My Beautiful Disaster.

Chapter Forty-Seven.

I shook my head, willing the on-coming headache away and ran my hands through my hair, frustrated. The beating in my head increased as I thought back over the last two hours. Summer was coming and that non air-conditioned room did nothing to calm her down. She had just come out from her first major meeting with her record label. She had already been nervous, and now her head was full with so many dates, so many names, that she felt as if she'd collapse any moment.

Emmett chuckled at her exhausted expression. "There'll be more where that came from, let me tell you."

She rolled her eyes, giving back a half-hearted smile as she threaded her arm through Emmett's for support. The meeting hadn't been that bad. It consisted of sitting around a large table, some faces she recognised, some she didn't. But she felt safe with Emmett on one side and Jane on the other.

Bella had got very well acquainted with Jane over the last two weeks. The day after Alice's wedding, at nine in the morning, a short woman, slightly stout with a stormy expression on her face had turned up at their door. This unexpectedly call lead to Bella opening the door in nothing but a robe - it wasn't the way Bella had wanted to greet her publicist. After a few meetings with coffee, and after Jane had finally realised Bella wasn't going to fight her or try and steal her job, they got along quite well. Of course there were finer points that they didn't agree on, but Jane was keeping Bella's schedule workable, and that was all that mattered.

In the meeting, after going over formalities, it had turned into a more friendly chat. Aro talked about how large his hopes were for Bella's career; she hadn't expected any less, Emmett had told her how much money he would earn by having her on board! Demetri had been slightly more tight lipped, but the ideas he had put across she had agreed with. Over all she spent most of her time listening in awe of all that was happening and being discussed around her, while trying to avoid Felix's smug grin.

After so many dates had been filled into her diary she felt as if she wouldn't have a spare moment. This thought irked her - she wanted to spend as much time as she had with Edward. Emmett, of course, knew this concern and had managed to have her staying in Forks and only commuting to Seattle for the CD opening and a few interviews/performances.

She was really starting to get excited now. Everything she'd wanted in a career was finally coming together. Her debut album, which was due to hit stores in two weeks, had been delivered through the door yesterday, and Edward and her had spent most of their day sitting on the couch listening to it. She found it hard to believe that every piece of music had been formed upstairs.

In her thoughts she didn't even feel Emmett pulling her hand through the oncoming crowds and into her car. She blinked rapidly at the change of lighting. Emmett laughed. "You're completely out of it, Bells. I told you that you needed more coffee than you drank this morning. Those things are draining."

She nodded, rubbing her eyes tiredly, before bracing her hands on the wheel and starting to drive. "I'll know that for next time."

"That you will. But lucky for you, you don't have to attend so many of those meetings. You'll be working the crowd while I sit in s stuffy room and make sure you get your fair penny."

She leaned over, kissing his cheek. "I owe you so much for this. I hope you know how much it means to have you as my agent."

He tapped her knee lightly in response. "There's no-one else I'd rather work with."

She smiled at his words; he really was an amazing friend to her now. They'd clicked even from the first meeting. With his cheeky grin and wonderful wit it was hard to not like him. She would never think he was attractive - she couldn't think of him in that way - but he always knew how to make her laugh and smile, and those qualities made her sure that she'd made a friend for life in him.

The journey in the car was short and soon she was dropping Emmett off at Rosalie's house. He stretched his hand behind him into the back seats and grasped a bouquet of lilies in his hand. She smiled at him, he returned it with a small blush on his cheeks. She giggled, "Always the charmer," she teased, which earned her a small punch on the air.

He shrugged, fixing his tie and grabbing his briefcase as he exited the car. "Gotta keep my woman happy."

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously Em, you're constantly making her happy. You don't need flowers for that. You mean the world to her; she told me herself."

He looked down at the flowers. "She means the world to me, too, Bella." He whispered so quietly it was almost unheard. She caught his words, and they warmed her heart. It was lovely to see two people that meant so much to her, fall in love. From the corner of her eye she could see Rose behind a curtain, watching them both interact with an easy smile on her face. Rosalie was a much calmer, more optimistic person now. She was getting used to losing the control she had relied on her whole life. With that came a happier friend to Bella.

