Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
You guys are actually amzing! 2,455 Hits from just last night! Thank you everyone! Thanks to all you who put this on alert/in their favourites. But a massive thanks to Amy Cahill, IssyBell91, dominiqueanne, klcivinski, tbonemom0512, justm, mom2my3kids, Twilight-ObsessedDiva, lynnnnnn., makki, elliemay101287, jerseyhalliwell, girlfrakes, darkwildrose, p, OnyxTwilight, MyCrazyTwistedMind, Night Orchid, Akaalias, mommytwilight, raven1212, Wicked Wordsmith, Ahkasha, Lizzie, gabzCoatz, queenyus, winternow, sober alcoholic, ConfusionPixie, midgeakaliv, Tunz N Cruzn, vampgirl138, kayla paige, betty, bull96, livvi84, frankfart101, Lori Duchess, Troyis, cademan24 and twilightlover1710. It's because of you guys I have managed to get over 200 reviews and continue to write this so thank you!
So there is good news and bad news. The good news is the fact that I like this chapter and hope you guys do too (Kinda rubbish good news isn't it?!)
The bad news is that my school term starts up again tomorrow, I've been on holiday all week. Me being me, I've left all my homework to the last minute and I get about three essays a night, so unfortunately, I doubt my updates will be daily as they have been so far. I'll try to uodate as often as I can though, aiming for at least twice a week. I'M SORRY!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Forever Bound
Chapter Eleven – Comatose
"In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; just believe that the one who holds the storms will bring the sun."
Bella ran out of the house and into the pouring rain. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she was gasping for breath before she had even begun to run. How could Edward say such dreadful things? She had been nothing but faithful to the monster that was her husband. He had been the one embracing another woman at the party being held in their honour!
Bella began to run into the garden, trying to get as far away from the house as she could. Her bare feet trod on the sodden ground, getting cut on stray rocks and receiving scratches from twigs lying on the floor. Bella did not feel a thing. All she was focused on was getting away.
She was barely fifty feet away from the house when fate decided to make her life even worse; she tripped over a tree root. Falling to the floor, Bella did not have the strength to get up.
Curling up into a ball, Bella began to sob, struggling for breath, choking on all the water that fell on to her face. "A woman I could NEVER love. Nothing other than a common whore! A woman I could NEVER love. Nothing other than a common whore! A woman I could NEVER love. Nothing other than a common whore!" The cold words her husband had yelled went round and round in Bella's head.
She did know how long she lay there. The rain was pounding down on her, her dress soaked, she was cold to the bone and her hands were turning blue. Yet Bella still did not move.
"It would be better to die than to have to face him once again," was Bella's last thought before it all went black.
-o-
Her eyes were heavy. Her head was pounding. Bella tried to open her eyes; she couldn't. Panicking, Bella tried once more as she tried to inhale air into her lungs. It was only then she realised that she was not breathing.
What was that strange thumping on her chest? It felt like a rock was hitting her.
"Come on Bella," she heard a whisper coming from above her as the rock hit her chest once more, "Come on. Breathe." She tried to respond, to do what was being requested of her, but she just could not seem to fill her lungs with air. "Come on Bella! Breathe!" The rock pounded on her chest harder than it had before, causing her to splutter, a cascade of water came out of her mouth as she began to choke and cough.
"That's it," she heard the voice soothe her, rubbing her back, "Get it all out."
Before she could stop herself, Bella was abruptly violently sick over the bed cover. Tears began to form in her eyes, she tried to apologise for making a mess of the sheets, but her voice wasn't working. As if the voice knew what she was about to do, it began to comfort her. "It's alright. Do it again if you must. The sheets are not important."
Bella just shook her head a little, trying to gather her bearings but it only made them worse. Before she could understand what was happening, she slumped back onto the pillows; unconscious once more.
-o-
Bella felt something warm covering her hand. Her world was dark and it took her a few moments to realise it was due to the fact her eyes were closed. After a phenomenal amount of effort, Bella was able to open her eyes.
Slowly turning her head, which caused the dizziness she was feeling to increase, Bella tried to seek out the source of the heat. She was tremendously surprised at what she saw. Edward was sitting at the side of her bed in a comfortable looking chair. His head was placed on the covers next to her leg which could not have been good for his neck; his eyes glued shut. He was fast asleep, his breathing slow and steady. What had surprised Bella the most was the fact that Edward had intertwined their fingers together.
