Almost

Untouchable like a distant diamond sky.
I'm reachin out and I just can't tell you why.
I'm caught up in you, I'm caught up in you.
Untouchable burnin brighter than the sun
And when you're close I feel like comin undone.
Untouchable- Taylor Swift

Mood Music: Untouchable by Taylor Swift, Carry you Home by James Blunt, Beethoven Symphony No. 9

There were few things Edward would ever say he regretted in his life, leaving earlier that morning was now holding the top spot on his list. He paced listlessly back and forth across the tiny room; constantly shooting worried glances at the people slumped in the chairs around him.

Rosalie looked stressed to a degree that almost made her look haggard. While they still had not reconciled their differences, he couldn't help but appreciate that she was present. Jasper on the other hand looked manically alert, his eyes darting back and forth following each of Edward's steps. He looked ready to crack under the pressure, something that Edward was desperately trying hard not to do.

And then there was his mother whose eyes never seemed to leave his face. He almost wondered if she was waiting for him to break down and crumble before her eyes. At the moment the idea didn't seem like such a bad one. The only thing stopping him was the two sleeping children in the chair next to his mother.

Emmett and Alice lay across two chairs, each clinging to the other. Bella's small stuffed bear lay between them acting as a buffer to the world around them. Edward stood for a moment, memorizing the way their bodies clung to the object like a security blanket.

He instantly wished he had something to cling to, his eyes watering and tearing.

He couldn't stand still for too long, his legs moving once again back and forth. They ached from the constant movement but he couldn't stop moving, couldn't sit still, because if he did then he would have to think about it.

And that was something he wasn't ready to do just yet.

--

-Eight Hours Earlier-

Sunlight filtered through the blinds and shined on his face. Burying his head in the pillow Edward let out a soft groan, smiling as he heard the tinkling laughter beside him.

"This bed is so uncomfortable," Edward mumbled pulling Bella closer to him and nudging his nose into her hair, inhaling the scent.

"You're just lucky the nurse has a soft spot for you and is letting you stay overnight." Her laughter continued to flow and the sound only seemed to make his heart soar.

"What can I say; I have a way with the ladies."

"Yeah and it didn't have anything to do with the food you had delivered for all the nurses or the fact that you begged."

"I recall no such thing," Edward murmured burying his face deeper in her hair to hide the smile on his face.

He could almost feel her rolling her eyes as she snorted causing a gentle chuckle to escape his lips.

"You're living in denial," she whispered nudging her face against his forehead before tucking it underneath his chin.

A knock on the door a few minutes later regretfully pulled them apart. Rolling out of the bed Edward sat in the chair beside her looking down at the tray of hospital food in front of her.

"That looks almost as good as it smells." The sarcasm in his voice couldn't be masked.

Bella looked down at the food her nose wrinkling in distaste. The lumpy oatmeal and wheat toast didn't look appetizing in the least and Edward looked over at her noticing the frown now present on her face.

"Seriously? This is what I get for breakfast?" Her face was a mixture of both disgust and anger. "I don't even have anything to spread on the toast and there is no milk for the oatmeal."

For a moment he wondered if she was going to cry and then he watched as she pushed the tray away letting out a soft sigh.

"You need to eat, Bella." He gently prodded pulling the table and tray back in front of her and frowning as she groaned in protest.

"I'm not eating that."

"The baby needs the nourishment."

"Well then the cafeteria will have to send me something that actually contains nourishment."

Edward looked down at the food his stomach growling in hunger. He contemplated it for a moment before noting that he wouldn't eat the food either.

"It's heart healthy though." Trying to reason with Bella wasn't the smartest thing to do, but it was the only thing his mind could come up with at the moment.

"I don't care if it will make all of my troubles go away," Bella screeched, "I am not eating that."

"You need to eat something."

"Then go get me some food that I would actually consider edible," Bella muttered shaking her head in disgust. "You can go home and shower as well. Don't take this the wrong way but you kind of stink."

Edward glanced at the clothes he had been wearing for more than a day and nodded his head in agreement. Truthfully he probably did stink and a shower and food sounded more amazing then Bella probably realized.

"What would you like me to bring you back?"

"Pancakes," her voice was excited and her eyes glazed over causing him to chuckle, "with butter and syrup, a fried egg, and some bacon or sausage." She looked at him for a moment before smiling softly and fluttering her eyes at him. She was trying to flirt and it didn't pass Edward's notice. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble I would also love some hash browns and orange juice."

"You're supposed to be eating healthy foods," Edward chastised softly.

"I won't tell if you won't," she whispered winking at him as he shook his head.

"I think I can compromise a little bit since you are eating for two," Edward mumbled, "but don't tell my father."

"Don't tell your father what?"

The voice startled Edward and he looked down at Bella whose eyes were wide and focused on the door. Edward turned around smiling softly at his Mother and Rose who stood in the door equal looks of amusement and confusion etched on their face.

"Edward is busting me out of this joint!" Bella squealed.