She reached over and shoved Emmett the rest of the way out of the car. He began to protest. "Get lost, Emmett.' Bella pointed to the window, and Rosalie shrunk into the shadows, caught now. 'Your woman's waiting."

He sent her a cheeky grin before waving behind the glass of the car. She waved back and then set off again, opening the window slightly and willing the hot weather away. Normally she would be begging for the rain to run away and the sun to come up. But the sweltering hot weather wasn't what she wanted today. The streets were slightly busier than normal, but she put that down to it being the weekend. Saturday, to be exact. A Saturday in which she'd woken herself up at seven - what a crime!

Minutes later she was outside the place she called home; Edward and Alice's house. Soon it would only be Edward's as Jasper and Alice had found the picture perfect house they wanted about eight blocks away. She stepped out the car, hearing the door close behind her as she walked up the steps. At the top she turned and aimed the key at the car, hearing it click satisfyingly shut. She forced the door open…

… to hear herself running through the speakers.

She laughed joyfully. She still wasn't used to that; hearing herself singing. She was sure it'll always surprise her, because she never thought she'd get that far, and that she'd always get that jittery feel in her stomach when she heard it. As she hung up her (un-needed) jacket on the peg she found herself singing along.

She walked into the living room, throwing her keys down on the coffee table, before turning in the direction of the kitchen and finding Alice. She was sitting half on, half off a seat at the kitchen table, tapping her foot fast and scribbling something down quickly on paper.

"Alice, what're you still doing here?!" As her voice rang out the house Alice turned to her, without even jumping at the sound. She shook her head- it was Alice; she probably 'sensed' her presence.

Alice shrugged, her eyes on Bella, while still writing. From what Bella could see, she didn't even go out of the lines. Extraordinarily talented, was Alice. "I'm writing you a note about Edward, and the cleaning, for when I'm away."

Bella walked into the kitchen, going straight for the coffee machine and the Ibuprofen; her headache was still lurking in the shadows of her brain. As she opened the cupboard door she replied, "Couldn't you just tell me now?"

Alice was silent for a moment. "Yes, I suppose I could. But I'm still writing you a note, just in case you forget anything."

Bella shook her head. "I may be clumsy, but it doesn't affect my mental conditions. I'm pretty sure I know all of the things on that list. Plus, I do the cleaning with you every Sunday."

Bella turned around to see Alice drop the pen onto the paper and look down at her hands. They were twisting, fumbling. Alice looked back up to Bella. "You'll take good care of Edward, won't you Bella? I don't want anything to happen to him."

Bella smiled lightly. "Alice, alice, alice.' She sighed, cocking her head to the side. 'Who am I?"

Alice squinted her eyebrows. "Bella Marie Swan.".

"And whom do I love with everything in me?"

Alice blushed guiltily. "My brother, Edward Anthony Cullen."

"So am I going to do everything in my power to make sure he's alright in the next three weeks that you are gone?" I questioned, my hands on my hips dramatically.

"Yes," Alice squeaked.

She walked over to the table, placing both her hands on the edge. "And who are you?"

Alice cracked a smile. "Mary Alice Brandon-Whitlock."

"And what are you supposed to be doing in,' She took a quick glance at her watch, 'under two hours?"

Alice giggled. "Boarding a plane, with Jasper, to Paris."

Bella spread her arms out in front of her. "So why are you still here?"

Footsteps could be heard approaching the kitchen, and because she'd known him all her life, she could already tell it was Jasper - he must have been visiting Edward before they left. As he was rounding the corner he shouted, "Honey! Are you finished writing your useless list of things Bella already knows yet? Because we've got a plane---' He came through the door and spotted Bella standing beside his new wife. 'Oh, hey Bella. She's given you her instructions, has she?"

