A/N: I own nothing. SM does.
Thank you to everyone for reading and special thank you to the ones reviewing. You make me smile. :):)
I'm not a doctor nor a nurse so if this info is not all true, I'm sorry. It just works with the story better.
Edward and Bella got shot on Saturday Dec. 21. Edward woke up ok the 24th, day before Christmas. Bella woke up on the 30th. I hope that clears things up.
Hope continued...
Chapter 28
BPOV
Singing? Someone was singing?
Everything was foggy. Sluggish. I couldn't concentrate. My head hurt too much. Pain. Everywhere.
I tried concentrating on the soft velvet voice. So beautiful with a tone of sadness. Why was this voice sad?
The year went by too fast
Summer was just a moment
We're just running in life
I never gave you enough time
Put your hand in mine and remember the time with me
Everything that holds us together in this fast paced world
Come, we'll turn back time
Just for a blink of an eye
We're so in love, walking the streets of Paris
We'll dance until dawn breaks
And when you laugh, I'll kiss you
Name a city, then we'd be Paris
"Bella. Sweetheart. One day I'll take you to Paris. It's so beautiful. The Eiffel Tower. I'll teach you French. We'll walk the French Riviera." The soft voice stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath, "But first you have to wake up, baby."
"That's a beautiful song." Mom?
"Thank you, Mrs. Swan." I recognized that voice. Edward Cullen? What was he doing here?
Wait. Where is here?
A caress on my hand brought me back. I flexed my hand and I heard a gasp.
"Bella. Please open those beautiful eyes." Again, what was he doing here?
Blinking once. Twice. Three time and 'his' face came into view. His eyes so intense and yet relieved.
Than a smile, "Oh thank god, Bella." His lips went to my forehead and than my cheek. I still didn't understand. What was he doing here?
Furrowing my brow, I turned to my mother who had tears in her eyes, "Mom?"
"Oh sweetheart, I'm so happy to see you." She gently hugged me.
Dad barreled in, Dr. Cullen right on his heels, "Babygirl! You're back." He also hugged me.
"Bella, welcome back to the living," Dr. Cullen was standing next to his son, checking my vitals and all the machines around me.
"What happened?"
Edward took my hand in his and an odd warmth spread through me, "You don't remember?"
I shook my head.
"You got shot," he paused. "Well, we both got shot."
"What? Why?"
His fingers caressed my hand, "James couldn't stand us being together. Baby, don't you remember?"
I was confused as all hell, "James?"
He nodded.
"We're together?"
His smiled faltered, "Yes, since summer. Shortly after your graduation."
My eyes went to my parents, who looked at Dr. Cullen, "Mom. Dad. What's going on?"
My mom gently squeezed my hand, her eyes briefly went to Edward, "Honey, he's your boyfriend. You love him. You brought him home for Christmas." She smiled, "Well, technically he surprised you by climbing in your bedroom window."
Why couldn't I remember anything?
"Bella," Dr. Cullen started. My eyes went to him.
"When James...when James shot you, you fell and hit your head. You had a concussion. What's the last thing you remember?"
I furrowed my brow, trying to think. Everything was so jumbled.
"I don't know. Graduating and celebrating with Alice and Rose. I met Rose's new boyfriend. He's very sweet."
"Ok. I see. You have amnesia which is common with a concussion like yours."
"Will she regain her memory from the last six months?" My dad asked worried.
My eyes went to Dr. Cullen again but briefly stopped on Edward. His face was ashen. Like someone had just died.
"It's hard to say Charlie. She could regain it and also not. We're gonna have to hope for the best."
My mom choked out a sob.
Edward squeezed my hand again, "Your graduation. Is that all you remember?"
I nodded, confused.
His eyes cast down and whispered, "That's the day you decided to give me a chance."
"A chance?"
His sad sunken eyes met mine, "To prove myself. To prove to you that I could and would be the man you deserve."
"But in high school..."
He wiped his hand down his face, "I know, baby. I was a jerk to you but we moved past that. I love you."
What was he saying? The Edward I knew, tormented me in high school.
"Edward, son. I think you and I need to talk outside." My dad called him son? That was even more freaky.
Both men left my room.
My mind went into overdrive. Since when would I let Edward into my life? And as a boyfriend? What had happened the last six months? I tried to remember but everything was black.
I turned to my mother, "James did this?"
"Yes. You went on a date with Edward. He had such a nice surprise planned for you. You were so excited and also nervous." She paused, "When you were done with your date, James surprised you and shot both of you. That was the Saturday before Christmas. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve." She paused again, "The incident with James happened on the 21st. You missed Christmas. Unconscious for nine days."
"Edward got shot too?" I was baffled at all this information.
"Yes, trying to protect you. He woke up Christmas Eve but had been by your side ever since. You needed a kidney transplant otherwise you wouldn't have made it."
My hand went to my stomach, feeling the incision there.
"Emmett. Rosalie's boyfriend was the one who donated one of his kidneys to save your life."
My eyes welled up, "Emmett?"
Her hand squeezed mine, "Yes. His words were that he wouldn't stand by watching his little sister die." The last few words came out in a choked sob. "Baby, we almost lost you. I don't know what I would have done."
I hugged her to me and also let my tears fall. Why couldn't I remember? I wanted to remember. Edward's my boyfriend? James shot me? Edward too? Nothing made sense.
