Chapter 21

I was grateful when Carlisle told me that he was going to bring up Edward. I felt like I was about to break into pieces after everything that was happening and having Edward by my side felt like it would make the pain in my heart a little bit less. I felt guilty for the fact that I was laying here mostly unscathed while my father was fighting for his life a couple floors below me. I felt guilty because I let Phil harm my baby and now there was a possibility that my little munchkin was going to have to leave the confines of my womb and fight for his or her life.

"Just hang in there little one; hang on for as long as you can." I rubbed my belly tenderly. My moment was broken when I heard a shuffle of footsteps outside my door. There was a light knock before the door opened revealing one very worried looking Edward and a calm looking Carlisle. As soon as Edward's eyes landed on me he rushed over to the bed and embraced me in a tight yet gentle hug.

"Hey sweetie." He breathed into my hair. I sighed as he relinquished his grip on me to pull up a chair and sit down next to me. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." I sighed. It wasn't a complete lie. I did feel fine for the most part, just not emotionally.

"You know Bella, you are a horrible liar." He chuckled as he continued to rub slow circles on the back of my hand. "What's on your mind?"

"How's my dad?" I asked him hoping to change the subject.

"He's got a rough road ahead. Emmett is down with him right now." He gave me his 'we're not done with this conversation' look as he answered my question. "Please tell me what you're thinking."

"I'm just worried about my dad is all." I gave him a halfhearted smile and thankfully he allowed the subject to drop for now.

"The hospital has arranged for a psychiatrist to come and speak with you after you've gotten some rest."

"I don't need a shrink Edward. I'm fine."

"You promised your dad before this happened that you would talk to someone. Plus, I think it would be good for you. My family and I can offer all the support we can but we don't know how to deal with the emotional matters as well."

"I know. I just…I'm not crazy so I don't see why I need to talk to a shrink."

"Psychiatrists are not just for crazy people. She can help you figure out all of the thoughts going through that pretty little head of yours. Please just try it at least once. If not for me than for your father, you promised him." I nodded my head in reluctance. "Thank you." We continued to sit in silence. There was no need for us to speak, the silence was enough for both of us.

A little while later, Carlisle knocked on the door and came in. Edward had apparently fallen asleep somewhere during that time because his body did not stir when Carlisle entered. I continued running my fingers through his messy locks of hair as Carlisle moved closer to the bed.

"He's had a long couple of days. I'm glad he's finally getting some rest though. There was no reasoning with him while everything was happening."

"Was he really that worried?" I looked down at the sleeping form of Edward.

"He was beside himself with worry. He thought he was never going to see you again and the thought of that happening terrified him to no end."

"I'm sorry I've caused all of you so much pain."

"Don't be sorry, none of this was your fault. We're all just infinitely glad that you and the baby are safe."

"Carlisle, do you think that my dad is going to make it?"

"He's a fighter Bella. He always has been and I think that he will be no different in this situation." I smiled at him and said a silent prayer for Charlie. "Do you want to see him?"

"Can I?"

"Yeah for a few minutes. It will do you some good to move around."

"I don't want to leave Edward though, he might get worried." I looked down and took in the even breathing of my boyfriend.

"How about I run my rounds and then I'll come back and check on you and see how you're feeling. If you feel okay and everything looks good with the baby, we can go and see your dad."

"That sounds good." I yawned and stretched my limbs and settled down into my bed. Edward stirred slightly and arose from his bent over position next to me.

"How long have I been asleep?" He rubbed his eyes and stretched before cracking his neck.

"Not long enough." I pulled the blanket down a bit and motioned for him to join me in the bed. "I think you might sleep better if you join me."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't hurt me. I'm fine." I scooted over taking care of the wires that were coming off of my body. Edward hesitantly climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arm around the back of my neck pulling me gently to his warm body. I felt my eyes getting droopy as I snuggled into his side.

"I love you Bella."

"I love you too Edward." I sighed as I felt myself drift off into dreamland.

