XOXO

When he woke up the bed was empty, but Edward could hear the shower running. He groaned and stretched before heading into the kitchen to make coffee. They'd stayed up late talking, planning, just being. Edward told Leah more about his dream and, to his pleasant surprise, she didn't freak out. In fact, they talked openly about their future. Both of them sharing their hopes and dreams in the dark.

Like he had told Leah the night before, Edward hadn't known he would be able to feel this happy again. His life had been turned upside down after his father's death, completely changed. Slowly, he was beginning to feel like himself again.

Edward yawned as the coffee brewed and reached for the mugs. The front door opened as he did and Edward remembered that he was only his boxers.

"Um…" he met Rose's eyes, but she only smirked at him.

"Well. Good job, Leah," Rose said. Edward felt his cheeks redden as she walked through the kitchen, poured herself a cup of coffee, and made her way to her room. She was giving him one last glance when Leah stepped into the hallway.

Rose opened her mouth for a smart remark, but froze when she saw the look on her friend's face. Leah was dressed in jeans and a tee shirt, her hair dripping on her shoulder. Her face was drained of color and her phone was clutched in her hand.

"Leah?" Edward rushed to her and put his hand on the side of her face, bringing her gaze to his. "What's wrong?"

Leah glanced between them and her lower lip trembled. "My mom," she whispered, then cleared her throat. "They took my mom to the hospital. It- it doesn't look good."

"Oh, sweetie," Rose said softly and she pulled Leah into a hug. Her eyes met Edward's over Leah's head, his expression grim. Edward slipped away to quickly pull on his clothes. When he returned, they were sitting on the couch together. He brought Leah a cup of coffee and sat on her other side. She leaned into him and he kissed the top of her head.

"What can we do?" Edward asked.

"I need to go," Leah answered, her eyes on his.

He watched her for a long moment, before he spoke. "I'll go with you."

"Yeah. Okay." She rested her head on his shoulder and reached out to squeeze Rose's hand. "Thank you."

After a moment, Leah got up and headed to her room. Rose went to get her tablet and she and Edward found a pair of flights. Edward tried to argue when Rose paid for them, but she wouldn't hear any of it. So, instead of arguing, he thanked her and went to check on Leah.

He found her sitting on her bed, wrapped in her comforter. She smiled when he entered the room and unwrapped herself. Edward returned her smile and sat on the edge of the bed. He took her hand and kissed it gently.

"You sure you want to do this?"

"For you?" He asked with a smile. "Yeah. Anything."

xXx

The weather in Washington was not something Edward was used to. Leah teased him when he shivered any time they were outdoors. He didn't mind, though. It was nice to see her smile. It had barely been a day since she'd received the phone call about her mother, but Leah seemed to be handling everything with grace. Edward wasn't an expert on grief. Hell, he didn't really even know what worked for himself. He and Leah were still getting to know each other and he didn't want to upset her more than she was already.

"My dad said we can meet him at the hospital. Is that okay?" Leah glanced at her phone while Edward drove their rental car. No one came to meet them at the airport, but they didn't mind. They knew Leah's family didn't want to leave her mother.

"Anything you need, sweetheart." He squeezed her hand. "Just tell me where to go."

Leah navigated them through the little town until they reached the hospital. Edward went to drop her off at the front door, but Leah gripped his arm tightly. She didn't have to say anything, he just knew to park and go in with her. They held hands as they walked through the parking lot and Leah balked as they neared the door. Edward could feel her hand trembling in his.

"Hey," he whispered as he took her face in his hands. "I love you."

"I'm so scared," she whispered back. Edward nodded and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"I know. And I'm so sorry." He kissed her hair and rested his chin on the top of her head.

She let him hold her for a moment longer before taking a deep breath and pulling away. She took his hand again and they made their way into the small hospital. People greeted Lead as she walked in. They offered her smiles and touched her shoulder or hand. At the front desk she gave the nurse her mother's name and they were pointed down a long hallway. Leah stopped when they reached the room and turned to Edward with tears in her eyes.

"You can wait out here, if that's okay?"

"Yeah. Of course." Edward nodded and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm here if you need me."

With that, Leah disappeared into the room. A moment later, a young man with Leah's eyes stepped out. Edward stood from where he'd been sitting in an uncomfortable chair across the hallway.

"Seth?" Edward asked.

Seth met his eyes and held out his hand. "You must be Edward. Thanks for bringing her home."

Edward gave him a small smile. "I know how it important it is. And I'm sorry."

"It won't be much longer," Seth said quietly. "It's like she's been waiting for Leah to come home."

Seth sat in the chair that Edward had left occupied. He put his head in his hands and Edward felt the overwhelming need to comfort him. He gently placed his hand on Seth's shoulder and squeezed. A moment later Leah came out of the room followed by her father. They made quiet introductions, Leah's father clasping Edward's hand between both of his.

"Come on. Let's go have some disgusting coffee in the cafeteria. We have a lot to discuss," Harry said with a sad smile.

Leah slipped her hand into Edward's as they made their way back through the hallway. She gripped his hand tightly but smiled at him, her eyes watery.

"How…?" Edward's question trailed off, but Leah knew what he was asking. She shook her head.

"She was happy to see me," Leah said softly. Edward smiled and wrapped her arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and kissing her head.

"Who wouldn't be?" he murmured against her temple.

In the cafeteria they shared stories over bitter coffee and Edward felt that all too familiar twinge of sadness in his gut. He knew that the stories would change to plans, as they had with his father. And they did. He gripped Leah's hand as the family talked about arrangements. As Harry made a list of things that needed to be done. As the family cried together. He felt like he was invading something so very private, but he knew that Leah needed him. And he knew that he needed to be there for her.