Bundle
And I think of you whenever life gets me down
I think of you whenever you're not around
And you rest your bones
Somewhere far from my own
Yeah, but you still pull me home
You still pull me home
You still pull me home
Think of You- A Fine Frenzy
Mood Music: Think of you by A Fine Frenzy, Near to You by A Fine Frenzy, New Letters by Company of Thieves.
Long A/N at the end… please read!
Edward would never again comment on how accommodating the waiting rooms were. The room did little to ease his frazzled nerves and even less to settle his troubled mind. Pacing the room had seemed to help but only until his legs were too tired to move.
Now he just felt trapped.
Rosalie had put on some kids program for Alice and Emmett and Edward watched the two of them, fascinated by how they interacted with one another. They were truly becoming a family and the thought brought relief, momentarily, to his worried mind.
His mother sat beside him, her hand tenderly stroking his hair and gently whispering words of encouragement in his ear.
Everything was going to be alright.
It had to be alright.
Because if it wasn't Edward didn't know what he was going to do or how he was going to respond. His body and mind felt numb to the ongoing struggle happening in the other room and this fact only seemed to be infuriating him more.
He should have been in there with her.
He should be by her side; but he wasn't.
A million different possibilities and outcomes entered his mind, each more devastatingly depressing than the next. He couldn't survive without Bella; that was clear to him from the moment they had become something more.
He needed her.
He needed her to breathe, to function, to live, to feel.
Rose entered the room setting a bag in front of him before plopping down on the couch next to Jasper her eyes trained in on the television.
"What?" Edward questioned looking at her curiously.
She diverted her eyes from the television to meet his, hers were filled with pain. "You haven't eaten all day and you need to eat."
He picked up the bag in front of him opening it. He was surprised to find a burger and fries inside the bag; something he knew they didn't serve in the cafeteria.
"Where in the world?"
"I had a friend deliver it," she replied simply, shrugging her shoulder. "Please eat. One of you needs to stay strong."
"I'm not hungry," he admitted "but thank you."
Pulling a fry out he popped it into his mouth, chewing it and swallowing before opening the sandwich. He ate slowly, trying not to focus on the texture of the food that was now entering his upset stomach. He ate as much as he could before drinking the bottle of water his mother had set in front of him hoping it would calm his nerves.
Edward found his eyes staring at the clock for the second time that day and a sigh escaped his lips.
"I can't believe we haven't heard anything yet."
"No news is good news, right?" Jasper questioned hope filling his voice.
"It depends." Esme stated softly.
"I still can't believe dad wouldn't let me back there." Edward muttered grabbing his trash and standing on his aching feet and walking to the trash bin. More words seemed to tumble out of his mouth under his breath from frustration.
"It's my child. He promised both of us I would be in there. Bella must feel all alone."
He threw the garbage in the bin rolling his shoulders to try and relieve some of the tension that was present in his muscles. It only seemed to make them ache more.
His eyes burned from the lack of sleep and for some reason he found comfort in the dull pain. At least he was feeling something.
Setting down in one of the lounging chairs Edward picked up Alice and Emmett curling them up with him and sighing at the comforting feeling their small bodies brought. Alice clung to Bella's bear, her arm wrapped tightly around its neck.
"When we meet new sissy?" Alice questioned looking up at him so innocently it almost broke his heart.
"Soon, love. Very soon."
--
His body felt warm, almost too warm, and he could feel something wiggling in his lap; gently pulling him out from his dreams. There was noise all around him, leaving him in a general state of confusion.
"Edward," his mother's voice was gentle but prodding. "Wake up, son."
His body was stiff and he felt disoriented from sleeping in an awkward position. Opening his eyes he looked down, noticing Alice wiggling in his lap, deeply asleep and softly murmuring. Emmett was curled up against his other arm, his thumb firmly stuck between his teeth.
Rolling his neck to ease the tension he looked up at his mother, realizing exactly where he was. Bella was in the hospital, she had gone into labor, and he wasn't dreaming. Concern filled him for both Bella and the baby. His heart sped up as he looked up into his mother's bloodshot eyes.
"Your father called. He said to tell you to scrub up and meet him in the entry for surgery room one."
"Did he say anything?"
"Just that you need to meet him," Esme looked down at him patting him softly on the cheek before leaning down and placing a peck on his forehead. "Well, go on daddy. Go scrub up."
Edward gently moved the two kids off of him, laying them out on a couple of chairs the bear tucked between them. He made his way down the hallway, quickly entering the changing room and pulling on the hospital grade scrubs.
The soap stung his skin, but he was used to the burning feeling and relished in the fact that his questions would be answered shortly. A nurse opened the door for him; her eyes avoiding his as he walked slowly down the hallway.
His father stood outside the door a small bundle of fabric in his arms.
"Hello there, daddy." Carlisle's eyes were rimmed in red and it was clear that he was very tired. Edward came to a stop in front of him; his eyes scanning the small bundle, feeling the nerves build up in his stomach. His father looked at him for a moment, placing the bundle in his arms.
"You have a very healthy baby girl," Carlisle stated smiling softly at his son. "She is very beautiful, son."
Edward held the tiny baby in his arms, gently rocking her back and forth. His eyes watered at the mere sight of her and Edward felt his chest constrict with love. Leaning down he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead tears falling down his face.