I don't know how long I had slept for but when I awoke and looked out the window it was dark. I snuggled closer into Edward's chest…as close as I could with the enormous baby bump in between us. Edward was still peacefully asleep. He had a small smile tugging as his beautiful lips and I wondered what he was dreaming about. Was he dreaming about me? I had dreamt about him like I usually do. I dreamt of our life together; of growing old together and sitting on the front porch of our house as we drank iced tea. I had painted the perfect picture of the rest of our life together in my head but it was then I realized that there was something missing. A major factor in the whole future I had imagined was missing.

Did Edward feel the same as I felt about him?

I know he promised me that he would be here for my munchkin and me forever but even then he was so young. He was committing himself to something without realizing the consequences of his decision. A baby changes everything. I wasn't even sure what had possessed me to keep this baby myself. We were both so young and we are just starting out our lives. I don't want Edward to feel like he's obligated to support my baby and me.

I loved Edward. I do love him. I only hope that he feels the same towards me that I feel for him. Carlisle coming into my room startled me from my thoughts about my future. He picked up the chart from the end of my bed and scanned over a few pages.

"Did you have a good rest?"

"Yeah I guess I needed it more than I thought." I looked over to Edward who was still deeply asleep.

"It looks like Edward is going to be asleep for a while." Carlisle chuckled as he jotted down a few notes on my chart.

"No…no I'm awake." Edward's deep voice joined our conversation.

"Son, you need to sleep. You haven't slept much in the last few days and your body needs to recuperate."

"I'm okay."

"Edward, you need to sleep. I'm just going to go down and visit my dad for a while. I want to make sure he's okay."

"I'll take you down. I've slept for like 10 hours already."

"I'll bring a wheelchair in. There'll be no arguing with him so we might as well comply." Carlisle gave us one last smile before he quickly exited the room. Edward slid off the bed and adjusted his now wrinkled clothing. We both turned towards the door where there was another knock.

"Hey Edward…I figured you could use a change of clothes and I figured Bella would want something other than the flimsy hospital gown so I brought some sweats and some of your t-shirts." Alice was standing in the doorway holding a duffel bag with Jasper close behind her. She walked further into the room with Jasper following close behind and handed Edward the duffel bag. "Go shower lover boy…you're starting to smell." Edward took the bag from her and headed into the adjacent bathroom to shower.

"How are you feeling Bella?" Alice's usual perky behavior was slowly beginning to shine through more. Jasper took a seat in the chair Edward had once preoccupied and Alice promptly placed herself on his lap. "We've been so worried about you. I went and saw Charlie earlier and well…he doesn't look too good. I mean I don't know anything about medicine so don't listen to what I'm saying but with all the tubes and wires coming out of him…it just doesn't look good to me." Alice's face turned somber as she relayed this tiny bit of information to me. Before I could say anything Carlisle came back into the room pushing a wheel chair.

"Are you ready to go Bella?" Carlisle moved towards the bed and began unhooking the fetal heart monitors that had been strapped to my belly. Both Alice and Carlisle helped me to sit up and before Carlisle moved me to the wheelchair Alice interrupted him.

"Wait, let her change into some sweats. I bet she's not enjoying this stupid old gown." Alice dug through the abandoned bag Edward had left on the chair by the bathroom and pulled out a grey pair of sweats and a button up shirt with a tank top. "Edward! Hurry up so Bella can change." She banged on the door and stomped her foot like a little 5 year old. "By the way Bella, just because I'm condoning sweats and a these unfashionable clothes right now doesn't mean that once you are out of this place you have my permission to stay in these God-awful things"

"Alice, leave Bella alone…she can wear what she wants and she doesn't need to have you influencing her. She looks beautiful in everything." Edward came and walked me over to the bathroom to a waiting Alice.

"Oh shut up Edward." Alice waved him out and began to help me change into the clothes that she brought with her. I felt so much better once I had gotten out of the flimsy gown.

"Thanks for bringing me clothes. I really was uncomfortable in that." Alice helped me to walk out into the room and sit down in the wheelchair.

"Are you ready to go love?" Edward came up behind me and placed a blanket in my lap. I looked up at him curiously. "Just in case you get cold."

"Don't keep her down there too long Edward. I don't want her straining herself too much." Carlisle informed Edward. He nodded and began to slowly push me down the hall towards the elevator.

"We'll be here waiting for when you get back Bella." Alice and Jasper stayed back in the room while Carlisle made his way up to the surgical floor.

