Thank you to Project Team Beta & my amazing beta's for this chapter: Jennrosee, Twilightmom505

With a deep breath, I lifted my eyes to the window. The sun was beginning to set, casting vibrant orange and pink hues over the disintegrating storm clouds.

Warm and soft, a touch as light as a feather grazed my granite cheek. With a start, I whipped my head to the side.

Beautiful, chocolate-brown eyes stared deeply into mine while her lips held the tiniest hint of a smile.

~ Chapter 14: Awake ~

I just stared at her face – without moving, without breathing. For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. She kept her hand pressed to my cheek, and I vaguely registered the slight tremble of her fingers. It wasn't until she blinked, and her smile grew wider, that I snapped out of my trance.

My body slumped forward, my head resting against her stomach as all the air rushed out of my lungs. If I had the ability, I would have broken down and sobbed with relief. I felt her fingers tangle in my hair, scratching back and forth against my scalp as she tried to comfort me.

From down the hall, I heard Alice gasp as a flood of visions invaded her mind. Bella's future – and mine –flashed before her eyes. Although many of the visions she saw were the same as before this ordeal began, some were clearer, sharper, as my decision to bind Bella and I together – forever – became cemented in my mind.

"Edward."

Bella's voice was coarse, but it was still the most beautiful sound, apart from the steady heartbeat that now echoed in my ears.

"Edward, look at me."

I lifted my head as I sat up. Her hands slipped from my hair to cradle my face as her eyes flitted from left to right, searching mine. Whatever she saw in them made her frown.

"Don't – don't cry," she pleaded. She knew I was incapable of such an act, but it was probably the best way to describe the emotions she saw on my face.

I took a deep, ragged breath. "I was so afraid."

She smiled sadly. "It's over."

I placed my hand on her cheek, and she leaned into my touch. Her eyes fluttered closed for only a second before she opened them again. They were vibrant and expressive. Once again, she felt warm to my touch and a hint of color had already returned to her cheeks.

She was alive.

"I thought – I thought I had lost you. I thought –" I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, unable to speak the words.

"Shh. It's okay. It's over."

"I can't be without you, Bella. You're everything to me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wish I could have let you go, but I can't. I just can't."

"Edward –"

"I don't want you to give up anything for me… because of what I am. I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to go through that."

She clutched my face more tightly in her hands. "Edward, it's all right. I'm fine."

It was that word – fine – her standard response whenever I fretted over her wellbeing. She knew how much I hated it when she tried to placate me with that word, and now she was doing it on purpose – to ground me.

I chuckled, nervously, and shook my head. "You're fine," I repeated, my tone sarcastic.

She smiled. "Yes, Edward. I'm fine."

How could she be so calm and rational about this? How was she even conscious? By all accounts she should be dead. She should have died days ago. For the past two days her heart was barely pumping enough to keep her alive. She shouldn't be awake. She shouldn't be talking to me. She shouldn't be staring at me with such concern lacing her features.

"I don't – I don't understand," I mumbled, my cluttered thoughts making it impossible for me to form an articulate sentence.

Bella glanced to her right, toward where the intruder stood in the corner, and then back to me again. "I'll try to explain what I can… later."

She moved as if she was going to get up, but I put my hand on her shoulder to still her. "Bella, what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to sit up. I'm sore from lying like this for so long."

I removed my hand, but it quickly became apparent that she didn't have the strength to push herself up on her own. I jumped to my feet and helped her, carefully arranging the pillows to support her back.

Bella turned her focus to the intruder in the corner, and I followed her line of sight. The stranger stepped forward, approaching the bed slowly, and held her hand out to Bella. Bella showed no fear or hesitation toward this creature that was responsible for the torture she'd endured over the last week, but it still took every ounce of restraint I possessed to allow them to join hands.

"Thank you," Bella said. The sincere gratitude in her voice surprised me.

The stranger didn't answer. She simply held Bella's hand and stared at her.

Bella nodded her head, answering some unspoken question. "I know." She looked at me, staring into my eyes with an expression of pure adoration on her face. "I will," she promised.

She turned her focus back to the stranger and giggled. "Yes, I will," she said again.

I couldn't take my eyes from her joyful face. They released hands, and Bella turned back to me. When I glanced over my shoulder, we were alone. The stranger was gone.

"What was that about?" I asked, my smile instinctively mimicking hers.

"Well, I'll never be able to say it as eloquently as she did, but basically Rebekah is sorry for burning your hand, but that you deserved it."

"Rebekah?"

"That was her name when she was… human, I guess. They don't really refer to each other by name, but she gave me hers to – to make it easier for me. Hey," she blurted out, her voice suddenly taking on an excited pitch. "Is that what it's like for you? Like, all the time?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, confused by her chaotic line of questions. "What do you mean?"

"Mind reading. Hearing voices in your head. It's so confusing. How do you keep it all straight?"

I chuckled. "Decades of practice."

Edward.

Carlisle's mental voice was insistent. Bella had only been awake a few minutes, and he was anxious to examine her. I wasn't prepared to share her just yet – I had so many questions – but I knew it was important for Carlisle to make sure she was okay.

"Speaking of, I think my family is going to break down the door if we don't invite them in. Do you feel up to some company?

Alice flung the door open before Bella even finished nodding. My sister flew across my bedroom and into her friend's arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Are you hurt? I can't believe this happened. I mean, I never saw. But how could I? I never imagined. Are you okay?" Alice was speaking so fast that I wasn't sure if Bella understood half of what she was saying.

"Alice, I'm fine. They didn't hurt you did they?"