Edward quickly looked around, searching for any sign of Bella before focusing once again on his own child. The nurse arrived and Edward reluctantly placed her in the tiny bassinet. Reaching down he gently held her hand, smiling as she lightly gripped his finger. Looking up at his father, the worry seemed to seep from his pores.
"And Bella?" Edward questioned his eyes fixed on his fathers. "How is Bella?"
--
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.
A knock on the door made him swing around, his father stood slumped against the doorway a tiny bundle in his arms.
"I thought this might ease the waiting game." He spoke softly bringing the small baby into the room and placing her in Edward's trembling hands.
"How is her surgery going?" Edward questioned gently rocking the baby. The action not only calmed his nerves but seemed to make him feel stronger. For the first time in days, he felt like he was home.
"They are just finishing replacing the valve. Then they will pull her off cardiopulmonary bypass and see how her heart is pumping. We were lucky it was her valve that gave out and not her aorta."
He nodded his head curtly at his father, noticing everyone's eyes on the small baby in his arms.
"May I?" Esme questioned her arms held out and a look of pure joy on her face. Placing his daughter in his mother's arms, Edward could feel the exhaustion of the day creeping in. His knees wanted to give out and he quickly made his way to the closest chair, dropping into it. His head rested in his hands and his breathing came out in short pants.
Carlisle moved next to him, placing a hand on Edward's shoulder.
"Everything is going to be fine, son. She is getting a new aortic valve and there shouldn't be a ton of concern about her body rejecting it as they are using a mechanical valve. If they were to give her a human or animal she would have to take medicine to prevent calcification and rejection. The valve would weaken much quicker as well. While she will have to take an anticoagulant, the benefits outweigh the risks immensely."
"She is going to need you, Edward, more so now than ever before. Recovery takes months."
"I know dad," Edward sighed softly "I just need her to be okay for myself to feel okay."
His father smiled at him softly his hand reaching up and ruffling his hair. "Then don't let her go."
"I won't."
"So," Esme questioned placing the baby in Rose's arms and making her way across the room and next to Edward. "What are you going to name her?"
"I'm going to wait for Bella's help on that one." Edward replied softly, watching Rose as she gently rocked the baby. "But I have a few ideas."
Next chapter is, unfortunately, the epilogue of the story. I would like to thank all of you who submitted names for the baby. The name will be revealed in the epilogue! I'm hoping to have the epilogue posted Monday!
Thank you to all of you who reviewed, added this story to your alerts, or to your favorites!
I'm really sad to see these characters go but am really just truly amazed by the response this story has been getting. Without you all, this would have just been some forgotten one shot. I have a few ideas for my next story and both can be seen below:
Whispers
Summary: Bella has always known that she was different, her step father made sure of that. One day she meets Dr. Edward Cullen, a kind and unasuming man who offers his assistance in helping Bella lead a normal life. Will Edward be able to help Bella escape the whispers that taunt her every move or will she succomb to her fears and give in to the darkness.
The whispers began to crescendo and rise drowning out all other thoughts, all other concerns. Bella made the way across the small room, her eyes trained onto every individual knowing they were talking about her. The room began to spin and the whispers only got louder.
She knew they were staring at her and she fell to her knees in despair, crying out. The whispers became louder, screams of blame, of regret, of despair. Her head spun and she tucked it in between her knees, sobbing into the floor.
A single voice broke through her revere, speaking so softly she had to struggle to listen.
"Bella?" It called to her.
She opened her eyes and raised her head, looking around for the voice that was calling to her, beckoning her, but all she could see were streaks and blurs. Her eyes squinted trying to focus in on the face in front of her, trying to clear the fog.
The voice spoke again, softly saying her name. It took only a moment for her to process and recognize the voice, and confusion was evident on her face.
"Edward?"
Our Last Summer (The Way I Loved You)
Summary: A phone call brings three friends (Edward, Bella, and Alice) back to their summer homes and back into each other's lives. When tragedy strikes the group, lines will be drawn, boundaries crossed, and lives will be turned upside down. Is it really that easy to let go of your friends, or your first love, when every memory you cherish contains them? Warning one of the three main characters WILL die.
I had never struggled with much in my life, but in one summer all that changed. I knew the minute I had gotten the call that something was wrong, something had changed. It had been a few years since we had all gotten together, taking the winding ferry to our childhood beach homes, our lives having led us in different directions.
I stepped off the ferry bypassing the scant booth advertising the wonders of La Push Beach and scanned the crowd for the familiar faces, seeing a blur of people. I wondered for a moment if I could still recognize them, could see some semblance of the children they used to be.
I didn't have to wonder for long.
They stood side by side, hands entwined, a fierce determination present upon both of their faces. I scanned each of them, noting that while their features were more adult like I could still see the semblances of childhood innocence.
I dropped my duffle bag and bound the few final steps wrapping my arms around each of them and pulling them to me tightly. The feeling of comfort spread through me and it only took me a moment to notice that neither was responding to the hug. I pulled back, my eyes questioning, as I looked between the two of them.
Taking a deep breath, Alice ran her hand through her spiky black hair, her eyes looking tired.
"I think we need to talk," she spoke her voice breaking slightly.
I never could have imagined how it would all end.
You can vote for your choice by clicking the survey link in my profile, listing your choice in your review, or PMing me. I'm really excited about both stories and think they both have major potential!