Hey guys, so...my plan for more chapters kind of went out the window. I ended up writing it in a way that leaves us with 2 regular chapters left and the epilogue. I'll post 26 tomorrow, and then the epilogue on Tuesday if all goes well (my beta has a mean comp atm).

Many thanks to Kyla713 for constantly putting up with me, and to Packy for leaving all the comments.

I'll just leave you guys to it then.

~.~

Chapter 25-

"Mr. Cullen! You cheated!" Bella admonished me through her mask as she placed her playing cards down on the table and glared at me.

"Have no clue what you are talking about, Bella." I tried to look as innocent as I possibly could, but I knew she wasn't buying it.

"Nope." She crossed her arms, minding her port. "You should know by now that doesn't work on me." If she wasn't sitting in her bed, she'd be tapping her foot as she glared.

We were then interrupted by her hospital room door opening and her nurse peeking in. "Are you bothering her, Dr. Cullen? Do I need to restrict your access to Ms. Swan?" Joyce asked seriously, even while trying to hide a smile, failing spectacularly.

Bella turned her head and adjusted her mask. "Yes, please escort this cheater out. He won three games in a row. He's obviously hiding cards somewhere, because he never has that good of luck."

Joyce and I both started laughing. It felt so nice to just give in and have a good laugh. The last two weeks since surgery had been so full of many ups and downs. Though, for once, the goods far outweighed the bad. It made for a really nice change.

Bella healed up nicely, no infection in her incisions. She had her first course of the high dosage chemo two days after surgery. They were wasting no time. We were worried that she'd get violently ill, since we had no clue how she'd react to the dosage this go around, and tear out her sutures, but luckily, that hadn't happened.

That's not to say she hadn't been sick. She'd barely kept much of anything down, nor touched solid foods since after her first dose, but her doctor put her on intravenous nutritional supplement to help along whatever liquids we could get her to take in. There had been a lot of milkshakes and smoothies in that time.

What little hair Bella did have left was now completely gone. With her strict chemo regimen this go around, none of us were surprised when she did, along with her eyebrows and eyelashes. It took some reassuring to get Bella to realize that just like the rest of her hair, they would eventually grow back, too.

Bella slept most of the past two weeks. Between surgery, pain medicine and chemo, her body had a lot to keep up with. Today was the first time she had been awake since breakfast. I found myself surprised, but incredibly happy to be able to see more of her beautiful face.

Since Bella was in the hospital full-time, I returned reluctantly to work. I'd do my scheduled surgeries as early as possible in the morning, my rounds soon after and then I would go and spend time with Bella, if my day allowed. I always made sure to sneak in a lunch with her, stay until the last possible moment or until my pager went off. I hated even having to leave, but it helped knowing that she was close by.

Because of worries over possible infections, we had to gown up and put on masks. Bella hated having to wear hers. She saw no point when we were wearing them, but better to be overcautious, even if it was getting to me. My lips hadn't touched hers since that goodbye before surgery. I missed just being able to kiss her, feel her let out a sigh as our lips met.

I leaned into Bella, hoping that when she looked into my eyes, she'd be able to see all my love for her in them. I kissed her through our masks and pulled her into my arms, hugging her.

"Promise to call if you have any problems?" I asked, all the while refusing to let her go.

"Yes, Mr. Worry," she replied, nuzzling her head on my shoulder. "I love you, now go and do what you need to do. Not like I'll be able to go anywhere," she added just before pulling away and smiling.

"Okay, fine. Kick me out," I joked and winked before getting up and walking toward the door. "Dad said he'd be stopping by in an hour. He plans to replenish your book pile and movie situation."

Joyce then stepped out with me. "Not sure if her doctor told you, but she'll be heading down for another scan this afternoon. I'm taking blood now. Chemo will be delayed until tonight."

"So, warning me that tonight might be bad?" Please don't let tonight be bad.

Joyce nodded. "I hope it isn't, but the last few times, the anti-nausea meds didn't help much."

I sighed and bowed my head. "Okay. Thanks for letting me know." I tried to smile at Joyce before I left, but I was sure my worry overshadowed that some.

~.~

Just before my shift was due to wrap up, my phone pinged with an incoming message from my dad.

C: She's back from the scan. Nurse took blood before. Bella isn't at all happy.

I laughed before replying: Why is she not happy? Have they said anything about the scan or blood tests?

C: No, but they did say her doctor would be in first thing in the morning. She's grumpy because they wouldn't let her finish the milkshake I got her. Apparently, it's a new fave and no one should keep a milkshake from her.

