Disclaimer:
To the TGIF Gang. Oh the way you guys have treated us has made us so very happy….minus the ones that secretly want to have sex with Hayden. That's a no, no.
Has it been a long time? Yes. Has it been a really long time? Yes. And we do apologize for that. Examines were had and sicknesses were…thrown up (collective 'ewwww'). But alas, both of our finals are done with and now Winter Break is beginning. But with all beginnings, there must come some ends (idk who said that, but I think it works). So, here we are, near the end of our Friday Night Journey.
To seamonkologist for all of her six points of our story. To SevenTearsIntoTheSea for the amazing quote from Elf and for sacrificing the watching of that movie for this story. And of course, to any of you that threatened mine and Hayden's life if we made anything happen to our darling Libby. It's heartwarming that you guys care so much for her.
WOO! Sorry for the delay, folks. I had exams one week, and the girl had them next. That's why this took so long, but the chapter is about 18 pages without the author's notes, so you should smile, you're on Candid Camera.
I was asked to promote a poll, in my name, that Jagga Love is putting up, so please check that out. It's on her profile page. Also, a special thanks to her and Kathy for beta-ing this. I'm sure that as a team, you two make our chapter flawless, so well done.
So, as of right this minute, the girl won't answer my call. I'm thinking the Loch Ness Monster ate her. I'm really confused…Oh wait, there we go. She's been feeling a bit ill lately, so tell wish her well!
Without making you wait any longer because let's face it, it's already been two and a half weeks, ON WITH IT….
EPOV
I tightened the Velcro band so that the vest rested snugly against me. Despite his greatest efforts, and the efforts of those around him, I was going to enter this crime scene. I was still certified SWAT, and even though the commanding officer was a bit wary, he was glad to have the extra help.
Red and blue lights flashed against the windows of the hotel. It had been evacuated, and I had no doubt that whoever kidnapped my daughter, Liam, Heather, and Brennor was watching. Emmett's large hand settled on my shoulder, as I took a deep breath, "Are you sure you want to do this, Edward?"
Clenching my jaw, I nodded, speaking through my teeth, "Let's go."
The moonlight felt hot, breathing down my neck as I climbed out of the back of the truck. Bella was standing with her arms across her chest, tears flowing down her cheeks. Jacob had his arm resting at her waist. It seemed obvious now that he had never been the one that wanted to hurt Bella, but I hadn't been able to look past my prejudice.
As I neared them, Bella was shaking her head, harshly. Wisps of hair framed her soft face, and tears spilled down her pale cheeks, dripping onto the pavement. I took a step toward her, and she collapsed into my arms. I saw Emmett, who was talking quietly to Rosalie, as Bella gripped the material of my vest, her hands scrambling to hold onto me. Emmett kissed Rosalie softly, and backed away, gesturing for me to follow.
Nodding, I pushed Bella away from my chest, unclenching her hands from the hard material of my vest. Her head moved faster, so I shot my hands out to steady her neck. My lips followed my hands, but instead of moving to her neck, I kissed her forehead softly, murmuring quietly against the soft skin, "Bella, I need to go get our daughter now."
She let out an unsteady breath, inhaling deeply, still shaking her head, "No…no stay with me…please."
Reaching up I stroked her cheek, capturing a tear on my finger, wiping her now rosy cheeks off, "I'll be fine. I love you." I pulled my hands away from her, and turned, not looking back. Her anguished sobs and Jacob's calming words propelled me forward. I had to get our daughter.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Edward?"
"Stop asking me. My answer won't change." My features were stone, as we awaited our instructions. Emmett nodded, and I knew the subject would be dropped. There were 3 other individuals, and their chief. I had no reason to trust them, but I knew I had to.
"Here's what will happen. We've already brought in a negotiator, asking for the kidnappers needs, they keep asking for Ms. Swan." Laurent, their chief, glanced at me, but I remained steady, awaiting his instructions, "We've talked to a male and a female, both having answered the phone once. It's obvious they are amateurs. According to Cullen and McCarthy," he jerked his thumb at us as he said our names, "there are four hostages. Liam Michaels, a fellow SWAT officer, his wife, and their son. And Cullen's daughter." Pictures were handed out; luckily, I'd had a recent photo of Libby that Bella had taken the night of our 'incident,' and one of the Michaels when Brennor was born, in my wallet.
"Cute kid, Cullen."
I kept my voice steady, not wanting to give them any reason to pull off of this mission, "Thanks. The boy is my godson."
James clapped his hand down on my shoulder, "They'll be fine, Cullen. We'll get them out." James looked away from me, and asked the question I'd been waiting for, "How do we get in?"
Laurent cleared his throat, "Victoria arranged a way to clip out the signal light for the penthouse, and the elevator noise. We should be able to get in quickly and quietly. A master key," he held up a plain white card, "was given to us to access the rooms. These will not alert the room's occupants. The power in the building will be shut down once I give the order."
Victoria was the only woman on the team, a fiery red-head, who was nice until it was time to do her job. "People who hurt kids should burn. I can't wait to take them down."
The chief nodded his head, glancing at each of us for a moment. He held his hand up, and we followed.
It was time.