Before she could think any more about it, Bella lost the struggle with her brain and her eyes fluttered shut once more.
-o-
As she opened her eyes once more, she heard someone yell her name, extremely close to her ear. She flinched away from the nose and heard a mumbled apology. As Bella moved her eyes to try and find out who was in the room with her, Jacob's face appeared in front of her face.
"You're awake!" he quietly yelled. Bella could only nodded as Jake throw his arms around her neck, causing her head to throb once more.
"Ow," she whispered hoarsely. Apparently her voice had not returned to her yet.
"I'm so sorry Bells," Jacob apologised, instantly moving away from her.
"What happened?" Bella asked, her throat protesting at its usage, but Bella had to know what was going on, "Why does my head and chest hurt so much?"
"Don't you remember?" Jake asked, sounding a little worried. Bella shook her head.
"Well, erm, three days ago, we went into the garden but then I had to leave you and you went back into the house and overhear some things the idiot you call your husband said and you ran out into the rain and it took us hours to find you." Jacob rushed through the explanation without pausing for breath. Bella tried to remember.
All the memories hit her at once. Edward's harsh, untrue words; running into the rain; falling; crying; blackness. Bella felt bile rise from her stomach and quickly said, "Bucket now." Jacob looked confused, but as soon as he looked at her face, he ran across the room, tipped over the bin the corner and sprinted back to her; placing in under her chin just in time.
After Bella had finished, she began to sob. Jacob took the bin out of her hands and sat down on the bed next to her, pulling her into his chest to allow her to cry.
"Shh, it will be okay Bells. Soon, everything will be okay." Bella hiccupped and nodded, trying to believe the words her best friend told her. He had never lied before and she had no reason to believe he would start now.
Once the tears had stopped, Jake laid her back down and pulled the covers up to her chin. "I'm going to get you something to eat okay sweetheart? You just rest until I bring it up."Jake left the room. Bella never got to see what food Jacob brought for her, as unconsciousness claimed her once more.
-o-
"She was sick?" Bella heard Edward's voice ask. It was coming from somewhere close by.
"That is what I just said, yes," Jake answered back, sounding quite annoyed.
"Why was she sick?"
"I do not know! You're the doctor here; you have to find out what is wrong with her!" Jacob yelled. Bella groaned at the noise.
"Bella, shhh, it is okay." Edward's face appeared in front of hers as he tried to soothe her. The memories came back once more and Bella's eyes glazed over as she let them swallow her.
"What is wrong with her? Why did her eyes go glassy like that?" Jacob asked sounding worried.
"I do not know. Hand me a candle please," Bella heard Edward reply, but his voice sounded further and further away with every word he spoke. She did not hear if Jacob said anything in response.
-o-
Bella knew she was awake. She knew that her eyes were open and that fate was not being kind enough to let her lose herself in the bliss of dreams. She knew it, yet she could not feel it.
Bella stared up at the ceiling, her eyes looking but not seeing. She was not aware of anyone in the room with her, if anyone was talking to her or if anyone was even worried about her.
She would randomly catch snippets of conversations, but she could not place who said them or what relevance they had.
"...she has no fever, no flu ..."
"...Bella, please wake up..."
"...it is almost as if she were comatose ..."
"...perhaps father will..."
The next thing Bella was aware of was Carlisle entering her chamber. "Good morning Bella." Carlisle began cheerfully, "I hear you have been ill every morning," Had she? She had not noticed, "Edward has asked me to do a quick exam, just to check that you are okay and to try and discover the cause of your illness. Is that acceptable with you?" Bella simply nodded.
Half an hour of poking, prodding and questions later Carlisle finished his exam, thanked Bella for cooperating and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Bella did not know how much later it was when Edward entered the room. Time had no meaning. Suddenly, Bella felt his hand on hers. She did not move.
"Bella, as you are aware, you have not been in good health for the past few weeks." Edward began slowly, "I had been unable to diagnose you myself, so I asked father to examine you, as you will know. He has informed me—that is to say he believes, that, that you are with child." Edward rushed his words out, stumbling over a few of them. Bella did not know how to react, she was not even sure she had heard him correctly.