Bella cracked a smile. "She sure has." She rounded the table and wrapped her arms around Alice. 'I know you're only worried about him, but I promise to take good care of him. Now go! Enjoy the honeymoon you've been waiting two weeks for!"

Alice giggled, jumping off the kitchen stool and went to stand beside Jasper, who wrapped his arm tightly around her waist. Jasper moved his hand in a saluting action. "Until we return, fair Bella."

She shoved his shoulder, urging the pair out to the door. "Have a great trip and a safe journey! We'll be waiting for you to return!"

With another round of goodbyes and waves, she sent them out the door. She stood by the door, the sun streaming down on her face making her blink her eyes rapidly. She waited until their car was just a dot in the distance before closing the door. Locking the sunlight away she moved through the house, startled slightly by such a quiet atmosphere. She stood in the doorway of the living room, remembering all the moments that had happened there, which had shaped the way she lived today. So many things had happened in his house.

Without knowing her feet guided her from the living room, down the hall and through the small lane to Edward's music room. It saddened her to see the small sheen of dust on the top of his beloved piano, glittering away like specks of diamond. She moved to the centre of the room, choosing to sit on the stool and simply stared at the object. It was untouched, but had definitely been loved. The stacks of music sitting to the side of the piano were beginning to brown; pieces he'd used over and over again were becoming ratty and breaking at the seams. She wrapped her arms around her waist, threatening to break down as she did so many times these days.

She steeled what she was feeling; she'd already cried too many times. She stood up carefully, not wanting to move any piece of furniture - she was trying to preserve it as how it looked the last time she'd seen him in here. He'd never be down here again, at least not on his own accord. He practically lived upstairs now.

She closed the door, hearing it shut as she pulled the handle, and then made her way upstairs, hearing the floorboards of the stairs creak under the footsteps she made. She walked down the hall and turned into the room, the door slightly ajar. She stood at the door, not moving, just watching Edward as he breathed in and out, his chest rising and falling. He was in a permanently exhausted state now, really only moving to use the bathroom and to sit up to eat. He was propped up with numerous pillows, and to his bedside sat the wheelchair he now fiercely depended on. Lying there was a completely changed man from whom she'd met almost a year ago, yet she loved him all the same. It didn't matter that he stayed in one place all the time now; that their relationship couldn't be as physical as it used to be; that he couldn't go out with her like normal couples could; that his body was changing dramatically - he was basically skin and bones. Those things didn't matter, because she could tell he was still the same man she loved inside, albeit and little bit weaker than before.

She inched the door open slowly, begging it not to make a sound. She couldn't bare to wake him when he seemed so peaceful - in his dreams his pain was just a faint memory. She tip-toed across the floorboards, now an expert at knowing which ones squeaked and which didn't. Slowly she lowered herself onto the bed to lie down beside him on top of the sheets. Her face scrunched as she saw him move onto his side with difficulty, his arm stretching limply to hang over her waist as if he felt her presence. She smiled softly, snuggling further into his side as best she could.

It was only eleven o'clock; she could join him and sleep for an hour or so.

The pair slept well into the afternoon.

----

Three Weeks Later

----

Bella felt the heat beat down on her. She felt sticky with sweat, and if it wasn't for her large sunglasses she would be struggling to see through he harsh light. She inched her bag back onto her shoulder, trying to stop it from falling off. She walked through the town, only a few streets away from Jasmine's Café where she would be meeting Rosalie and Alice for lunch. Alice had got back from her honeymoon two days ago and they had settled right into their new home. Bella had seen Rosalie a few times in the last three weeks, but between both their jobs and Rosalie's growing romance with Emmett it had been hard to find the time. She was looking forward to meeting with just the girls and sharing each others news.

She looked left and right before crossing onto the other side of the street. Her ears picked up something familiar as she passed one of the hairdressers, and she realised it was her song. She smiled widely; she was still getting used to hearing her music played wherever she went.