BPOV
I couldn't even feel Jacob's warm arms wrapped tightly around me as I watched Edward enter the hotel lit up by the lights of red and blue reflecting off the brick and glass. I was aware of the dampness on my face, but I could no longer feel the individual streams of tears on my cheeks.
I looked over at Alice, talking hysterically away on her cell phone, telling Jasper about what we knew. We were the closest to the building, inside the barricades, while the reporters, cameramen, and onlookers were on the other side of them, the police not letting them get any closer.
Rose was sitting inside a police car, a red coat draped around her bare shoulders. She had always been one to dress up and look good no matter where she was going and what she was doing. A day lounging around in her hotel room and shopping still required a beautiful, classy dress. I knew exactly how she was feeling as she sat, her heels left on the ground as her feet rested on the edge of the car. A Kleenex or two lay crumbled and used by her hands, lying forgotten in her lap.
There were SWAT members that hadn't been in the first wave into the building, and they talked over radios and bustled around, serious looks set on their faces.
Jacob was pressed so tightly against me, trying to stop the shakes and shivers that raked through my body, that I could feel his cell phone vibrate in his pocket. He kept one hand wrapped around me and kissed my hair line as he dug the small phone from his front pocket and examined the caller ID.
"Who is it?" I didn't look away from the building as I asked the question, my voice not sounding interested even to my own ears.
"Nessie," Jake sighed as the phone continued to buzz and he wrapped his arms around me once again.
"You can talk to her," I told him. His arms were only helping slightly…they weren't the arms I wanted to be in…longed to be in.
"Are you sure?" he whispered into my ear.
"Of course," I tried to smile softly, but it didn't work, I just didn't have the strength to act…to pretend at that moment.
He placed another kiss on my hair and then walked a bit away from me, picking up his phone as he did so.
I scanned up the hotel, wondering if I could see which window led to my hotel room. Wondering if I would be able to see gun shots if any had gone off. I knew I wouldn't be able to tell unless the glass broke, but I stared nonetheless at the windows, seeing the night sky reflected in them.
"Isabella Swan?" My eyes went from the dark glass to look into the eyes of a man in a SWAT uniform, a man all the other officers had been gathered around before. I nodded and he continued. "Can I talk to you?"
Without waiting for an answer he turned away and started to walk over by a van crowded with other officers. I looked over to Alice, still on her phone with Jasper, her hands waving in the air as her heels clopped and she occasionally wiped a tear away. Then, over to Rose, still in the car, her head now against the headrest of the seat. Lastly, over to Jacob, talking quietly to Nessie, assuring her that everything was going to be fine.
None of them noticed me as I moved from the spot where I'd previously been frozen. No one watched as I walked over to the van.
"I'm Laurent. I am the chief of the SWAT team. Now, I need you to listen to me, Bella. There are people in there, and they're in there either fighting for lives of others, or fearing for their own. The only thing the people in there want…is you. They asked for you. That was their demand. So now, It's up to you."
"I want to go," I told him without a second thought.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," I whispered. If I had to go into a room to save Edward, and Libby, Liam, Heather, and Brennor, and Emmett and the rest, I would. I would do whatever it took.
"Then let's get you a vest. I will lead you up."
Yes, I wanted this. I needed to do this. They were all in this because of me and now I had a chance to fix it, to do the right thing, and I would. Giving myself up for the ones I loved.
This was my sacrifice.
EPOV
The elevator ride was quiet, but I was unsure why. The kidnappers had to have seen what was happening with news crews spanning the parking lot, and with the evacuation of the building. Certainly there was no way we'd take them by surprise.
Emmett stood next to me, back flat against the wall, unlike the first time we'd taken this elevator. The railing pressed against my lower back as I sat glaring down at the floor. James and Victoria stood close to each other, seemingly snug. I know I'd be doing the same with Bella, if I had a chance.
When we reached the floor of our penthouse, the elevator jostled to a stop. Emmett looked over at me, his hand on his gun, "Ready, Edward?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." We drew our guns before the doors opened, unsure if the kidnappers would ambush us, but all I heard were soft whimpers and my best friend's pleadings.
Swallowing, I kept my grip on my gun as Emmett gestured James and Victoria forward into the empty hallway. During our debriefing we'd discussed using some kind of gas; however with two young children we were afraid of the lasting effects it may have on their developing brains. The elevator doors closed, making me wonder if someone was following us. I shrugged off the feeling, remembering that Laurent had said they would turn off the power, so that no one could follow.
As the soft whimpers grew louder, I could clearly make out who they belonged too, and when I heard Liam's voice, I sighed. At least he could still make a conscious effort to protect those in the room with him, "Just let her go."
"Are you kidding me, man? If we let her go, what's stopping you from attacking us?" So there was more than one individual. What worried me most was that I knew that voice, but I couldn't place it.
"Son of a bitch," I swore under my breath, growing more agitated by the second. Why couldn't I place his voice?
"Seriously, she's just a kid. Let her go, Mike."
Flashback
Stupid idiot can't even manage to navigate through an airport properly, "Bella, does anything hurt?"
She shrugged it off with a smile, and a sarcastic comment as the idiot shoved the contents of her purse back in the bag, followed by some other items that had fallen out, "I'm not made of glass, fellas. I'm fine."
