One Month

"He pissed his pants." Garrett laughed.

"You can't have known that," Bella said, running her hand through Carlisle's hair.

It had been a month now. They were still feeding Carlisle blood and his wounds were healing, but he hadn't woken up.

"Bella," Garrett said, "pee smells, just like blood does… well, not just like, pee is horrid, blood is mouthwatering."

"Speaking of blood," Bella said, "I want to thank you."

"For what?" Garrett's eyes went to Carlisle. He was sleeping peacefully, like an angel.

"For not taking my blood anymore when we kiss. Why did you stop?"

"I don't know." Garrett averted his gaze.

"Oh, come on," Bella said, "you've been doing so well with communication lately."

"I…" Garrett stood up and went to the window, "kissing you became more enjoyable," he said, "so it only made sense to kiss you more than waste time tasting you. Plus, it felt forced. You don't want me drinking your blood, I know that, and until you're willing, what's the point?"

Bella admired his honesty.

"It's not that I don't want you drinking my blood," Bella said, "it's just confusing. It's what you eat and if I can provide that then that's good, but it's still weird. Carlisle told me once that it was my blood and I didn't have to give it to you, but I also know it motivates you. I'm…" Bella blushed, "I'm glad you enjoy kissing me though because I like it too. We've shared seventeen kisses," Bella said, her face heating up further, "way more than Carlisle and me."

"It would be more if you let me kiss you when I pick you up too," Garrett said.

"Wouldn't that stop you from making the boys piss their pants?" Bella asked.

"Newton deserved that," Garrett said, "he wouldn't stop looking at you and then he did that lewd gesture in front of his friends. He's lucky I didn't kill him."

"You've been doing better with that too," Bella said, "not wanting to kill everyone."

Garrett scoffed and went back to his armchair in the corner. "That's not true," he said, "I still want to kill everyone, I just stopped mentioning it because I know you don't like it."

Bella smiled. "Some would say that's even better. You're putting my needs first. Did you ever do that with Carlisle?"

"Yes. I learned quickly that he didn't care about my kills as much as I did. It hurt not to tell him all the details, I liked to boast, but it was a change I needed to make."

"When do you think he'll wake up?" Bella asked.

"It's only been a month," Garrett told her.

"You're not worried then?"

"No."

Two Months

"You know you love me," Garrett said, blood dripping down his chin.

"No, I don't." Bella laughed. "Who did you slaughter this time?"

Garrett cocked an eyebrow, wondering if Bella really wanted to know.

Bella held Carlisle's mouth open as Garrett transferred the fresh blood into Carlisle body. When it was done, and Garrett had wiped Carlisle's mouth, Bella was still waiting for an answer.

"It was some middle-aged man," Garrett said, unsure of exactly what Bella wanted.

"And how did you do it?"

"Are you only asking because I said Carlisle wouldn't listen?" Garrett asked. "It's been a long while, Bella, I don't need to boast anymore."

"I'm just interested," Bella said, "about how it all works. I assume one day I'll be a vampire too. I could never imagine leaving you and Carlisle to live without me. When I'm changed, I will have a choice to make, human blood or animal blood."

Garrett couldn't fault her reasoning.

"Well, it depends on how I feel, but more recently, I'll find an easy target. Someone who is older and alone. I will sneak up on them, and more recently, break their neck before I drain them. Then I cover up my kill before returning here."

"And before?" Bella asked, unsure how to feel.

"I would make it more of a game, stalk my victims, toy with them, amp up their fear, let them think they could escape and then I drained them slowly before killing them."

"Why the change?" Bella asked, already knowing it had to do with Carlisle.

"Lyle needs blood and I need to be with Lyle, there's not enough time to do it right."

"Once he's back to normal will you hunt the other way again?"

"I haven't put much thought into it," Garrett answered honestly. "Maybe. It depends on how and if he wakes up."

"What do you mean by that?" Bella asked, concern running through her.

Garrett had slipped up. "I meant, it depends when he wakes up."

"That's not what you said. Garrett, what aren't you telling me?"

"I already told you this. Human minds are so forgetful."

"Garrett, spit it out."

"Hey, now," Garrett said, "my main goal is to keep you safe and this piece of information won't do that."

"What. Aren't. You. Telling. Me?"

Garrett laughed, she was a feisty kitten.

"This isn't funny." Bella stood up and launched herself at Garrett.

He caught her easily, cushioning her impact against him and then he settled her in his lap. Bella struggled, but Garrett's embrace was tight. He wanted her in his arms, so he wasn't letting her go.

"Are you going to tell me?" Bella asked, finally relaxing against Garrett's chest.

