Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight…but I do own this plot so please don't steal it…it's not nice!

This chapter was pre-read by the beautiful and talented OneOfEddiesGirls….and was betaed by the wonderful Cherry Bella. Thank both of you ladies very much! I don't know where I would be without you!

Sorry this took so long….I could give you a ton of reasons about RL and how I am now homeschooling, and my son is in Football every day, and Life has been CRAZY…And how I got some negative feedback from the last chap that really hurt my feelings and I just didn't have the motivation to write this story anymore…and it would all be true, but you really wouldn't care lol..and you just want to read the darn chapter anyway…so enjoy!

Chapter 36

Bella

It felt as though the breath had been knocked out of me. I stood planted in place waiting for someone to say something, to tell me that this was just a cruel joke.

But that didn't happen.

Edward moved closer and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Are you okay? Bella talk to me baby."

"Wha...what happened?" I finally managed to squeak out.

Edward kept eye contact as he slowly began to speak. "I don't have all the details baby, all I know is that your father was hit by another driver who ran a stop sign. He was entrapped in the car and had to be cut out with the Jaws of Life. He was flown to the hospital, and is in a critical condition."

He paused; I'm sure waiting for my reaction only I didn't know how to react. My father had made it perfectly clear that he either didn't love me or just didn't care about me, either way he didn't want me in his life. Still it hurt to know that he was in pain, that this horrible thing had happened to him and that I may possibly lose him forever.

"That was my dad on the phone," Edward continued. "He just heard about it and is going to the hospital to find out more information. He said he would call us as soon as he knows more."

I nodded my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my father was hurt and in the hospital.

"Also." Edward hedged causing me to focus my attention back on him. "My dad said they haven't been able to locate Jasper to tell him. He asked if you may know where he would be."

I slowly shook my head, how on earth would I know where Jasper was? We lived hundreds of miles apart and barley even spoke these days.

I felt like I was in a trance. I probably should have been doing something I just wasn't sure what. What do you do when your father, who has made it perfectly clear that he wants nothing to do with you, is laying in a hospital bed alone?

Maria walked to my side and placed her hand on my arm. "Sweetie, are you okay? Do you need to talk about it?"

I studied her face for a long while trying to make all of the thought swarming around in my head make some kind of sense.

"No." I finally told her calmly. "Thank you, but I don't think I need to talk about it."

I slowly grabbed my purse from the counter and made my way to my room. I shut the door needing some time to myself to figure things out. I climbed on my bed and just laid there. I thought of my childhood before my mother had died. How happy our little family had been. There was love there, it may have been a long time ago, but there was love. I thought of my teen years after she had passed. There were a lot of unhappy times, and though it was hard to remember it I did feel like my father loved me. He may not have shown it to me the way I wanted or needed to be shown, but I had to believe he loved me, that he still did even if he wouldn't admit it to me or himself.

After some time organizing my thought I knew what I had to do. He may not want me around but I had to go see him. I would never forgive myself if ,God forbid, he didn't make it and I hadn't at least attempted one last time to rectify our relationship.

I jumped up from my bed and flug my door open hollering down the hall for Edward and Maria. I went to my closet and pulled out my suitcase and began throwing clothes in it as I tried to think of everything I would need.

Edward was the first to rush into my room. "What is it baby? Are you alright?" I could hear the concern in his voice and as soon as I turned to look at him I saw the confusion written across his face.

Maria quickly walked in behind Edward and sat down on my bed. She looked carefully at my half hazard attempt to pack my clothes and asked, "What are you doing sweetie?"

"I'm going to Forks of course." I told her because that was the only logical thing I could think to do. "I know he said he doesn't want me anymore but …." I stalled trying to find a way to put what I was feeling into words. "That's my Daddy lying in that hospital all alone. He needs me. That's what family does; we are there for one another when we need it."

Maria looked a bit skeptical. "Are you sure you can handle this sweet heart?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "I have to. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to him in his time of need, and I didn't at least try to be there for him."

"Okay." Maria said, shaking her head, "Do you need me to go with you?"

I thought about this for a moment. While it would be nice to have her support, I felt like it was something I needed to do on my own. "No, I think I can handle it." I told her in a small voice.

"Well, you know you can call me if you need anything and I will be on the next flight out there." She said while reaching out to give me a hug. "You are so strong Bella, I am so proud of the woman you have become."

I said a muffled thank you as I hugged her back.

"Well, I'm going with you, no arguments." Edward said still standing by the door.

I gave him a small smile. "Thank you; now go pack your clothes!"

