed it lightly.

"Sleepy." Her voice was weak and scratchy.

"I bet. You can sleep. We'll be here when you wake up."

She nodded and closed her eyes again, her hand going limp in his.

He sank back in his chair, still holding her hand. "Call Mom and Dad."

"On it," Emmett said.

"Holy crap, Edward. She's going to be okay, isn't she?"

He couldn't know for sure, but there was a feeling taking root in his gut. At first he wasn't sure what it was, but soon he figured it out.

It was hope.