CHAPTER 10

"Carlisle, I am glad you are so eager on this but—"

"Eager? Marcus, Bella isn't a fun project that I'd be eager about. I want to give her life. I need your support on this."

"Look, Carlisle." Marcus pointed at the gray black X-ray clipped to a light board. "She has multiple atrial septal defects."

He jabbed his pen harshly at four different points on the X-ray, making Carlisle wince.

"Three of them are too small to be called dangerous. We need to block the one in the middle of the right atrium. I need to do the catheter surgery again. Please, Mark."

"The murmurs are overpowering the heartbeats. She needs a surgery in which there is a need to close at least two cavities at one time."

"That won't be an issue. Esme talked to Aro. They have some funds that they can spare. We can do that complicated a surgery too."

"Carlisle, it is not that easy! She is severely anemic right now. I'm afraid we'll lose her on the table if we risk it now."

"I almost killed her the last time, Marcus. I—"

"This not again, Carlisle. The device shifted from its course not because you did something wrong."

"I promised her that once that surgery happened, she'd be fine. But she's not."

Marcus sighed and flopped down on his seat. He closed Bella's case-file and leaned back in his chair.

"Her body is still weak, Carlisle."

"I know. We need to wait for another two months."

"And you need to ask her if she wants it."

"Of course she wants it, Mark! Why wouldn't she want it?"

"You know why, Carlisle. You are the one who faced her wrath after she gained consciousness."

Carlisle groaned and raked his hand through his hair in frustration. Bella had yelled at him when she woke up after the failed surgery. Edward had calmed her down. His train of thought lingered on Edward and Bella. He knew they had been sleeping together. And, having sex. He didn't care as long as they were cautious. And they were cautious. Edward had told Carlisle one day. When he'd found him in his dorm room, all alone but naked. Barely covered by the sheets. He was alone, but Carlisle could guess.

He told him the truth. He couldn't lie. And Carlisle hadn't said anything to him about that. The lack of reaction or response from Carlisle had shocked Edward.

And it had shocked Carlisle.

"Carlisle, if you want I'll talk to her about the surgery."

Carlisle jumped on his seat startled with a pleasant surprise.

"You will? Oh thank God. Thank you, Mark. Thanks so much!"

Marcus rolled his eyes and asked him to relax. He told Carlisle he would talk to Bella the same evening.

.

.

"If I take an exam on the functions and structures of the heart and circulatory system in Homo fucking Sapiens, I'll pass with flying fucking colors."

Bella's eyes flashed with anger. She was sitting in a chair facing Marcus. Minutes ago, he had finished showing her a few X-rays and some other reports.

Marcus was cursing himself for volunteering to talk to this girl. She was scary. And crazy.

"Bella, you needn't use that kind of language. You need to show some amount of respect."

"Okay, fine. I'll show you respect if you give me one good reason why I would agree to get this surgery done. Last time, you guys were treasure hunting inside my chest for a stupid lost device."

"It was an accident. It happens often."

"No it doesn't happen often, Doc. Shit like this usually happens to me. So, thanks for the offer but no thanks."

She didn't want to listen to what Dr. Marcus was saying to her as she pushed the chair and turned to stomp out of the room.

"There is a hundred per cent chance of your survival!" he hollered like an eager bidder who was determined not to give up.

Bella turned and glared at him. Marcus rolled his eyes at her and raised his brow in question.

"You're giving me the truth?"

"Okay," he sighed. "Ninety five percent chance of your survival."

"What is that five per cent equal to?"

"Oh there are some things it equals. Unfortunate circumstances like the earthquakes, cyclones, alien attacks, terrorist attacks, and sometimes even the closure device diverts from its path, you know." He shrugged nonchalantly.

Bella tried hard not to, but she cracked a smile at him.

"What would you go for—five or ninety five?" He wriggled his eyebrows.

"Ninety five." She didn't even think before responding.

She grinned at him, and he smiled back.

Someone beautiful had shown her how hope feels.

And it felt damn good to her as she tasted a cautious pinch of it.

But addiction to it can make things painful.

-E3B-

"That was…" Edward shook his head.

"Yeah," Bell murmured.

"Weird…"

"Worse than weird."

"How many days has it been?"

"Er… four months? Five, at most. Not that I remember."

"I do. It was a perfect day." Edward was smiling wistfully.

"Yeah, Mr. Cheese Fest. You do." Bella snorted.

"Mr. Cheese Fest?"

"Yep. You went all gooey eyed as you—"

"Why wouldn't I remember the day I got pussy for the first time?"

Bella blinked. At least four times in a second.

Did he just say what I heard?

"See? I can forgo the cheesy when I want."

"Yeah, you can."

Bella sighed and shook her head. She was trying hard to ignore her blush. Edward chuckled and kissed her rose pink cheeks.

"Don't you think it's too soon?" she blurted to change the topic.

"What, the baby?"

"Yep, the baby."

"Nope, it isn't too soon. At least they don't think so."

"If I were in her place, I would have waited for three years."

"Three years?"

"Yeah. A three year long honeymoon period before all the diapers and bullshit."

"Not a bad idea."

"Yeah, but Esme and Carlisle looked thrilled."

"Yep."

He paused and looked at her as she rested her head against his shoulder. He brushed a few wayward strands of hair from her forehead, and her eyes closed. He hesitated for a minute or two before speaking.

"Marcus and Carlisle will save you, Bella. Then you can have your three-year-long honeymoon period before babies and all."

Her eyes opened slowly as his words lingered on her.

"It is not that simple, Edward."

She turned to face him and straddled his lap. Her fingers tangled in his unruly hair.

"Why isn't it simple?"

Why did he have to see her walking backwards again and again? Away from accepting him and life?

"Because, my atrium walls are made of very loose muscles. Even if they close a couple of gaps, there is a less chance of new tissue growing over it and sealing it completely."

"But you had accepted to go through the surgery again?"

"Yes, I am going through it again. And that's because Esme told me that they have found donors for you." She smiled brightly.

"Donors?" His brow furrowed.

"Yes and that's why I am going to let them cut me up again."

Edward winced.

"Sorry." she mumbled before kissing his lips softly.

She sighed again as she looked at his face.

"Just now you said, 'you can have your three year long honeymoon period before babies and all'. Why Edward? Why would I want a honeymoon without you?"

His eyes watched her lips move as she said that.

"Thank you, Bella."

"For?"

"For accepting me and life."

"I accepted you the day you told me you loved me. As for life, I am trying my best, Edward. I am trying my best."

I'm waiting for life to accept me.

The wind blew and their tree rustled. A few wet leaves fell on their heads… a few drops of water glittered on their brow…

Keep on trying, Bella. Keep on trying.

-E3B-

A/N:

Thank you Lizzie. :-)

Hang on. For a little while longer people…

And Ms Rose Masen Cullen needs to know that she's a f*cking angel.

Thanks for reading.