The cameras continued to flash, as I extended my hand to lift Bella from the ground, and Libby clung to my pant leg, watching as introductions were made. We watched as Mike sprinted away from us, through the terminal of the airport, and Bella giggled, "Did he just run away?"
I'd smiled, and nodded, "Yes, love. He just ran away. Perhaps he got what he wanted."
End Flashback
Mike, the photographer, the one who'd run into Bella at the airport. He'd collected up her bag, shoved everything back in, including our boarding passes. He'd known we'd be in Hawaii all along, "No, now either you listen, or I shoot her, your choice."
"Are you doing this for her, Mike? She'll just sell you down the river. What kind of broad showers while she makes you do the dirty work. If you kill someone, the blood will be on your hands. Guess who gets the jail time? She's just an accessory. Hell, you did everything, she did nothing."
Libby screamed, and I heard Liam inhale deeply. The gun must have been pointed at him now. I knew my ex-partner's mannerisms like the back of my hand. He was trying to control himself, now that the gun was aimed at him. It killed me to know he was completely defenseless; he'd given me his one tool of protection, and I sure as hell didn't need it.
I glanced at James and Victoria, who seemed to be having a silent discussion, wondering how we'd get in. We outnumbered them, but if Mike had a gun held to my daughter's head, she'd be the first to go down, our only option was to ambush, take them off guard, but that was out of the question.
The sound of the elevator doors creaking made us all turn. As they opened they revealed the one person that I never wanted to see during this type of situation. My fiancée.
"No, absolutely fucking not." I was shaking my head, quickly, "She's not trained for this, and I will not put another member of my family in danger."
Bella's lower lip was trembling, as she crossed her arms over her body, "They want me, Edward, not you, or Libby, or anyone else. I'd rather die than let everyone else take the fall."
A lump was forming in my throat as I moved toward her, "How can you say that? No one is going to die. Don't you dare think like that." She shivered, and bit her lip, her eyes holding that silent determination I knew so well, my next move was aimed at her heart, "Bella, Libby can't lose another mother."
"Better she lose her mother than her own life. Now move out of my way, Edward Cullen. I'll do this with or without your support."
"Like hell! Laurent, how in the fuck could you authorize this?"
"She offered, Cullen. Now, it's your job to remain impartial, or you're off the team."
Laurent was backing me into a corner, and either way I could lose both of the people I loved. I turned to Bella, eyeing her carefully, "Are you sure you want to do this? There has to be another way. "
Her hand reached up to cradle my face, she looked scared to death, but the love in her eyes was unwavering, as was the determination. "There is no other way, Cullen. Now move your ass, or I'll move it for you."
Before I stepped back, I glanced at Laurent, who nodded his head, affirming my silent question, "I'm going with you. I'll be behind you every step of the way."
Bella shook her head, and when I opened my mouth to protest, she pushed her finger against my lips, "Your commitment is to be beside me, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
BPOV
My heart beat wildly in my chest as Edward's knuckles came up to pound on the door in front of us. I could hear the boots of those retreating to the elevator, promising us that they would shut all power down once they were again out of the building.
"Who is it?" I could hear a male call from in the room. His footsteps clopped closer to the door and I felt as if all my nerve endings were hypersensitive. My muscles were all tensed in preparation. Though in preparation to do what, I wasn't sure.
"I'm here with Isabella Swan," Edward replied coldly.
"Right…uh…." The man in there seemed awfully unsure of what to do with us, making it clear that he was not the one in command.
I looked up at Edward, only to see his profile, his eyes completely focused on the door in front of him as his jaw clenched tightly together and his nostrils flared in anger and agitation.
"I guess I can let her in, then," the man said. "Listen, I'm going to unlock the door, wait five seconds before entering the room. Understand?"
"Yes," Edward replied tersely.
"And count out loud," the man added, as his voice got quieter. "Alright begin!"
"One…" Edward started, "two…three…" with each number rattled off, my heart felt more and more like it would jump from my chest and a ringing had started in my ears as my palms began to sweat and my breathing increased in speed. "Four…five," Edward finished.
He looked at me, and I'm sure my eyes were wide and glassy with fear, not only for myself, but for the others that were in that room with God knows who. Despite my best efforts, a small sob escaped my mouth and Edward looked at me questioningly. But with a sniff and a nod, I urged him to open the door.
I could hear the knob turn after Edward had placed the key in the slot and he opened it slowly, probably not wanting to take whoever was in there by surprise. I didn't know what weapons they had in there, but I would assume they had some artillery if Liam was not able to diffuse the situation yet.
Throughout the last couple of days I had come through that very door a hundred times; sometimes to find all of my friends lounging around in the living area talking and joking with each other, other times to go straight to the bedroom where I knew Edward waited for me.
But this time, the door opened to find friends that I had seen in that very room before, only this time, no one laughed, no one joked. This time, Liam sat on the couch silently, his arm around a frightened Heather holding a sleeping Brennor. Tears streamed silently down her face, and for the first time since I had met him, Liam looked completely distraught…lost almost. Defenseless.
But the thing that caused me to sob yet again was the man standing behind the couch with my little girl in his arms. Tears streamed down her red cheeks, her green eyes too dark for me to be able to decipher the color anymore, and her body squirming in his arms.