"Let's go see your father love." Edward wheeled me into the elevator and pushed the third floor button. We rolled out onto the ICU ward and he pushed me down the hall to the last room on the right. I saw Emmett's burly form embracing Rosalie with tears running down his face and I braced myself for what I was about to see. "I'm here for you love. I know this is going to be scary but it'll be okay." Edward knocked and opened the door and pushed me in placing me next to the bed. I gasped as I looked at the battered form of my father. His face had swollen a bit from the punch Phil had landed on his face and he was connected to all sorts of wires and tubes. I stood from my chair carefully much to the dismay of Edward and sat on the edge of the bed next to my father.

"Daddy…" I whimpered out. He looked so helpless. He looked nothing like the man I had known as my father. I grasped his hand in mine and squeezed it gently as the tears began to roll down my eyes. "Daddy, please wake up." I felt like a little kid as I sobbed by my father's bedside.

"Bella…it'll be alright. Dad's going to be fine, okay?" Emmett came up and wrapped me in a hug. I cried into his shoulder as he rubbed my back soothingly.

"Where's Rose?"

"I sent her home. She hadn't left since we got here and she needed to sleep. There's no use in both of us suffering."

"Em, you should go home too and get some rest. You look like death warmed over." I placed my hand on his cheek as more tears continued to pour down my own.

"I can't leave you and dad here by yourselves. You're all I've got." He hugged me tighter to his muscular form.

"How are you doing Bells? How's my little niece or nephew?" I grimaced as I thought about the recent pain I had been feeling.

"Munchkin is certainly doing a number on me right now. He or she just won't stop kicking." I placed my hand on my back and tried to relieve some of the pressure I was feeling.

"Are you alright Bella?" Edward stepped in voicing his concern.

"Yeah…I think…I'm okay." I regained my composure and sat up a little straighter trying to ignore the pain munchkin was wreaking on my abdomen. We sat in silence for a moment before the monitors in the room starting going haywire. Emmett and I jumped from the bed as a frantic Carlisle came rushing into the room with a trail of nurses following him.

"He's in vfib! Give me the paddles." Edward and Emmett pulled me to the back of the room and had me sit down in the wheelchair. I watched as Carlisle shocked my dad's body.

"Charge to 300…clear!" He shocked my dad again. "Push one of atrophine." Carlisle waited as the nurse pumped the drugs into Charlie's system. "Charge to 360…clear!"

"I've got a pulse Dr. Cullen."

"Edward…" I clutched at my abdomen as shooting pains began to replace the immense pressure. Edward was so entranced in the events that had just unfolded with Charlie that he didn't hear my quiet murmur of his name. "Edward!" I screamed as another ripping pain overtook me.

"Bella? Bella, what's wrong?" He knelt down next to me as I breathed in deeply. "Carlisle…something's wrong with Bella!" He screamed.

"Bella…dear, what's going on? What hurts?"

"My stomach…something's wrong with the baby I think."

"Page Dr. Sheppard and have her meet us in labor and delivery."

"Delivery? But dad…she's not even 7 months yet."

"I know son, but with all of the stress that Bella has been through I'm surprised that she's held on this long. We're going to do everything we can. Dr. Sheppard is one of the best neonatal doctors in the world. Let's get her up there." Carlisle began barking orders at the different nurses and residents that had filled the room. "You and Emmett can tag along for now but if this is going where I think it's going you are both going to need to stay in the waiting room." With that Carlisle and a team of doctors wheeled me out of Charlie's room and back up to Labor and Delivery.

"Edward! Please don't leave me!" I gasped out. "I can't do this alone."

"I'll stay with you as long as I can. I promise."

A/N: Hey guys, so I realize I haven't updated this story in like two weeks and I send my sincerest apologies to all of you. After I posted those three updates in a row I really just needed to take a break from writing for a while and then I get swamped with school and work. But finally I managed to get an update posted and I hope that you all enjoy it. Sorry it isn't super long or anything but I will try to get another update posted sometime tonight or tomorrow and hopefully I won't have to take as long a hiatus as I did the first time.

Thanks to all the readers and I hope that you all stick with me to the end. I love you guys!

~Jess