He rolled his eyes but left my room to go get his things together. Maria dumped my clothes out of my suitcase and started re-folding them to put them in properly. She told me to go check on flights and see what I could get for Edward and me while she finished packing. I did as she asked and got us on the next flight out which was leaving in three hours. Edward called his parents back to let them know that we were coming and to make sure someone would be at the airport to pick us up.

This flight was much different than the last flight I had taken. Sure I was a ball of nerves not knowing what to expect once I finally got to my father, but it was nice to have Edward by my side holding my hand and offering me comforting words of affection.

The flight didn't take too terribly long and as soon as we landed and got our luggage we found Alice waiting at the pickup area for us. I rushed into the car only stopping long enough to give her a quick hug.

"Have you been able to get in touch with Jasper yet?" I asked as I dug through my purse to find my cell so I could turn it back on.

Alice hesitated and I quickly glanced at her and saw she had a worried expression. "No, we have tried several times to call him, but his cell must be off because it goes straight to voice mail every time. I even tried calling James's phone to get him, but I didn't get an answer there either."

Now I was confused. "Why on earth would you call James looking for Jasper?"

Alice took a deep breath before answering. "They are just usually together these days."

That wasn't the answer I had expected and from the way Alice had said it I assumed she wasn't very happy about it.

"Where do you want to go first? My house or the hospital?" Alice asked changing the subject.

"The hospital." I said with certainty. I needed to see my father for myself, I needed to see that he would be okay. "Edward can you go look for Jasper while I check on my father?"

He seemed shocked by my question. "Sure, if that's what you want. But are you sure you want to do this alone, Bella?"

Was I sure? No. But I was going to do it anyway. "I'll be fine, I just want to make sure Jasper knows what's going on and that we are back in town."

"Okay, if you're positive." He checked once again. I said a faint yes while I closed my eyes saying a quick prayer asking for strength, and praying that my dad would be alright. Even though we had our differences, I couldn't imagine losing him forever.

It didn't take us to terribly long to get to the hospital and once Alice pulled up to the drop off door I knew it was now or never. I took a deep cleansing breath trying to get all of my nervous energy out.

Edward got out first and opened my door for me then pulled me into his arms for a hug."I'll get Alice to run me by the house and I'll drop our stuff off and get my truck to go look for Jasper, but I'll have my cell on me the whole time so just call if you need me for anything."

"I will." I assured him. I gave him a quick kiss then turned to head in through the huge glass doors of the hospital.

It took me a while to find someone that could help me locate my father. Once I was directed to the correct floor I was told he was in surgery, and that I could wait in the waiting area and a doctor would be out soon to let me know of his condition.

I walked to the waiting room feeling a bit defeated. I had come all this way and still didn't know anything more than I knew in Florida. There wasn't much I could do except wait and hope and pray everything would work out.

Once I made it to the waiting room I was shocked to see Mr. and Mrs. Cullen there as well. I suppose the shock showed because Esme immediately came to give me a tight hug and told me that they would be here for me as long as I needed them.

We spent the next hour in the waiting room chatting and catching up but I was getting concerned as to why no one had come to let me know how my father was doing. Carlisle said he would go check with the nurse again. It didn't take him long to return with some coffee and tell us that there were no new updates as of yet.

A while later Edward walked into the waiting room and I could immediately tell something was wrong. "Where's Jasper?" I asked as I stood to go to him. Edward gave me a quick kiss before pointing his thumb behind him. He walked over to give his parents a hug and thank them for staying with me just as Jasper walked into the room.

He stopped just as he made it in the doorway and he just stood there and stared at me. There was nothing I could do but stare back at him in complete shock. He had lost a lot of weight, so much so that his face had hallowed to the point his cheek bones poked out. His hair was long and greasy, definitely in need of a cut. His eyes were glassy and he had huge dark bags under them. His clothes all crumpled and dirty looking were just hanging off of his body. This was not the Jasper that I had left almost five months ago.

Before I could ask him what had happened to him the doctor came in and asked to speak with me privately. I gave a quick glance to Edward and his parents and hugged Jasper hating the way he felt so frail before following the doctor out of the room and down the hall.

He stopped outside of a door and explained that since I was the only blood relative I would be the only one allowed into the ICU room, but once my father was moved to a recovery room then other visitors would be allowed.

He said my father had sustained a lot of injuries, and lost a lot of blood. He had a broken leg, three broken ribs and a punctured lung. There had been internal bleeding but they were able to get it under control. He said my father was still unconscious but that I could at least see him for a little while. He told me he wasn't out of the woods yet, that the next few days were critical, but he had high hopes that he would make a full recovery.

I walked into my father's room and was not prepared for what I saw. He was covered in scrapes and bruises, he had a tube shoved down his throat and specks of dried blood the nurses hadn't cleaned off yet. He looked so small and helpless, not the strong powerful man I was used to seeing.