"LET HER GO!" I screamed out as all the pain I was feeling finally fled from my body, screeching in the air so loud it made Brennor wake up and start to cry. I didn't even take notice of who the bastard was that held my little daughter to his chest. "Please," I begged quieter, "She's just a child." I looked to see Heather lean into her husband, crying into his shoulder.
"Mike," Liam said, in a beaten tone. He sounded worn out and emotionless. "Let her go. You have what you want now."
Mike? I knew that name. For the first time, I looked up at the man causing us all this pain. It was the photographer. The one at the airport. The same blond hair and blue eyes that ran into me, spilling my purse onto the ground. The only one that had seen my cell phone…the pieces slowly began to fall into place as I thought back.
"Mike? Mike Newton." I just looked at him, staring him in the eyes as if searching within him for an explanation. I simply didn't understand why someone I didn't know would do this. "Why? Why would you do this?"
His face seemed to soften at my question and he looked back at me. "For you, Bella. For you," was all he offered as an answer.
"Mike, what the hell did you need to ask..." All of our views shifted to the door that led to the master bed and bath, to a woman walking out in a white, fluffy bathrobe, drying her platinum blonde hair with a towel. "Shit," she cured, "couldn't you have warned me? This wasn't the entrance I had in mind."
Yes, I knew that face, it had been on the cover of many magazines and entertainment news programs for quite some time now. Lauren Mallory, Hollywood's newest party girl had hit an all time low. I had read about her since I had gotten the role intended for her. She had gone from A-list celebrity to getting turned down for roles, to practically kicked out of Hollywood all together. Just last week I had read about certain nightclubs refusing her entrance.
"You?" I started towards her, and Edward grabbed me, pulling me back toward him. "You did this? But…why? You don't even know me."
She dropped the towel to the ground and flipped her damp, blonde hair. "You stole this role from me. You stole Devin from me! You stole my career. I should be the one they're praising, the one offered parts left and right. It should be me! I worked my ass off in this business only to have some new girl come and take everything! You ruined me. All of this, this is YOUR fault!"
I cringed back into Edward at her tone. But for some reason, knowing who it was, knowing it was Princess Party Girl, made most of my fear wash away, leaving me only pissed as hell and wanting to get everyone out of there.
"Well I'm here," I sneered at her, "so let everyone go."
She rolled her eyes at me, when she opened her mouth to speak, someone else did instead. "She's got a point, Lauren. Let them go, and we can keep her," I could almost hear the smile in his voice and it sent shivers down my spine.
"Fine. Whatever. Take everyone out, but leave Bella," she spoke to Edward.
"And don't worry, I'll videotape everything I'm about to do to her," Mike smirked at Edward, who growled back at him.
"Keep your fuckin' hands off her."
"Believe me, my hands won't be the only thing touching her," Mike winked at Edward, making him pull me closer to his body.
"Mike, please. I don't need to hear this. It's disgusting. Just do what you want with her, and then hand her over to me to dispose of," Lauren told him. And just like that, I was afraid again. They did intend on killing…just no one but me.
"Now," Lauren continued, "take them out!"
Edward used the phone to contact the SWAT team below and alert them of the situation. He stayed in the room, helping Heather up and leading them to the door as the team below turned the power back on to send the elevator. I watched Mike keep a strong hold on Libby as he led them to the elevator before handing her over to her father.
She looked at me as she clung to Edward. "Mommy!" she cried. "Mommy come with us! You can't leave us again…you promised. You promised!" she cried, her face scrunching up as her sobs ripped through the silence.
"I know, baby," I whispered just loud enough for her to hear me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry honey. I love you, Libby Bug," I told her as I sniffled and tears overflowed my eyes.
She buried her face into her father's vest as she cried and I met Edward's eyes. They looked so pained, but behind the pain was determination. I smiled softly at him, knowing that they were getting out of this. They were going into safety just as soon as those elevator doors closed.
"I love you, Edward. Forever," I whispered, and his features twisted into pain and anguish. "Good-bye."
The doors closed just as I was able to mutter the last word and see Edward bolt toward the closing doors, yelling for them to open. But it was too late. They would be on their way down and the power would once again be cut, leaving me to my fate.
I'd never given much thought to how I would die—though I'd had reason enough in the last few months—but even if I had, I would never have imagined this.
Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of others, people I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something.
But for the past few months I had known a happiness beyond anything I could have dreamed. A love so real, it only existed in scripts that were handed to me. I had spent my life pretending to be someone else, living someone else's story, but in the past few months, I had lived a story so perfect, so ideal, that no movie could match it. I began my journey, wishing that I could find that fairytale ending that always seemed to happen in my films; to find the kind of true love that could only be imagined by my screenwriters.
I didn't get my fairytale ending. I doubt that any fairytale would end like this. No, instead, I got my fairytale life. I got the months of perfection with the man and the people I loved the most. So with that in mind, I couldn't regret my end, not when I had had such an amazing middle. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end.
So as Mike came back into the hotel suite, I inhaled through my nose, and squared my shoulders, shedding the last of my tears and facing my end.
Mike smiled at me and grazed my shoulder. "Now, let's get started."
EPOV
I struggled to find words to name the feelings that flooded through me, but I had no words strong enough to hold them. For a long moment, I drowned in them. When I surfaced, I was not the same man I had been.