"That is not what is happening," he replied his hands held in the air in surrender as Bella giggled behind him. "I'm just going to go home and take a shower. I may also be picking her up some food that is a bit more edible than the gruel they are trying to serve her."

The subtle tisk that escaped his mother's lips wasn't unnoticed by him, but Edward chose to ignore it. Instead he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Bella's lips causing her to smile.

"Love you," she whispered.

"Love you too," he replied kissing her forehead before smiling at the other ladies in the room. "Take care of her while I am gone."

--

Edward stood under the hot water, letting it soothe his aching muscles and ease the tension in his back. Sleeping in a hospital bed wasn't restful and it wasn't comfortable. The fact that he had gotten little sleep didn't matter when he thought about it; as long as he was by Bella's side he could deal with anything.

He could hear the distant ringing of his phone as he washed the soap out of his hair and sighed into the empty stall. Bella was most likely starving and Rose was wondering where he was with the food. The feel of the water on his muscles was just too nice to leave so quickly, and he ignored it hoping they wouldn't be too upset at having to wait a little longer.

He stood in the shower after he had thoroughly washed himself and just let the hot water run in rivulets down his body. The action only continued to relax him and clear his mind from the cobwebs that seemed to be present from the lack of sleep. After a few minutes, sighing, he turned the water off and hopped out wrapping a towel around his waist and making a b-line for the phone.

It rang just as he picked it up.

"Edward, where the hell are you?" Rosalie's panicked voice shouted through his phone speaker and he looked at the object annoyed for a moment.

"I ran home to clean up a bit and pick up a few things. I'll be back with the food in just a bit."

There was a lot of noise on her end and his brown scrunched in confusion. The noise only seemed to swell and he could hear voices in the background. For a moment swore he could hear bells going off. "What is with all the noise? Bella is supposed to be relaxing."

"Drop whatever you're doing. Get. To. The. Hospital. NOW!" Each word was punctuated with a deep growl and Edward looked at the phone in confusion.

"What's going on?"

"Bella's gone into labor."

"But it's only Friday, she has a scheduled c-section on Monday."

"Edward," her voice broke and the word came out in a sob. He could clearly hear the alarms now and his chest constricted tightly cutting off his breathing.

The phone slipped from his hands and he looked around the room, panic filling his chest. Carlisle didn't think her heart would be able make it through labor. His father's words echoed around his head and he felt dizzy. Grabbing the closest clothes he could find he threw them on picking up the phone his breath coming out in pants.

"I'll be there in five minutes."

--

He drove like a bat out of hell, pulling into an emergency spot and racing into the hospital. Ignoring the calls from several nurses to slow down he bypassed the elevator, not wanting to waist the time waiting for it. Opening the stairwell door he ran as quickly as he could up the seven flights of stairs, his breathing ragged as he came to a halt outside her room.

The effort was in vain and he could feel the panic rippling inside of him; the room was empty.

The panic continued to build in his chest only worsening his breathing problem and causing several people to turn and stare at him.

"Where is she?" he questioned the nurse nearest to him.

"Edward!" his mother called and he jerked his head around. She was quickly making her way towards him, her breathing just as ragged as his own.

"They took her down and are prepping her for surgery." She reached out and grabbed his hand then, the action less comforting than it used to be. She dragged him along the hallways, his body clearly going into shock as everything sunk in; he let her pull him along.

Questions fluttered through his mind but he couldn't find the will or the energy to ask them. He wondered only briefly if his father was with her, if someone who cared for her was with her, since he wasn't. Immediately he remembered his promise to be by her side and his heart ached. He knew, without a doubt, that his promise would have to be rescinded.

"Is dad with her?"

His mother nodded briefly, her head turning around to look at him as she skidded to a stop in front of an elevator pressing the button repeatedly. He wanted to tell her that it wouldn't make it move any faster, that it was a waste of energy, but the words wouldn't escape his mind; another thought did though.

"I can't lose her." The words tumbled from his lips as the stood in front of the elevator and his mother looked at him, an unreadable expression on her face. For the first time in quite awhile he felt completely and utterly helpless and alone. His body shook and he could feel the tears burning his eyes.

"I can't lose her."

Esme looked up into his eyes, tears brimming on her lashes and her hands reached up pulling him to her. "I know sweetie, I know.

Special thanks to Pixielovestoshop (my wonderful, fantastic beta) for looking this over so quickly!

Only a few more chapters to go until we reach the end… I didn't get the sneak peek out because my weekend was just really crazy but hopefully updating quickly will make that up to you!

In the next day or two I am going to be posting some information regarding the next story that I will be working on. I have two very strong ideas in my head and I would like to hear which one you guys would like to read more! (So be sure to vote on that once it is posted!)

For those of you who have asked: I have no plans as of right now to do a sequel for this story.

Thanks to all of you who reviewed or added this story to your alerts or favorites!

Check out the thread for this story on Twilighted! Also check out my ff forum. Both links are located in my profile!