Yes, now she was a successful music artist. She single had been released two weeks ago, before it climbed up the charts and it was now settled comfortably at number two. She couldn't be happier. Emmett had arranged her schedule - which was filling up nicely - with just the right amount of interviews and appearances that she could handle. In the last two weeks she had made two visits out to Seattle to sing on television. She was still trying to wrap her head around what she was doing, and how well she seemed to he doing it. She was just happy that people were accepting her music.

She turned the corner and her eyes caught onto the Jasmine's Café sign at the end of the road. She squinted her eyes, seeing a small figure bounce up and down at the café window, waving to someone in side - this made her giggle; it had to be Alice. She quickened her step, getting nearer and nearer the café until she stopped in her tracks, a girl standing blocking her way with an awed expression on her face.

The girl had to be about ten years old, and she was a beauty. With long coppery hair that instantly reminded her of Edward and the deepest brown eyes she'd ever seen, she knew that this girl would be somewhat of a heartbreaker when she grew up. The girl kept her eyes on Bella's face, her lips in an astounded pout. She raised one hand and pointed up at Bella. "Oh. My. God."

Bella's smile tried to stretch further, but behind her sunglasses she was giving the girl a 'what are you looking at' look?

The girl broke into a large grin. "Are you Bella Swan?"

A small amount of butterflies filled Bella at this question. She resisted cowering away at the mention of someone recognising her - it was part of the job, after all. She shrugged and replied, "Yes, I am."

The small girl jumped up and down, clapping her hands together excitedly. The action reminded her of Alice after an 'incredible' shopping spree. The girl reached hurriedly into her backpack and pulling out a scruffy notebook and pink pen. She held them out to Bella. "Can I have your autograph please? I love your music!"

Bella laughed lightly before bending down to the girls level and scribbling her name onto the paper. She placed the cap back onto the pen and gave her a big smile. "There you go. It was nice meeting you…" She drew off, wondering the name of the little girl.

The girl was happy to fill in the gaps. "Renesmee."

Bella gave Renesmee a small wave before continuing on her journey to the end of the street. A quick look back and she saw the little girl, now standing beside a slightly older boy with long black hair and very tan skin. The little girl was pointing and grinning at her own retreating figure while the boy patted her back and tried, unsuccessfully, to rein in Renesmee's enthusiasm. Yes, Bella was right. She'd just met a heartbreaker. And her future husband, it seemed.

She quickened her step once again, eager to see the friends she had so missed. She stepped into the café, hearing the bell chime behind her. Numerous people looked up, but thankfully for her, few noticed who she was due to her sunglasses - they were Emmett's idea of camouflage. She caught Alice's eye, who promptly screamed in excitement, alerting the whole shop to her presence. She felt the instant blush coat her cheeks and quickly made her way to their table, which was at the back of the shop.

She was quickly enveloped in hugs, whispers of excitement at seeing one another again, and then she was pushed into a chair. Alice bounced in her seat, too excited to keep still. Bella saw Rose put a hand on her knee, which calmed her slightly down. She beamed, and was glowing, no doubt to having a brilliant honeymoon. The light tan on her made her look radiant. "Okay, first things first, presents!"

Bella rolled her eyes at her friend. "Alice!' She chastened, 'It was your honeymoon. You didn't need to go hunting for presents for us."

Rose nodded along with Bella, although she could see her friend become curious as to what was in the little blue bag. It was Alice's turn to roll her eyes. "Seriously Bella, I spent most of my time shopping anyway. It wasn't going out of my way, nor was it a chore."

Bella laughed. "Alright then. Let's see what you got us!"

Alice giggled, "That's the spirit!" She replied before delving into the bag and bringing back out two gift wrapped packages, one in pink and one in midnight blue. She gave them their colours and they opened them quickly, eager to see what was inside, despite Bella still feeling guilty at Alice for feeling she had to do this. She quickly shrugged the feeling off and opened the package. Out fell a tiny silver key ring of the Eiffel Tower, plus a gorgeous charm bracelet, with space to add more. Both Rose and Bella reached over and hugged their friend again in thanks.

"It's beautiful, Al! Thank you so much!" Rose gushed, eagerly tying her bracelet on her wrist. Bella followed suit, afterwards admiring the way it twinkled in the light.