This wasn't a dream, it was real, and as anguish ripped through my body, and my nails dug into the metal of the doors, I realized just how hopeless my situation had always been. I'd been unable to protect her, she was in the hands of someone absolutely vile, and it made me physically ill.
"Don't worry, Edward, we'll get her back." I jerked out of Liam's grasp, repeatedly smacking my hand against the elevator. My anger soon released itself on my best friend, who cringed when he saw the look on my face.
"It doesn't matter. He'll hurt her before I can get to her. And when I get back to her, I won't be able to control myself. She's gone, the meteor has fallen over the horizon, and everything is black. I can't see the stars anymore. There's not another reason for anything."
I never saw her hand cocking back, until a swift blow landed across my face. My tongue darted out to taste blood that Heather had just drawn, tasting it as it beaded on my lip. Nothing would taste the same ever again, not even my own blood. She'd taken everything from me.
Heather grabbed my head as I ducked my chin to my chest, taking on the appearance of a scolded child, "No! You. Can. Not. Give. Up. Do you understand me, Edward Cullen? Once Libby, Brennor, and I are safe, you and Liam will go back up and get her."
"It won't be hopeless," Liam added, "Bella's stronger than you think. She made this decision."
The elevator hit the lobby, and Libby, who hadn't spoke during the entire ride down, grabbed my legs. As the metal doors opened, I bent to kiss my daughter's head, praying to God that this wouldn't be the last time I saw her, "Be good for Heather, Libby Bug. The rest of your family is waiting out there. Liam and I will be back once we get your mommy, okay?"
"Promise you'll get her? Please, Daddy, promise me!" I settled her outside of the elevator doors, winking at my daughter.
"I promise." The doors began to close, when a hand shot out to prevent them from doing so. I narrowed my eyes at the offending arm, swallowing.
"Liam, go be with your family. I'm going with Edward." Jacob Black. Liam shook his head, as we both looked at the bronzed actor.
"No, I'm more trained then you are, you will not take my place."
Jacob grabbed the collar of Liam's shirt, and pulled him from the elevator, growling lowly, "Go be with your wife, your son, and your goddaughter. Libby needs to be around people she trusts, and she's known you her entire life. Go."
"And don't let them cut the power again until this reaches the top floor, and you count to twenty." Liam nodded, but held his ground until Jacob tugged on his shirt to forcefully remove my best friend.
I helped Jacob push Liam from the elevator car, but I wasn't sure why. I knew that Liam would be better for me to be partnered with when it came to rescuing my Bella, but the determination I saw in Jacob's eyes was not something to be tampered with.
Glancing sideways, I asked Jacob something I knew he wasn't expecting. I wasn't expecting it either, "Do you love her?"
He looked confused, his forehead wrinkling in concentration, "Who? Nessie? I haven't known her long enough to have those kinds of feelings."
Agitated, I sighed as the pressure in my ears built as the elevator lifted from the ground. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I glowered at the ground, "Not Nessie. Bella."
"I did. I still do, but Edward what happened at the shoot was purely accidental. I explained it to Bella before you told us. I was thinking of Nessie, and I know she was thinking of you. I didn't mean to…to…"
"Make a mess?"
Jacob nodded, and I let my head rest against the elevator's walls, "I'm sorry. It honestly wasn't my intention to get so…worked up."
I chuckled, but there was no happiness. It sounded hollow, I felt hollow. She had filled my heart, my soul, making me complete. If anything happened to her… I'd be lost.
We were nearing the top floor, and my hand went to the gun at my side. In this moment, I realized how idiotic it was to not have gotten Jacob a gun, but when he noticed my upset face, he smirked, "It's fine. I'd rather rip them apart with my bare hands."
"If you bring her back in less than the perfect condition I left her in, you'll be running with three legs, dog." Jacob nodded, his rebuke silent, and I knew that the same went for me. Bella was Jacob's family too; he'd protect her until the end. The elevator car locked, and the doors sprung open. I knew we had twenty seconds to cross the hallway, and unlock the door before the power was shut off. So I ran.
Fumbling with the card, I inserted it into the slot, adrenaline pounding in my ears. The lock clicked, and I shoved the door open, gun drawn. Mike was standing over top of a tied-up Bella, the buttons on her blouse torn open. A video camera rested in Mike's hands as he stood over her, naked. He had such a stupid smirk on his face, his head bobbing to the music blasting from the stereo. When he leaned down, moving himself closer to Bella; her eyes flickered to the door. I gripped my gun tighter knowing I could take him out with one shot, but the look on Bella's face clearly told me that she didn't want to marry a murderer.
Jacob's looming presence was no longer behind me, and as I heard a hair dryer running in the bathroom, I knew where he was headed. The building powered down, and I heard Lauren scream in the bathroom, "Stupid hairdryer! Mike! Why is it dark! UGH!"
Bella smiled up at Mike, "Why don't you come down here and kiss me?"
A stupid grin crossed Mike's face, and his lips moved closer to Bella's. I crossed the room in three strides, and grabbed the naked idiot around his neck, pulling him away from my fiancée. Pressing him against the wall, I leaned my forearm against his throat to choke him, his eyes drooping. I could faintly hear Bella saying something to me from her place on the ground, as I squeezed Mike's throat, "Let him go, you're the superhero, not the bad guy. Let go, husband." Her words were soothing and not at all hostile, as she tried to calm me from my throbbing rage.