Garrett had told Bella the hard truth a while ago, but she had clearly forgotten. He didn't want to tell her that Carlisle might not wake up at all, or that he might not be the one they both fell in love with. It was better for her to hold onto hope, but he had slipped up and he couldn't see any way out.

"He might not wake up," Garrett whispered, holding her tighter.

Bella gasped. "Wha-what does that mean?" she asked. Eyes going to Carlisle. "What can we do to help him?"

"Nothing," Garrett said, "we're keeping him alive. It's up to him to heal and for him to want to come back to us."

"…But he was suicidal," Bella realized.

Garrett buried his nose in Bella's hair. She knew, all of it.

"What if he doesn't want to come back?" she asked. "I don't want to live without him, Garrett."

"Me either," he said.

Three Months

"Do you think we need to dust him?" Charlie asked. "Or vacuum around him? It's been three months. Can we shift him yet?"

"Dad," Bella groaned, "did you disturb me for a reason?"

"Nope, just checking on you. Where's Garrett?"

"I think he went to get some more blood, but I don't know. I think he's giving up hope. It's been three months and still no change. We don't even know if he's in there. I mean, can he hear us right now? Is he fighting to get back to us? Or is he just gone? Is this when we're supposed to shut off the life support?"

"What is Garrett saying about all of this?" Charlie asked.

"Nothing. He told me a month ago that Carlisle mightn't wake up, but then nothing. He's scared, dad, I can tell. Each day that passes, it gets worse."

Garrett being scared was major, Charlie knew that.

"Can't we do something?" Charlie asked. "Say Carlisle can hear us, have you tried asking him to come back? Or done something to snap him out of it?"

"I've been talking to him," Bella said, "and he knows we want him back. …What do you mean by snapping him out of it?"

"Give him a reason to come back," Charlie said, "something he can't refuse."

"Like what?"

Charlie had an idea, but it was stupid and dangerous and not happening.

"Forget I mentioned it," Charlie said, unable to voice it.

"Maybe we just need to give him more time," Bella said. "It's only been three months. I wish we had more of an idea how long this took."

"Can Garrett go ask someone who might know?"

"Maybe, but he doesn't like to leave Carlisle alone as it is. What about us forcing Carlisle to come back like you just mentioned?"

"It's dangerous, Bella, we need to wait."

"For how much longer? Just tell me, I'm sure if it's dangerous, I won't risk it. Please, dad, I need something."

"Let's go for a walk," Charlie suggested.

"And leave him alone?" Bella asked. "He is never alone."

"We won't go far," Charlie promised, "he'll be fine."

Bella reluctantly got up after kissing Carlisle and telling him that she loved him.

"So, what's this idea?" Bella asked, when they were walking down by the forest behind the house.

"Carlisle loves you, right?" Charlie asked. "He killed those four guys to protect you. What if… What if we killed you in front of him? Wait, I didn't mean that, I meant harmed you. Done something to risk your safety. If he's in there, he'd wake up to protect you, surely. If he went against his morals to kill for you then he'd come back to protect you."

"You're right," Bella said, "that is dangerous. What if it doesn't snap him out of it? Will it be because he's not in there or because he's not ready yet? What happens if he doesn't wake up, will I die? Do we wait for Garrett? What if Carlisle wakes, will he drain me in the confusion?"

"I know, I know," Charlie said, "it's stupid. I just hate seeing you and Garrett stuck by his side. I know this is insane and you've only just turned seventeen, but I can see the love you have for both of them. I don't want you sitting idly by, I want you to explore this with them, I want you to live. Is this making me the worst father of the year?" Charlie asked. "I didn't have you in my life for years, Bella, and I'm not letting you go over all of this, over true love."

"I don't think it makes you a bad father," Bella said, "it shows you care, and you know Garrett and Carlisle, you know they're good. Carlisle is a vampire who heals humans and Garrett, well, you've worked with him for years. If you trust them to be with me, then that's all that matters. It's not like I'm jumping into anything physically. Garrett said once that Carlisle might come back different, what if he doesn't remember me? There are so many what if's right now. I just wish he'd wake up."

"So, we're not going to risk killing you to save him?" Charlie deadpanned.

"No, dad."

"We could try your blood," Charlie said. "We can control how much he gets. Maybe that would work?"

"Garrett doesn't seem to think it will. Maybe we just wait, but I'm sick of waiting."

"Me too, baby girl." Charlie wrapped his arm around his daughter and led her back to the house.

He was alone, finally alone for the first time since he had tried to kill himself. It was time to finish the job. He opened his eyes, ready to rid the world of himself.