After a few hours of sleep, Dr. Cullen did more tests and told me that everything was fine and that I should be out of here soon. I smiled at him in thanks. I also saw the hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Can I see Emmett, Dr. Cullen?"
"Of course. He woke up shortly before you did. I'll go get him."
Soon, Emmett was wheeled into my room in a wheelchair.
My eyes welled up again, "Em?"
His hand clasped mine, "Belly Bean. It's good to see you among the living. I have missed you and so has Eddie boy."
I hiccuped, "They tell me that I have you to thank for that."
His eyes cast down to the floor for a minute before settling on mine, "It's the least I could for what you've done for Edward. And beside, I couldn't lose my baby sister."
More confusion, "Done for Edward?"
His brow furrowed, "Papa C told me you had amnesia but I didn't think this bad." He paused, "Yes, you saved Edward almost a year ago and it changed him. He was an ass before that and you changed all of that when you pulled him from his car. And the result was that he fell in love with you. He's a goner for you."
Again my mind went into overdrive. Bits and pieces flooded back to me. Working at the coffee shop. Edward coming in almost every day. Pulling him from the car was a vague memory.
Tears welled up again, "Why can't I remember? I want to so bad." I hiccuped, "The Edward I know is a jerk."
Em laughed, "He was. But he has changed so dramatically the last year. Thanks to you."
Em stroked my hair as I cried. I wanted to remember that Edward. I hated James all over for doing this.
Squeezing my hand, he said, "You will remember. I know you will."
He sat with me awhile before Dr. Cullen told both of us to rest.
As my eyes drifted close, I felt someone sit down beside me, taking my hand. The electrical current flowed across my body. It seemed so familiar.
"Bella. No matter how long it takes, I will be here. I love you," Edward's velvet voice drifted to my ears.
He squeezed my hand, resting his forehead against it, "I will show you every day how much I love you."
I fell asleep with my hand in his.
EPOV
She didn't remember me? She didn't remember me! My heart squeezed in my chest. It hurt to breathe.
Walking out of her room felt like goodbye. It couldn't be.
Chief told me to sit down.
"Son, what happened?"
I knew what he was asking. Taking a deep breath, I told him about high school. How arrogant and stupid I had been. How I had treated his daughter. About how I lived my life in California. And about my accident. How Bella saved me. That because of her I had a second chance.
Once I was finished, I took a shuddering breath, expecting him to tell me to leave his daughter alone. And I would, if he told me.
His hand wiped down his face, "I should tell you to leave right now."
My heart shattered, "I understand, sir. I'll go."
His hand clasped down on my shoulder, pushing me back into seating position, "I'm not done."
I held my breath, waiting.
"This explains her behavior in high school. So quiet. Shy. I always knew there was something but never could put my finger on it."
I opened my mouth so apologize again but he stopped me.
"Son, I can tell you love my daughter. I've seen it." He took a deep breath, "Therefore I'm going to forgive you. She has. And I trust my daughter." I breathed a sigh of relief.
He pointed his finger at me, glaring, "But hurt her again and I will hunt you down. I know where to hide bodies that no one would ever find."
I gulped in fear and nodded my head, "Yes sir."
His hand clapped on my back, "Good. Now that that is settled, let's go back." He got up while I stayed in my seat.
"You coming?"
"She doesn't remember who I am." It even hurt just to say it.
The chief sat back down beside me, "She will. Just give it time." I nodded as he left to be with his daughter.
As I said goodbye to my love for he night and made my way home, my phone rang.
Looking down on the display, I answered, "Yes, Jess?"
"You're engaged?" She screeched into my phone.
My eyes widened, "What?"
"Don't what me, Edward Cullen. It's all over the news that you're engaged to a Bella Swan. Why didn't you tell me?"
I groaned. Leah. Of course. Her shot to fame.
"Because it's not official yet."
Her sarcastic laugh filled my ear, "Then why is it all over the news?"
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I went into explanation about Leah. How I had told her that Bella and I were engaged just so she would leave me alone.
She was quiet for a moment, "Do you always just attract psychopaths as girlfriends?"
I laughed a little, "I hope not. At least not now." My hand went through my hair, "I'm sorry Jess. I didn't think she'd go to the press."
She exhaled, "According to what you told me, it makes sense. But I'll handle it from here."
I breathed another sigh of relief, "Thanks Jess. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She laughed, "You'd be hopeless but I'll look for your thanks in my bonus."
I laughed with her, "Of course. Good night Jess."
That night I tossed and turned in my bed, consumed with nightmares of Bella leaving. Never remembering our relationship. Just remembering high school.
I woke in a cold sweat, my breaths coming out in pants. It couldn't happen.
After a shower and breakfast, my mom drove me to the hospital for my physical therapy. Kate, my therapist, said I was making good progress.
Afterwards, my dad stopped me in the hallway.
"Son, you need to come with me?"
Fear gripped me, "What is it? Bella?"
He smiled, "Come with me. You'll see."
Walking bristly down the hall, I stopped in door way to Bella's room. They had removed all the tubes connecting to her body. Just the IV was left. The color was back in her cheeks. She looked beautiful.
"Bella?"
Her tear-filled eyes met mine, "Edward."
A/N: Reviews?
The song Edward is singing is German. It's called 'Paris' by Michelle. I tried translating it. It may not be word for word but close. If you know German, go listen to it. It's amazing.
Stay tuned to see what happens next...xoxo