Husband. Bella and I were going to get married. Mike's body slid to the ground. He'd passed out from the lack of oxygen. I pulled Bella close to me, untying her hands and that's when I heard the primadonna's screech, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT HERE!"
The bronze skinned actor stood behind Lauren, who was now stomping her feet. Bella giggled, hugging me, kissing my neck as I held her close, not willing to let her go. I pulled my vest off, and saddled it across Bella's pregnant body. She and our baby needed it more than I did.
Jacob scooped Lauren from the ground, and carried her out the door, toward the elevator. I spoke into my walkie-talkie, signaling for someone to turn the power back on, the crisis was finished. But as the lights flashed on, I felt pain tear through my stomach, and when I looked down, I saw blood seeping through my light gray shirt.
Pain. That's all I felt. Extreme pain, worse than anything I'd ever felt before. I faintly heard Bella's voice calling out to me, and I tried to tell her to run, but nothing would come out of my mouth. I wouldn't even be able to tell her that I loved her before I died. Someone grabbed my wrist. Were they checking for my pulse? Then there was nothing.
BPOV
I dropped to my knees beside Edward as he lay on the ground, his hands putting pressure on the wound in this stomach.
"Jacob!" I screamed as my hands fluttered around Edward, trying to find something to do to help him.
Liam tackled Mike to the ground easily, the gun sliding on the floor, but I was only vaguely aware of that.
The door to the room swung open again and a team of SWAT officers that had been waiting downstairs seemed to flood into the room, taking away both Lauren and Mike, while others searched the rest of the rooms in the suite. The remainder of them came to attend to Edward.
I was knocked away from him as unfamiliar hands grabbed me, trying to pull me out to the elevator to safety. But I resisted, struggling to get free from the arms of the men as I screamed out to my love.
"No! Let me go!" my voice screamed, breaking and screeching with emotion as I sobbed with every pull, with every struggle. I needed to be next to my Edward.
But they were too strong for me, and despite my desperate pleas for them to release me, they refused, continuing to drag me away. Only when the elevator doors closed with us inside did they finally release me. When they did, I leaned against the corner of the glass case, and slid to the floor, crying into my shaking hands.
I didn't know what to do when the doors opened and I was led outside. I was utterly disoriented, and I didn't know where I would go or what I would do with my life. Everyone passed by me in a blur of noise and lights, I didn't even try to make out the faces of those looking at me and screaming my name, instead, I stepped along with the officers, my feet seeming to move independently from the rest of my body. I didn't recognize I was moving, no, instead it felt more like I was floating, feeling detached from myself. My mind was somewhere else as I was led to an ambulance to be taken away and examined.
It was on Edward.
I hated the fact that the situation that had brought us together would now tear us apart. I saw how his eyes rolled back before they closed and the blood that gushed from his wound. I saw the defeated look in Jacob's face as he tried to find Edward's pulse. And just like that, I knew what had happened. All of those things made me realize in an instant that I would never see him again.
As the car flew down the road with the siren blaring, the beating of my heart seemed to drown it all out. I remember thinking how strange it was, that it was beating so fast, but I knew that it was broken. I could feel it. It didn't break apart in a clean cut, like in cartoons. It wasn't a jagged edge from pulling on each side of it. It was a tear…a long, and painful rip and I could feel every strand of muscle being pulled apart as part of my heart left me.
It was a pain that made me physically weak and overloaded my emotions so much that I couldn't concentrate on just one. I couldn't cry for my loss because in the back of my head were the images of his face, stunning me with beauty. I couldn't scream out in pain because my body felt the tingles of his hands on me.
With every blink of darkness, eyes I saw him in my head. I saw my Edward. I saw him laughing as he pulled me along the red carpet at my premiere. I saw his eyes, dark and glazed over, right before we would become one in our most intimate acts. I saw him on the floor, bleeding from his wound. I saw him in the kitchen of our condo, when I was foolish enough to separate myself from him for even a second more than was necessary.
Oh, but if I would have just stayed away, he wouldn't be here. He would be at home…with Libby.
Oh, my precious Libby. I wanted to scream up at God and any other force in the universe and ask why they had to do this. Didn't they realize who they were taking? How important he was to so many people? The world had lost a father, a son, a fiancé, and a friend. But he was so much more than that. He was so much more than any words would ever be able to describe.
As I lay on the gurney after I had been examined, they concluded that nothing was wrong with me, but were going to keep me anyway, for observation, probably because of the baby, or shock or something... The pain in my chest, however, that was something they couldn't cure. No amount of morphine could make that pain go away.
Never.
So I did the only thing I could do. I slept. And I dreamt of Edward.
Oh, he was so handsome. Clean shaven and in a stunning black tux. He smiled at me as he held out his hand, and I swear my feet would have turned to Jell-O, even in my sleep. I was sure I was smiling back at him, even in the examining room, but I didn't care, I was with my Edward.
I stretched my hand out to meet his and he brought it to his lips to kiss. The familiar tingles of his touch resonated throughout my body and I could smell a scent that was distinctly his as he leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"Let's go get married," he said with a smile before leaning back and letting the sun hit that glorious face.