I slowly walked to his bed, and placed my hand over his, careful not to disturb and of the needles or tubes attached to him. "Daddy." I said though I knew he couldn't hear me. "I'm here now Daddy. You have to get better for me because I need you. I need you to forgive me like I forgave you so we can be a family again. I need us to be a family Daddy, you and Jasper are all I have left, and I...I need you."

It was at that point that the severity of the situation hit me and I lost it. I cried like I have never cried before. I cried for the loss of my mother realizing I lost my father at the same time. I cried for the horrible relationship I had with my only parent left. I cried for everything my father had missed out in my life for these past months. I cried for the frail beaten down man that lay in the hospital bed. I just cried.

The doctor came back in and told me I needed to let my father rest. He said I could check back in on him tomorrow and to leave my contact information at the nurses' station so if there were any changes in his status they could let me know.

I tried to pull myself together, though that was easier said than done, as I told my father goodbye. I told him I would be back first thing in the morning and I asked him to please be strong and pull through for me.

I met everyone back in the waiting room and told them what I knew. They all hugged me and said they were there if I needed them, but at that moment I just wanted out of the hospital. If I couldn't be with my father I didn't want to be there. I hated hospitals; they reminded me of all the times my Mom had been in them when she was sick.

We left and headed back to the Cullens house. Esme said they had put new sheets on the bed in the guest room for me, but Edward was quick to let her know I would be staying in his room with him. They didn't even bother arguing, I guess they assumed we had already stayed in a hotel together and we lived together so if we were going to do something we would have already done it.

Jasper also came back to the Cullen's with us and I couldn't wait to get caught up with him. Edward, Jasper and I all walked back to the game room where Alice was on the couch watching a movie. She quickly stood and asked me about my father, after I filled her in on his status she left saying she had some errands to run. I found it extremely odd that neither she nor Jasper made any attempt to speak to each other.

Edward, sensing that Jasper and I had some catching up to do, gave me a quick kiss and asked once more if I was alright. I assured him that I would be once I knew my father was okay. He gave me a final kiss and left Jasper and I alone saying he was going to find Emmett and Jake to hang out with them for a while.

Once Jasper and I were alone it was awkward. He had made himself comfortable on the couch and was just staring at the TV, seeming to be in another world. I sat down beside him trying to figure out what had happened to him while I had been gone.

"I have missed you so much." I told him. That seemed like a good place to start.

"I missed you too, little cousin," he replied. "So what have you been up to?"

"Just the same old stuff. School, work, planning the wedding." I told him wondering why our conversation felt so forced. It never used to be like this.

"Yeah, congratulations on that." He said finally making eye contact.

"Thanks, I'm pretty excited we just can't seem to decide where we want to have the ceremony." I hedged thinking he may want to ask me some questions about the wedding. When he didn't say anything I thought I would change the subject. "So what have you been doing without me here? How are you and Alice these days?"

He let out a sigh as he sat up leaning his elbows on his knees and dropping his head. "I haven't been up to much of anything. Same shit different day. As far as Alice is concerned… we aren't really together anymore."

"What?" I shot up off the couch "When did this happen? Why did it happen, and why hasn't anyone told me?"

Jasper shrugged his shoulders. "It's just one of those things, it didn't work out." He then looked at me, really looked at me and I could see the callousness in his eyes. "I guess no one told you because it really doesn't concern you, I mean you aren't here anyway, so why does it matter?"

"It matters because I care." I shot back. "I may not be here but Jasper I call you all the freaking time, you are the one that never answers the phone or returns my calls."

He shook his head as he stood stretching a bit. "Whatever, it is what it is. Look I gotta get going but it was good to see you."

"Get going?" I repeated his words astonished. "Jasper where the heck are you going? My father, your uncle is laying in the hospital in intensive care. Where could you possibly have to go that's more important than that?"

"Bella would you chill out? You said yourself we can't see him until tomorrow, and I can't just sit around here all night. I'll come by tomorrow and check on him." He must have seen the concern etched on my face because he gave me a quick hug while mumbling, "Just call me if anything changes with him."

And then he was gone. Just like that. Still uncertain of what had just happened I went into the kitchen to see Esme preparing dinner. I asked to help and she of course told me I didn't need to, but after I explained it would help keep my mind off things she obliged and put me to work.

We worked around the kitchen chatting about the upcoming wedding and some ideas she had. I loved the fact that she was so supportive. She said she was just happy we decided to wait until after high school and she was willing to help in any way we needed her.