I shook my head before shooting off one last reply: I'll be up soon. Finishing paperwork. I'll bring her a new milkshake.

Bella was sitting up in her bed, mask and oxygen on. She was again playing cards, this time with my mom.

"Hey, guys," I called out as I walked in, milkshake in hand. "For you, grumpy," I playfully said as I sat the drink down in front of her.

She hmmfed before taking a long sip. "Thank you." Her voice was a bit scratchy still from throwing up the day before. She held her arms out for me and I fell into them, letting her hold me.

My dad shifted in his seat and smiled. "They've started the pre-meds. Should start next dose in about forty minutes or so."

I nodded my head in reply before sitting down gently on the bed next to Bella. "How bad were the vampires today? How many vials?"

She turned her head away from my dad and laid it on my shoulder. "Four. They must've been thirsty."

I chuckled and held her closer to me.

"Think I'll call Charlie before the poison crew gets here," Bella quietly said, grabbing for her phone.

Unfortunately, Charlie had to go back to Washington two days after her surgery. He was called back due to a robbery in Forks' only convenience store. Crime like that rarely happened, and he hated having to leave Bella, but he made her promise we'd check in once a day.

I decided to let Bella be to talk to her dad, and I gently extricated myself from her and off the bed. I went to sit down by my dad instead. Bella's tired voice carried through the room as she caught Charlie up on all that was going on. Neither of them were much for talking, but they always made sure to get a good five or ten minutes in. I heard her say goodbye and watched as she put the phone down.

"Dad said Mom called the house. I guess she wants to come up here and see me, see for herself if I am as sick as I'm making it out to be." Bella's crossed her arms in anger, knocking her port and wincing. "I have nothing to say to her. Esme has been more of a mom to me than Renee ever has. I'm going through the hardest thing a person should ever have to go through, and she's questioning if I'm sick enough?"

My mom stood up and wrapped Bella in her arms, murmuring soft words to my girl. Bella then picked up her phone one more time and dialed in a number.

"Mom?"

I had a bad feeling about this call, but I knew that whatever Bella planned to say, needed to be said. I couldn't keep her from all the hurt, even when she was at her most vulnerable.

"Charlie told me you called him. I just thought I'd return it. You don't need to contemplate if I am sick enough or come see me. You wouldn't be allowed in my hospital room anyway. You weren't there for me when I first got my diagnosis, nor were you there for my first chemo, surgery, hair falling out. None of it. And you're my mother. Lord knows I love you, but if you couldn't care for me then, you can't care for me now."

She then hung up, and I could see the tears sliding down under her mask. My mom held her tighter, and soon my father and I joined in on the group hug. This was the last thing Bella needed to deal with today.

I kissed the top of her head. "You okay, love?"

"I will be," Bella replied, before taking another drink of her milkshake.

A short time later, her chemo dose arrived. Once she was all set up with that, the first five minutes went okay. Then instead of hot flashes, she began to get really cold. We got her warming blankets from the nursing station to help her through the dose.

My dad decided to get her talking to take her mind off all the medicine being injected into her.

"I loaded up her Kindle with some more books. She named off a few authors and ended up educating me on what slash was after I read a blurb about one of the books. She laughed at my shocked face!" He winked at her and smiled. "She has some new movies, too, magazines and coloring books. I think I got her a new Harry Potter one, though she says she can't bring herself to color in it."

Bella slowly turned her head, adjusted her blanket and looked at my dad. "It's Harry Potter!" That was all the reasoning Bella needed, I guessed.

"He also spoiled me with bringing some notebooks and pens, even my laptop."

"Well, my dear, you did mention yesterday you were itching to write again."

That had made me so happy to hear. She was finally getting back to the things she loved, feeling more up to it. The fact that she wanted to write was a huge win in our column. She hadn't the energy or the thoughts to even do so.

Her now tired eyes made their way to me. "I owe you some words. I owe you so much more than that, but I think until I give you the words I desperately want to, I'll settle with hitting complete on that Drarry fic I had going before my body decided to hate me."

"Sounds good to me. I'm so glad you want to write," I told her, getting out of my seat and moving towards her.

"I also think I have something original brewing, but that will be only for you, no one else."

Now I was intrigued and impatient. I wanted to know what she had planned.

"You'll find out soon enough."

I smiled brightly at her before grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

I couldn't wait.

~.~

Thoughts? One more chapter to go and then Epi. Thank you for reading.