Rosalie pushed the packaging to the side as our waiter brought over our drinks - Alice and Rose had already ordered for Bella, knowing her so well. She smiled in thanks at the waiter, before turning back to their conversation. She turned to Alice. "So, come on! What was your honeymoon like? I know you're dying to tell us."

"And we're dying to know." Rose interjected.

Alice blushed crimson, something she rarely did. She finger ran over her wedding band unconsciously. Bella noticed and smiled lightly at the gesture. What Alice and Jasper had was real, and it was a pleasure to see her best friend whom she'd known all her life, plus her newest best friend find happiness in each other. She sighed wistfully. "It was amazing. Paris is so beautiful, during the day everyone is so happy and joyful, wondering around the city, and then at night, it comes alive. The lights, the atmosphere. I could have lived there and been quite happy. Being with Jas, of course, made it even more special.' Rose and Bella aww-ed at their friend. 'We're planning on going back there for a holiday some time - it was mesmerising. We climbed the Eiffel Tower, visited all the known sights, strolled through the city. Gosh, it's just… words can't describe.' She giggled. 'I'd, obviously, recommend it."

Bella lifted the cup to her lips, trying to grin and drink at the same time. "How did Jasper find it? He tends to like the quieter places." Bella mused as she placed her mug back on the table.

Alice waved her hand. "Jasper loved it. Even the shopping spree's I went on. I think it makes a difference when you're away with a person you love. It makes you feel differently towards the place, do things you might not have done before. And you know what?' She teased, 'He even carried my bags. Believe me, I had tonnes!" They all laughed, the image of Jasper lugging bags too hilarious to care.

Alice reached over and tapped Rose's hand. "How about you? How've you been?"

Rose looked down, a smile gracing her lips. "I've been… better than I ever thought I could be. Emmett… he just brings out the best in me, I suppose.' Her words hit all of us hard and when she lifted her head there were genuine tears in her eyes. 'You know, after what happened, I was convinced that I would never be able to just… love another man. But then he came along, and he changed everything. He made something that I had once thought to be so hard, completely simple. I love him, you guys."

By the time she was finished she had tears leaving her eyes and trailing down her cheeks, with Alice and Bella hardly containing theirs either. "We're so happy for you Rose." Alice added, her voice think with happiness and tears.

A blinding smile filled Rosalie's face. "We're moving in together. It just feels right." Alice squealed in excitement again, reaching over to hug her friend. Bella stayed silent for a moment, watching her two best friends hug and congratulate one another. She tried to push all jealous thoughts from her head; one kept escaping through - 'will I ever get my happy ending?'.

Bella forced a smile on her face, wiping away the un-needed negativity from her thoughts and facial expression. Rose deserved this, she'd waited for this, so the least Bella could do was be happy. She got up from her chair and rounded to congratulate Rose. "Congratulations!' She looked Rose dead in the eye. 'Don't ever think you don't deserve this because you do."

Rosalie dabbed at the ruins of her make-up. "Thank you. It's been going around my mind for days. I just… it's the right thing to do, isn't it? I mean, I wouldn't have even considered it if it wasn't the right thing, would I?!" Rosalie became frantic.

Alice grasped her friends' panicked face in both her hands, forcing her to calm and look directly at her. "Does it feel right when he's around you?' Rose nodded. 'Do you feel comfortable with the idea of having him around you almost 24/7?' She nodded again. 'Do you love him?" She nodded vigorously. Alice shrugged. 'Then it's the right thing."

Rosalie's eyes fell onto Bella's. "Are you okay with this, Bella?"

Bella snorted, her eyebrows making a frown. "Why wouldn't I be? I'm your best friend and you've just expressed how happy you finally are! So I'm really happy for you."

She reached over and grasped Bella's hand. "Thank you."

