**Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer**

Vanilla & Chocolate

Previous chapter on Vanilla & Chocolate:

** Edward takes the lighter looking into Victoria's eyes and put her head on fire throwing it in the zombie inferno. **

Chapter 21: Twilight Carnival

**The Hospital**

Bella really hates hospitals, the halls painted in an off-white and the smell of disinfected soap burning her nose. Normally she's the one in the bed but not this time, this time it is her mother and it was her fault. Her mother could have died and it was her fault! She wants to scream or kick something her shoulders tense looking at her mother while she's laying on a high hospital bed and has not yet recovered consciousness. The silence was grand and oppressive; her body under the sheet that dropped in stiff folds, her face were as indifferent as stone. So much different from the vibrant almost clueless woman she is in everyday life.

The responsibility is dawning on her, the responsibility to keep those that are so close to her safe. Her Dad has Tanya but her mom doesn't have anyone indestructible and therefor the only way to keep her safe from this rollercoaster twilight carnival will be to break things off. Make a clean break – she has Phil now he can fill the role and she will be much safer if she's not seen with Bella.

She smelled the vanilla and chocolate before two cold arms embracing her, its strange how the absence of warmth has so much comfort in it.

"It is ok love" Edward whispers in her ear while tightening his arms around her but not enough to hurt her.

Seeing her watching her mother with so much love and worry brings back memories of a childhood were fathomless, dateless, all place and no time, the rooms of the house, the floorboards of stair-landing, the pink roses plates, the fetlocks of a great horse standing at the smithy, his mother's hand, sunlight on the grave, rain on water, the outlines of the mountains against a dark winter sky. Among these onetime was distinct – that time when he stood in a room lit by candles and saw a head on a pillow, the murmur of a priest, his mother's soft crying moving behind the walls following the shadows of a man once great and powerful now just weak and dying.

The warm body in his arms signs and her scent fills him, a reminder that he is saved after all and that the loneliness has finally came to an end. He found his mate for eternity. He understands more than he wants to and can see the sacrifices his Bella is already planning to make for her mother.

Bella sighs and Edward's arms marginally squeezes tighter around her as he whispers in her ear: "It's ok my love, I understand that there is a lot of sacrificed to be made in the days that are coming. You can just tell me what you want, the calamities will fall on my family although I'm sure Tanya will make most of the arrangements as you are part of her coven now until we mated."

"My mother almost died I can't be in her life like that, my dad has Tanya to look after him but Rene wouldn't understand and she has Phil now to look after her – so the best for me would be to be dead to her. That will be bad for her in the beginning but she will go on with her life and that will keep her safe from those monsters out there. When I'm changed I won't be able to see her anyway at least if she thinks I'm dead she can go on." Bella whispers back softly while clearing her throat to keep the tears at bay.

"Of course Bella, but do not think about that now, let your mother heal then we will avoid dissension and follow our ancient custom. As it will be better for your mother as well but before you make any decisions first speak to Tanya or Carman as she will explain everything to you. You do not want you to life in turmoil or torturing yourself with what ifs – we will plan and then do the right thing."

Bella looks at Edward and takes his hand into her and kissing it she smiles at him and asks: "How did it go with the other guys, everybody alright?"

Edward looks adorningly at her and nods his head: "Yes my love Victoria was killed, the zombies and Asatru soldiers taken care of. Missus is healing as well and Maria is taking care of her, we still don't know who ordered the hit. Maria will use her connections to find out more information, we still have to check out a few leads but I'm sure this will also be resolved as we must not dwell too much on what cannot be changed."

He turns his head to the side and looks towards the door and smiles looking back to Bella while standing up and still holding her hand: "Come, the family wants to see you, we can come back a little later as your mother will sleep for little while still, Rosalie will call us when she wakes up."

Bella while still holding Edward's hand bows down and gives her mother a kiss and then turns around and hugs him while inhaling the vanilla and chocolate scent in his neck. They smile at each other and Bella looks at her mother's face trying to memorise it as she knows that Edward said they still have time she thinks it will be better to just do it now, the longer she stays in her mother's life the worse it will become but if she's changed now she can be away from her mother and away from the direct threat now giving everybody time to breath and time to find who ordered the hit.

They walk through the door and Edward's arms are replaced with warm arms as her father hugs her to him and awkwardly tells her:" Everything will be ok, Bells, we will take care of everything."

She starts to cry in his arms not just for her mother but for everything that has been happening, his arms are replaced with cold and Tanya whispering in her ear: "It is ok young one there is no shame and dishonour to cry for those we have lost or are about to lose, let us not plead for death but give way to mercy to whose that mean more to us than life. Mothers will wept and wrung their hands their deeds will be tainted with scepticism the mourners will return to their houses and order will be restored as funerals are for the living and not the dead. All will be fine, all will work out, your mother will be ok and so will you that I promise you. Come."

Tanya turns Bella around and with her arms still around her they move towards the doors away from Bella's mother, towards a new beginning.

A/N: Done. It was fun and I hope you guys enjoyed it. I know there is still the question about the hit and Maria and Missus deal with the Cullen's as well as Bella's changing and Tanya and Charlie's story. Still a lot to write and hopefully will do so soon.

Take care

Boeretannie