Alice came in a while later and gave her two cents about the wedding. I knew I would probably regret it because she would go overboard, but I told her I would love for her to help me plan it.

Edward came home just as we were setting dinner on the table. Emmett, Jake, and Rose were right behind him so Esme insisted that they stay for dinner. Alice suggested I call Jasper and invite him as well, I asked if she was sure and she assured me she was fine so I called his cell. It of course went to voicemail, so I left a message, which he never returned

Everyone was quick to tell me how sorry they were about my father, and though it was under these horrible circumstances, it was great to see everyone. Dinner was great, everyone talked and cut up. It made me realize how much I really missed this. I sat back and watched Edward, and he just looked so happy. Sure he was happy in Florida, and he never complained about moving away from his friends and family, but I could tell that he was truly happy here. This is where he needed to be. Where we needed to be.

Just as everyone was digging into their dessert I cleared my throat. "I uh…I have an idea about a place for the wedding." I said to no one in particular.

Edward gave me his full attention as Esme excitedly asked, "What did you have in mind dear?"

"How do you feel about us doing it here? At your house." I asked looking from Edward to his mom then back to Edward.

Edward's smile was huge. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I mean if it's okay with you?" I asked looking to Esme and Carlisle.

"Oh sweetie you know we don't mind in the least little bit." Esme replied sounding surprised.

Alice squealed and clapped her hands. "Oh this is going to be so much fun, I can't wait! I have so much to do before then."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Simmer down, Alice, we want a small, simple wedding. We don't have a ton of money to spend on it so check with Bella before you go overboard."

"Nonsence." Carlisle said, surprising all of us. "You should save your money for after you are married, let your mom and I handle the wedding cost."

Edward stopped with the fork half way to his mouth. "Are you serious?"

"Of course." Carlisle said like it was obvious.

"Thanks Dad." Edward told his father while reaching out to shake his hand. "In that case, Alice go crazy."

We all laughed, but somehow I don't think Alice took it as a joke.

"Forget the wedding, we need to discuss the bachelor party." Emmett said with a serious expression, getting a second helping of desert. It seems the boy still had his appetite.

"Oh no." I said holding up a finger. It was best to get this straight now. "Any and all bachelor party plans need to go through me first." It was best to clear this up right now.

Everyone laughed except for Emmett. "Come on Bella, it's my boys last night as a free man, he needs to enjoy it."

"Your boy." I said making air quotes with my fingers. "Has not been a free man for a while now, and he certainly is not going to start acting like one now."

"Oh Bella, let the boys have their fun." Alice said with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I'll throw you a bachelorette party that I promise will trump anything they ever thought about doing."

"Now that sounds like fun." I told her wondering what she had up her sleeve.

"Hell no," Edward bellowed from beside me. "I know what kind of things my sister convinces you to do, no way she is planning your bachelorette party."

The banter continued well past dessert, and still nothing was decided, but it was all in good fun so I didn't stress too much about it.

After dinner we all helped Esme clean up then Edward and I headed to his room for the night. It had been a long day and I was in desperate need of some sleep. Still I couldn't get Jasper out of my mind so after Edward showered and climbed into bed I decided to ask him about it.

"What a crazy day," I started as I snuggled up close to his chest.

"It really was, wasn't it?" He replied nuzzling my hair.

"Yeah, I'm really worried about my Dad, what if he doesn't get better? What if something happens and he dies?" The reality of the what if's were eating me alive. I needed someone that could give me some definite answers though it seemed that no one could.

"All you can do is pray, baby girl, it's all in God's hands now."

It baffled me a bit that was his response, maybe I was rubbing off on my man more than I thought.

"I have prayed," I told him, "Several times, it's just so hard knowing he is laying there hurt and there is nothing I can do about it."

Edward kissed the top of my head as he stroked my hair. "I have a good feeling Bella, I really think everything is going to work out."

"I sure do hope so," I said with a yawn. "I don't know what I would do if I lost him before we were able to work out our problems."

It was quiet for a while and I wondered if Edward had fallen asleep, but I just couldn't seem to get Jasper off my mind. "Edward," I whispered just in case he was sleeping.

"Yes, baby," he mumbled in a sleepy, raspy voice.

"Jasper was acting very strange today," I stated more than asked. " And he looks so different. Did you know he and Alice broke up?"

"What?... Really? No, I didn't know that. I wonder why Alice never said anything." It was quiet yet again and I decided to leave Edward to his thoughts. There was just too much going on to try and make sense of it all right now. Tomorrow would be a new day and hopefully things would start looking up. Tomorrow, I decided, I would work on re-building my family. I said a prayer asking for a recovery for my father and safety for Jasper. Something told me he needed just as much prayer as my father at the moment.

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