"Bella? Did you hear what I said?" Edward attempted to talk to her once more. "Bella, you are pregnant. With our child."
Pregnant. Baby. Edward. Affair.
For the first time in a week, Bella opened her mouth and used her voice, which was still raspy due to lack of use. "You can go back to your mistress now. You're job is done." Bella pulled her hand out of Edward's grasp and turned onto her side; facing away from him.
"Bella please. Let us not speak of that right now. I need to know how you are feeling." Edward tried. Bella ignored him. She begged her mind to take her away from this place, into the heavenly release of sleep.
Less than five minutes later, her wish was granted.
-o-
Bella was extremely pregnant, her stomach so swollen she could not see her feet. She caressed her stomach lovingly, feeling her child move beneath her fingertips. She smiled as she felt a kick. "You're excited today aren't you my sweet child."
The baby kicked once more in response, as if to affirm its mother's statement. Bella laughed.
Suddenly Bella was holding a newborn infant in her arms. It had beautiful green eyes and dark tresses on the top of its head. The baby was sucking on their own fist, while tightly grasping Bella's little finger in their other hand. Bella bent down to kiss her child's forehead when it was suddenly taken away.
Bella started to panic, where was her baby? Bella checked beside her but there was no sign of her child. She heard someone clearing their throat. Raising her gaze, Bella's blood turned cold. Standing in front of her was the strawberry blonde woman from the party and in her arms she held Bella's child. Bella tried to move from her spot on the floor but couldn't, it was as if she were glued in place. Suddenly, Edward appeared and placed his arm around the woman, staring down at her while she cooed at Bella's baby.
"Let's go my love," Edward said to the woman.
"Come on sweetheart, Mummy's got a surprise for you at home," the woman nattered to the child in her arms.
"No, that is MY child!" Bella yelled, finally finding her voice as the couple began to walk away, taking her baby with them.
Edward turned back around. "Not anymore Isabella. I'll never love you, only her. She is the child's mother now" and he began to laugh.
Bella woke up screaming, with tears running down her face.
"Bella! Bella! BELLA!" She heard Jake yell. She could not stop crying.
"What is wrong with her?!" Esme cried from somewhere in the room.
"I do not know. She was asleep one minute and like this the next!" Bella suddenly felt a sting in her cheek. Jacob has slapped her. Well that certainly stopped the tears.
"Bella sweetheart, what on earth is causing you such anguish? You cannot distress yourself like this; it is unhealthy for the child that grows within you." Esme scolded her gently. Bella placed her hand on her stomach, ignoring Esme's question.
"Bella, what is wrong?" Jacob asked quietly, stroking her hand in an attempt to calm her.
"I don't want Edward in here," Bella was able to rasp out in between her pants for air.
"Why ever not?" Esme asked.
"I do not want him in here." Bella repeated, "Please? Please do not allow him to enter until I ask you to let him," Bella begged her best friend and mother in law.
Although they looked thoroughly confused, both Esme and Jake nodded in agreement to Bella wishes.
Bella slumped down onto her pillows once more, truly exhausted.
-o-
Bella was lying in bed with Jacob at her bedside the next morning when the door opened, and a woman Bella had never seen before entered; Edward following closely behind her.
Before Bella could protest, Jacob was out of his chair, had grabbed Edward by the front of his shirt and pulled him from the room.
"Hello, Mrs Cullen, I'm Aurora. Lord Cullen requested that I be your midwife and confirm you pregnancy." The lady, Aurora, introduced herself.
"Please call me Bella," was all Bella said.
Aurora nodded and moved closer towards the bed, just as Jacob re-entered the room; slamming the door behind him.
The exam with Aurora was much like the examination Carlisle had given her; too much prodding and poking for her liking. "Well Bella, I can confirm that you are expecting, sometime around June I would say. Bella nodded, allowing the news to finally sink in.
"I will come and check your progress in about four months Bella. Have a nice day," and with that Aurora let herself out of the chamber.
"Can you believe it Bella?" Jacob asked, sounding a little stunned himself, "My baby best friend Bella is having a baby!"
Bella shook her head. No, she could not believe it.
An hour later, Jake had gone into town to post another letter to Leah, leaving Bella on her own as Esme had not come to visit. She decided to use the time alone wisely and sleep.
