Chapter Twenty Three: Tough Talk

Rosalie persists in trying to drag me away from the bed. But days pass and I don't move. I sleep in the chair beside his bed keeping myself alert with coffee Rose brings me. She is trying to keep me fed and sane but loses the fight when she suggests I go home for a break. Each day she brings me a fresh change of clothes and a lunch box of food that I never eat. She has tried to convince me to go home, to even the cafeteria but I can't leave him alone. I'm scared if I go he'll wake up or worse, I'll go and Carlisle will make the decision without me there to fight back for him.

He's their son and they're struggling through this too, but I know a sliver of our man remains and we have to let him come back to us.

But when my mother arrives at Edward's door I see just how below the belt Rosalie is willing to punch to get me up and moving.

"Isabella Marie Swan," She says stern, "what on earth."

"That bitch," I mutter to myself.

"I got a call from your best friend, who is pregnant all of a damn sudden, to tell me my daughter won't leave the bedside of this man who she loves. Bella, you told me about this guy but I honestly thought it wasn't that big of a deal," she moves into the room placing her handbag by the door.

"Dad knew how big of a deal it is," I shrug, "he wouldn't try to talk me out of it."

Charlie had been amazing through this. He'd taken time off work last weekend to sit with Edward and I. We played card games and he'd even given Edward a lecture.

"Don't break my daughter's heart buddy."

It was the first time I had genuinely laughed since Edward had kissed me goodbye the morning of the accident.

"That's not fair," my mother glares at me, "you know I would listen and love to hear about it. Rose said he was nasty to you."

"She said that?" I am going to pull out her blonde hair.

"At the beginning or something," My mother moves closer to get a better look at Edward.

"You only listened to half of what she said," I shake my head.

"He's handsome," my mother says.

"He's perfect in every way and he's everything I want," I say, "but now fate is trying to take him away from me."

"If his love for you is as strong as Rose made it sound he'll fight. But you need to understand this is Carlisle and Esme's child too. Carlisle is a doctor too. He knows better than all of us the medical chance," she runs her hand down the back of my hair like she did when I was little.

"I keep hold of his hand all day just in case it moves the slightest bit. I don't want him to wake up and have no one be here. Medical miracles happen all of the time," I say.

"Oh, darling. I'm sure his family would take a shift. It gives you the chance to go home, get freshened up. Then you can come right on back," she says, "I can even wait."

"Why would you waste your time," I scoff.

"I best be getting to know the man who has taken my daughter's heart hostage," she covers my hand holding Edward's before rubbing her own hand over Edward's knuckles.

"He didn't take it, I gave it to him," I say.

"I always wanted a son," she smiles down at me, "go take a break. Even if it's just outside and back. I'll wait with him."

There's no such thing as arguing with my mother. That's why Rosalie had called her in. So as I pull myself away from the room, I feel empty. By the time I get outside the tears are well and truly falling. Feeling his hand not in mine for the first time in a few days hurts.

Two weeks after the accident the hurt just gets worse. My mother stays, taking up residence in the home Edward and I was supposed to start our lives in. I didn't sleep a wink last night.

"We need to consider this Bella. We think he's not going to return to us," Carlisle stands arms crossed watching me, "I've spoken with my doctors and they think keeping him hooked up to a machine isn't fair. He's not breathing on his own."

"We can't give up on him," I say, "A little longer, please."

"Bella, Esme and I have discussed this at length and we…" he begins.

"No," I snap, "You won't take him. Not when he has so much to live for. I know he can do this and you do deep down too."

"Bella," Esme puts her arm around me, "we need to let go, now. It's been two weeks and no improvement."

I shake my head, tears falling down my face. For two weeks I hadn't felt him hold me, kiss me, touch me. They wanted to take any possibility of that happening ever again away from me. He needed to be here with me because without him I was incomplete.

"One more day," I plead, "give him one more day."

Carlisle nods while Esme rubs my back lovingly.

"Okay," Esme whispers, "One more day. If you can hear us, Edward, please."

When we're alone I often climb up on the bed and lie beside him. There's not much space but I make it work. I'm careful not to touch the tubes or the machines keeping him with me. I place one hand on my hip just so it feels like he's touching me back.

"It's fight time now," I whisper looking at his face, "you have to show them you're here still. I know you can hear me. I googled it, and I'm sure you'd be mad at me for that. You always say your medical degree knows more than google but the doctors here aren't as forthcoming. All the main information goes to your father and it's all in doctor language."

I imagine his smirk.

"I just want to see you smile at me again. If nothing else I'd pay for you to smile at me one more time. I took all the ones you gave me before for granted," I whisper, "Each one was worth so much more than I thought. You're the best thing that ever happened to me and I can't let them pull that plug and take you away."

He looks so peaceful when he sleeps, but I'd destroy that peace in a heartbeat if I had the power right now.

"If you wake up right now I'll give you sex every day for the rest of our lives," I whisper.

Like an idiot, I look down at him waiting for movement.

"Not even that?" I bury my face into his chest sobbing.

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