A sob woke me from my dream and I looked around the sterile room, only to find myself alone and that the noise had come from me. I could feel the dream replaying itself in my head, no matter how hard I tried to block it out.
I screamed out in pain, as it was the only thing I could do, and I bunched myself up into a ball on the narrow cushion, trying to hold myself together, fearing that if even a piece of me slipped from my hold, the rest of me would unwind.
And it was like that I cried until my eyes drained themselves dry and my voice grew too hoarse to make a sound. I sobbed until I was too emotionally and physically tired to do anything but drift off into a dreamless sleep…lacking all things Edward.
"Bella?" I awoke to a familiar, gruff voice.
I could feel how swollen my eyes were as I opened them and saw my dad sitting next to me on my bed, in an unfamiliar hospital room. I must have been moved as I slept. He smiled sadly down at me as his hand came up to brush my hair off my forehead.
"I came as soon as I heard," he said, his calloused thumbs rubbing the fresh tears from my cheeks. "And I'm so sorry about your uh…boyfriend."
"Daddy," I said, grabbing his hand tightly. I had never called him daddy other than when I was little. It was usually Dad or Charlie, but in that moment, I needed my Daddy. I needed the man that was always there to tell me that everything would be alright. "I was going to marry him."
"What, Bells?" he asked in a soft tone, one that told me he was fine with it.
"We were going to have a baby, and I was going to marry him," I tried to smile up at my father, but remembering that I would now be having a baby by myself took a toll on my already injured chest.
"Oh, Bella," my dad said, cradling me close to his chest as I cried into his shirt. He kissed my head and cried with me until I couldn't do it any longer, and lay back on my bed.
"Now," he said, wiping my tears away again. "Tell me about my grandson."
I laughed through my tears. "Dad, we don't know what it's going to be yet," I ignored the fact that it should've been 'I don't know what it's going to be yet'. "No buying any baseball mitts yet."
"Oh, Bells, I can by my granddaughter a baseball mitt too," he chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood.
I decided that for his benefit, I would let him think that he succeeded. "Yeah, but with your luck, she'd end up like me." He laughed at that.
"Isabella Swan?" A doctor came in, looking over some charts. "Would you come with me?"
Since they were only keeping me there as a precaution, I wasn't hooked up to anything and could walk freely, though I still had the annoyance of the hospital gowns.
Charlie kissed my head once more before I got up and followed the doctor out the door. She was a tall, African American woman with her hair pulled tightly back into a bun.
"I'm Dr. Williams and I was the surgeon for Mr. Edward Cullen." I nodded my head, but my jaw clenched at the mere mention of his name. "I was told he had a flat-lined pulse since the hotel room. They were able to revive him in the ambulance, but his situation made things complicated for surgery. Such a severe wound and with him already having lost so much blood… We truly did all we could."
I wanted to slap her. I had felt almost every emotion I had in my system since the hotel room, but now I was feeling rage. I hoped that she could see my face turning red in anger so she would do the smart thing and run far away from me before I did something I would regret eventually.
She came all this way, interrupted me being with my father, and not thinking about Edward, just to tell me something I already fuckin' knew!
I was beyond mad, I was irate! I wanted to scream at her, and slap her across that emotionless face of hers. What a fucking bitch!
"Miss Swan," she started, but I didn't want to hear anything else from her.
"Leave me the fuck alone," I growled at her before turning my back and walking away. "The next time you tell a family member their loved one is dead, do it with a bit more compassion," I said over my shoulder.
"Miss Swan! He's alive."
EPOV
Soft fingers caressed my face, as I lay there, thinking about my children, both the one downstairs, and the one I'd never get to meet. The most gorgeous angel in the world was talking to me as she stroked my face lovingly. I needed to get back to Bella, back to my daughter, the life I'd taken for granted. Nothing mattered, except my family, "Edward, you need to wake up now."
It was hard. My eyelids didn't want to open, they felt so heavy, I just wanted to sleep, to let this angel rub my face forever, "Daddy?"
Her voice questioned me, uncertain if I would respond. I wanted to respond, but I couldn't. Something was in my throat, and when I tried to talk, it would burn. Then I remembered. Libby was in trouble, Bella was in trouble, I had to help them.
The angel tried to soothe me as I struggled against my confines, and it didn't matter how badly my throat burned. I needed to get to them. "Edward, sssh, handsome, relax."
She could always calm me, she was my enabler. The one who'd help me through anything and everything; the one I wanted by my side for all eternity, "Can you open your eyes, handsome? I know it's hard, but do it for us."
I struggled, and I felt my eyelashes part, and the dim light of the room hit my pupils, instantly dilating them, and then I saw my girls. Libby stood next to her mommy, their hands intertwined; holding onto each other. I let my eyes drift from Libby to Bella, a slow smile spread across her face. I wanted to smile too, and as I looked down, I realized what was interrupting my speech flow. I was on a ventilator, and a tube was in my throat.
Libby looked fearful when I lifted my left hand; my right one had an IV filtering pain medication into my tired body. She took a slow step forward, and when she saw my encouraging wink, my daughter grasped my arm, holding onto it for dear life, "Daddy, I thought you were dead."
The cool band of Bella's ring rested against my forehead as she brushed my hair out of my eyes. She leaned down, and kissed my temple, her lips barely brushing against my skin. I could barely make out the words she spoke, she'd whispered them so quietly, "Me too, Libby, me too."