It felt as if she had barely drifted off when she was being gently shaken awake, her name being called.
Slowly opening her eyes, Bella came face to face with Edward. Before she could tell him to leave, he raced across the room and retrieved a tray that was placed on the desk; brining it over to her.
"Bella, your midwife explained to me that you are malnourished. You need to eat this food," Edward explained gently, seemingly not wanting to cause her any distress. Bella shook her head; she did not want any food. "Bella, please you must." She shook her head once more. "Please Bella," Edward began to beg. "If you do not gain weight and begin to regain your strength, our child will die. I know you are not happy with the news, and that I am to blame. I apologise, sincerely I do! However, I also know that deep down you do not want our child to die. So please Bella, please, eat this food." He pleaded.
Bella thought back to her past two dreams. Although the latter had not been pleasant, Bella remembered the feeling she had as she held her child. The feeling she had as the two children that appeared to be hers rested in her arms. Of course she did not want her baby to die.
Slowly, avoiding looking at her husband, Bella reached out her hand and picked up the raw carrot that was on the tray; just one of the many items to choose from. Edward watched her carefully as she ate it. "Thank you Bella." He smiled at her. Bella nodded her head, although it was almost unnoticeable.
"Now, which part of the gourmet meal do you wish to eat next?" Edward laughed, trying to bring some happiness into the room.
-o-
When Edward had left the room, closing the door behind him, Bella had to admit that he was trying. Although she had not spoken or even looked in her husband's direction, she did appreciate the fact that he was trying to keep her baby safe within her womb.
The food appeared to have worked magic. Although she did not feel the need for it, as soon as she had taken the first bite of the carrot, Bella felt her stomach welcome it. By the time Edward left the room, the tray was completely empty. It had provided her with the strength she had been missing from her limbs for the last two weeks.
Very slowly, easing herself into it, Bella began to push herself off the bed. She had noticed the windows were open and wanted to feel the wind on her face. Edging her was towards the end of the bed, Bella took a deep breath and let go. She did not fall over. As carefully as she could, Bella made her way over to the window sill and sat on it, already tired out. She was like an infant learning to walk.
Suddenly, the door to her chamber burst open and smashed into the opposite wall, almost breaking it off its hinges. Bella screamed in fright.
"What's wrong Squirt? Not happy to see me?" Bella's big brother asked as he walked into the room.
"Emmett!" she shrieked, wanting nothing more to run across the room and fall into his arms.
As if reading her mind, Emmett made his way across the room in three strides, pulled her into his arms and squeezed her within an inch of her life.
As he placed her back onto her feet, her legs gave out and she crumpled to the floor.
"Whoa Squirt. It wasn't that bad! Get up," Emmett said, laughing at Bella. Bella scowled at him and tried to lift her weight off the floor. She couldn't.
Emmett, finally realising she was not playing around, gently picked her up and placed her on her bed once more.
Bella smiled at him in thanks. "What are you doing here Emmett? Has mother allowed you to come?"
"Mother does not know that I am here. She thinks I've gone hunting with Michael Newton, as if I would ever willingly spend time with that buffoon," Emmett shuddered. "But enough about me. How is married life? And why are you so weak? You're usually stronger than Eric, Tyler and Ben put together! Spill little sis," Emmett ordered her, gently shoving her shoulder.
So Bella spilt. She never had any secrets from her big brother.
By the time she had finished her tale, Emmett was fuming. Bella could practically see the steam coming from his ears.
"That little m—" Emmett began to rant, but at the precise moment in time, the chamber door opened and in entered said man.
"So Bella, this is your brother?" Edward questioned.
Emmett rose off Bella's bed and made his way over to Edward, his arm outstretched. "Yes, I am Bella's brother; and your worst nightmare."
Before Edward could react, the hand that was held out to him quickly clenched into a fist and Emmett punched Edward as hard as he could in the stomach.
---
So what did you guys think? Like Edward any more than before? Loving Emmett?
Let me know. And thanks for all the name suggestions, feel free to tell me anymore if you have some.
Oh yeah, me being stupid, I didn't do my maths right, so I changed the date they were married to September and it is now December.
Until next time. :)
PS. Check out Robert Pattinson's Vanity Fair shoot. He looks gorgeous!