Alice laid her chin in her hand, propped up on the table. "How've you been Bella? How've things gone the past three weeks. I would have phoned more regularly but…"

Bella rolled her eyes. "You were on your honeymoon; you aren't supposed to be calling home every day. You're supposed to go have fun and forget all your worries from home. Besides, I had Rose here with me.' Her fingers threaded together resting on the cold surface. 'I'm… alright, nothing out of the ordinary. Things have been hectic… but I'm dealing with it." Bella ran a hand through her hair. "It's just… it's like I'm living two lives. On one hand I'm living out my dream, my single has gone to number two and I'm finally bringing in money doing something I love.' She shook her head. 'Then there's the other life which is just so… tiring. I hate watching the man I love just… waste away. I would give anything, even my new found success, just to have the man I love back to normal.' Tears began rolling down her cheeks as her friends tried their hardest to comfort her. 'But that will never happen. For reasons I can't understand Edward will not get better! And it was wrapping that thought around my head which was the hardest.' She wiped her tears away, determined not to ruin their lunch. 'But, I know now that while some things change for good, some change for bad. I've accepted that Edward's time is increasingly limited.' She fingered the ring Edward gave her. 'And I know that no matter what I do, his time will come."

Bella lifted her head as she heard a gasp, and found Alice gawking at her right third finger, tears streaming down her face. She pointed at the ring and Bella realised that Alice would recognise it, and she'd never been told that Edward had given it to Bella. Alice's eyes shone with an emotion Bella couldn't recognise. "That ring… he gave it to you." She stated in awe.

Bella bent her head. "Yeah. Are you okay with that? I mean, I know it was your mothers."

Alice placed one finger over Bella's moving lips. "Am I okay with this? I'm more than okay with this. He's given you that ring - my mother's wedding ring. That is… wow. I never thought I'd see that again.' She looked up at Bella. 'He really does love you."

Bella wrapped her arms around her body, wanting nothing more than Edward's warm embrace. "I know he does." She whispered.

----

The ride home was a comfortable one, with Bella driving and Rose and Alice in the backseat bickering away about the latest pieces Alice had seen in a Paris Runway show. Bella mostly kept to her thoughts, only giving her opinion on a piece when necessary. Neither Rose or Alice were pushing her; somehow they knew she needed a little bit of peace to sort her head out.

It was Alice's phone that brought her from her thoughts. It appeared to be Jasper, and while the conversation started light and fluffy, it ended with Alice becoming very panicked and telling him that they'd 'rush' home. Bella's hands tightened on the wheel at her words, already going over the limit slightly - she hoped none of her father's old workmates were patrolling today.

Alice slammed her phone shut. "Something's happening to Edward! We need to get home, now!" She screamed, pure terror oozing from her pores. From the corner of her eye she watched Rosalie wrap a blubbering Alice into her arms. Without any comfort of her own she simply sped back to the house, hoping and praying to God that she'd get there before anything… serious… happened.

Soon they rounded into the street and the car squealed as she pulled quickly into the driveway. The three of them jumped out the car, meeting a flustered Jasper at the door. Alice ran into his arms, shooting questions in every direction, while clutching onto Rose's arm for support. Bela simply pushed past them, running full out to reach Edward. She found him lying on the floor, shaking terribly. She pulled herself down to his side, clutching onto him for support when it was really he who needed the help. She felt the others come into the room, but only their presence reached her. Their words blurred into nothing, and her eyes only saw Edward. In the back of her mind she caught Jasper's words about an ambulance coming as soon as they could.

She felt Rosalie's arms wrapped around her shoulders.

All she could say was, "It's too soon."

A/N; I'm back, after a disastrous holiday, and then I have to write something like this, haha. But in all seriousness, it's getting harder and harder to write. It's coming to an end everyone. I hope you'll stay with me until the finale.

CHAPTER COUNT DOWN: 1 chapter, and an epilogue left.

Thank you very much for all the reviews I received for the last chapter. It was inspiring to hear how much you hate to love this story. I'm glad that you're sticking through this with me, even if you don't agree with the outcome. It means a lot to me.

Feel free to grace this story with more reviews; it really is appreciated.

-xlovestory.