"No, not really. I was unconscious for two days. That was weird, but I'm fine. We're all fine. You're going to be fine." Alice threw her arms around Bella's neck as she rambled, causing her to wince.

"Alice," Jasper gripped her shoulders and gently pulled her away. "Don't smother the poor girl." He gave Bella a wink and a smile.

"How are you feeling?" Carlisle asked as soon as he was able to step around Alice. He sat down on the bed and wrapped his fingers around her wrist, checking her pulse. It was strong and steady, just like the monitor on the nightstand indicated.

"I'm fine," Bella said with a smirk. I could see the incredulous stare Carlisle gave her in return. "I'm sore," she amended, "and a little tired, I think."

"That's to be expected."

Bella chuckled. "But I've been asleep for almost a week."

"It may have seemed that way, but your body was not getting the rest it needed… quite the opposite actually."

Bella rubbed her chest, hesitantly touching the outline of the electrodes attached to her skin. "Can I – can I take these off?"

He nodded. "I'd like you to keep the IV in place for a bit longer."

Her heart rate is excellent, Edward, but I want her to see a cardiologist this week… just to be sure there is no residual damage. I'll set everything up.

Esme stepped forward and placed her hand on Bella's head, stroking her hair. "Why don't you gentleman give us some privacy. I'm sure Bella would like to get that adhesive off her skin as soon as possible."

Carlisle clamped off the IV to stop the flow and unhooked the section of tube closet to Bella's hand. This would give Bella a few moments untethered from the machine. As soon as he was finished, he and Jasper disappeared from the room.

I, however, stared at my mother in disbelief. If she thought that I was going to let Bella out of my sight for one second – after everything we'd been through – she was certifiably insane.

"Edward," Esme scolded, noticing my procrastination.

"No, it's okay," Bella said, giving me a look of sympathy. She understood me better than I gave her credit for. "He can stay. Just… turn around."

I smiled at her in gratitude and did as instructed, sitting down on the far end of the bed. I closed my mind off to Alice and Esme as well, giving Bella as much privacy as I could. Alice dashed from the room and returned a second later carrying a clean set of Bella's sleep clothes.

"Where did you get these?"

"I went to your house a few times. Made it look like you spent a couple of nights at home," Alice explained.

"What did you tell my dad?" Bella's voice was alarmed. "How did you explain why I wasn't with you?"

I felt the mattress shift as Alice sat down. "I went when he wasn't at home. At first, he thought we just extended our sleepover. Then, during the week, I was texting him from your phone, pretending to be you. He's been busy at work, and for the last three days he's been in Mason County helping with an investigation. He's coming home tomorrow afternoon."

There was movement and the rustling of fabric behind me. "Here, sweetheart, let me help you," my mother said.

"So, just to get my story straight, he thinks I've been hanging out with you guys for the last week?"

"More or less, though we need to get you home tomorrow before he comes back to town. He's feeling guilty about leaving you alone so much."

"How is she supposed to face Charlie without raising suspicion?" I asked. "She's so weak she can hardly sit up on her own."

"She'll be stronger by tomorrow afternoon. Feed him some story that I've got us trying a new workout routine. You know, getting our butts in shape for the new school year, and that's why you're so sore and tired. Blame it on me. He won't question it."

Bella hissed as an electrode was pulled from her skin. Reflexively, I started to turn around, but she stopped me. "No, I'm okay." She didn't make a sound as the second electrode was removed, which I'm sure was for my benefit. "Well that's lovely," she grumbled.

"It's just the adhesive. I'm sure the redness will go away in a few hours. Now, arms up."

Bella tried to stifle a groan as she moved, but she wasn't completely successful. I tried not to let my apprehension show this time.

"Do you want these?" Alice asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

"No thanks. I'd rather not attempt that right now."

Alice stepped back from the bed and into my line of sight, a pair of sweatpants cradled in her arms and a look of distress on her face.

I think she's hurting more than she's letting on, Edward.

I kept my voice low so that only Alice could hear. "You think she's putting on a brave face for me?"

Alice nodded. I can't read her mind any more than you can, but she's clearly worried about how you're handling all this.

I huffed and shook my head. After everything she's been through, she was worrying about me.

"Just because I can't read minds and I don't have vampire hearing yet, doesn't mean I can't see what you two are doing," Bella scolded. "I've been around long enough to know when I'm being talked about."

"I'm sorry, Bella," Esme said. "I thought I'd raised them better than that. Is there anything else you need before I send Carlisle in to reconnect your IV?"

"I can do that," I offered hastily.

"Just let me know if you need anything." I could hear my mother brush her hand over Bella's head. "It's so good to have you back."

Arm in arm, Esme and Alice left the room. Finally, we were alone again.

"May I turn around now?"

"Yes."

Bella was wearing a new t-shirt, and the black wires that once snaked across the mattress were coiled around the two, blue electrode pads on the nightstand. The electrocardiogram monitor was turned off; its blank screen reflecting a distorted image of my room. I stood up and walked to the IV, lifting the disconnected tubing and holding my hand out for Bella's.

She wrinkled her nose. "Do I have to?" she whined.

"Yes, just for a little while longer."

Reluctantly, she offered me her hand, and I reconnected the hose.

"Do you want something for the pain or something to help you sleep? Carlisle wouldn't give you anything before because he didn't understand what that drug in your system was doing to you."

Bella shook her head. "No, not right now. I just woke up. I don't want to go back to sleep."

"Bella, you need to rest."

"I know, and I will, just not right now."

She tugged my hand, pulling me to sit down beside her. I was troubled by the anxious expression evident on her face. She lowered her eyes to stare at her hands as she twisted the blankets in her lap nervously. "I want to talk to you about something."

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