A loud clanging burst our little family out of its quiet meditation, and I averted my eyes to see a sheepish looking Liam waving at me. Libby jumped at the loud bang, and she'd buried her head into my side, the best she could since she couldn't get closer to me.
Bella, sensing our daughter's despair, lifted her over the metal rails of the hospital bed, and Libby instantly snuggled into my chest. From the look on my fiancée's face, I knew just where she wanted to be, too.
"Hey, Edward, can we come in?" I opened my lips to speak, but was once again thwarted by the plastic tube that controlled my breathing. Fucking thing.
Bella never missed a beat, waving whoever else was with Liam into the hospital room. It looked as if a bus unloaded into my hospital. My parents were there, along with Liam, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, Jacob, Nessie, and little Gabe. A man lingered in the back alongside Heather and Brennor, a man I didn't recognize. Strangers didn't really bode well with me in my present state, but when I gazed at Bella she didn't miss a beat, "It's my father, Edward, don't worry."
"Well, someone appears to be extremely important." The dark skinned women smiled over at me, and I lifted my arm to wave weakly, taking in her white coat, draped over her dress clothes, "I've come to take that tube out of your throat, Edward. Is that alright with you?"
I curled my hand into a thumbs-up sign, and the doctor laughed, "I assumed; we don't want you growing too dependent on that," she turned and glanced at my father, "Would you like to do the honors, Carlisle?"
He shook his head, but I waved my hand beckoning him closer, and Bella seemed to read my mind, "There is no one he trusts more then you, Carlisle. Please do it."
The plastic was pulled from my throat, when I spoke my voice was raspy. Carlisle was turning to walk away from me, back to stand next to my mother, but my words stopped him, "She's right, Dad."
Carlisle looked like a lost puppy when he looked back at me. Bella brought a bendy straw in a Styrofoam cup to my lips, as everyone waited patiently for what I had to say. The liquid soothed my throat, making it easier to talk, "She's right. I trust you above anyone else in this world; I've always trusted you, regardless of any disagreements. Please don't doubt that."
I swear I saw a tear roll down his cheek, but he hastily swatted at his face, making some excuse about hospital lights and how they made his eyes itch, "Damn, Edward, when you first met Bella, I was the one in the hospital. Oh, how the tables have turned."
A loud smack, followed by simultaneous laughter, made me grin. Heather had slapped her husband, just as she'd slapped me that night, the night I'd thought Liam's injury was my fault. The night I'd gotten a phone call, the one that would introduce me to the mother of my children and to my future wife. The wonderful woman standing by my side, and when I was better, I'd make sure she knew how much I loved her.
"Edward?" I cocked my head to the side, gazing at my fiancée. Someone was changing my IV bag, and I knew that soon, I'd be sleeping again, but I wanted to know what Bella had to say, "Would you like to formally meet my father?"
"Of course, love." My tone was wary, and I heard Liam chuckle softly. The group lingering around my door parted as Mr. Swan stepped through and moved closer to me, "As long as he doesn't try to kill me for putting you in," I waved my hand at her belly, "such a condition."
Her father extended his right hand, and I grasped it with my left, shaking as best I could, "I think you've been put through enough. I'm Charlie; nothing less, nothing more. Just Charlie."
"Edward Cullen, sir," I paused as the medicine began to kick in, "It's nice to meet you." My head was fuzzy, and my eyes started to grow heavy. Bella rested her palm on my head, fingers tangling in my hair. She began to filter the locks through her fingers, and soon I was asleep.
I hope you guys liked it. I had a bit of trouble with the last BPOV but in the end, I was happy with it. I hope you guys don't mind that I used those quotes from Twilight, but they just worked so well.
Right, so, another question was asked by sistergrimm2: Ashel, if you had to share Hayden with one Cullen, which would you pick?
Answer: Well the obvious choice would be Edward…duh. But there are just so many…lol. Jasper's so quiet and that shy, hot boy. And then there's Carlisle, the doctor, and we all like doctors. But since it is the season of giving, I decided that I would be nice to my dear boyfriend, and instead, give him…..Rosalie.
So there you guys have it. There's only one more chapter left to this story, and I hope you guys are excited for the finale, cuz I know we are!!!
Much love and even more writing,
ashel-13
Look, he's not dead? Anyone actually think he's dead? Show of hands…Okay. By the way, a few of the quotes in here are also from Midnight Sun, as well as the other books in the series. If you can find some of them, you get…whatever you want?
Anyway, I'm gonna promo my new story, which is written just by me. It's called 'Tis the Season, and I want you to check it out, and of course review. Go on, don't be shy…They actually got a preview of this chapter in my latest post, so you should be jealous. Stuff happens when you don't pay attention. :D
Sooo… We should post again before Christmas, but if we don't, Merry Christmas. I dunno about Hanukkah since that starts on the 21st. but Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanza. Remember, Chinese restaurants and movie theaters are open on Christmas, so enjoy!
P.S…. I definitely I prefer Edward over Rose, but if we have to go with a women, ESME ALL THE WAY! Or a newly dubbed Cullen, I like Bella too… MMM…KRISTIN…Merry Christmas to me!
See you soon,
Hayden