Chapter 31

Soothing

Oh, my hopeless wanderer

You can't come in

You don't live here anymore

Oh, some creepy conjurer

Who touched the rim

Whose hands are in the door

I need soothing

My lips aren't moving

My God is brooding

It's the constant beep that Bella hears first as she slowly starts to come back to consciousness.

"Bella…" The song "Soothing" by Laura Marling was playing in the background somewhere. Bella could hear it now over the constant beeping noise. And then like she slammed her head into the pillar once more, Bella woke to in a startle. Bella opens her eyes to find her mother staring down at her. "Oh Bella."

"Mom?" Bella asked confused. Bella couldn't figure out how she was in the hospital, the last thing she remembered was Edward looking down at her. She was in so much pain. Her foot, her leg, her body was on the brink of leaving, but something was anchoring her.

"Oh baby, you're awake!" Renée was sitting at her side on the hospital bed. She rubbed Bella's forehead.

"Mom? You're ok?"

"Oh baby, you're finally awake."

"You're here? You're ok?"

"Of course, I am fine baby!"

"Where am I?"

"A hospital dear, you were hurt pretty bad, but Dr. Cullen saved you. He said if you were stabbed an inch over and you could have died."

"Died?"

"You don't remember anything do you?"

"No. Was it bad?"

"Oh, it was bad baby, but you're fine now that you're awake. I was so worried."

"What happened to you Mom? Why were you gone for so long?"

"Oh baby, it's all my fault! I went away on one of those spiritual retreat for 3 months in the deserts of California. There was no cell service, and by the time I wrote your grandmother, I found out James and Victoria were back. I knew I had to get back to you. If I knew James and Victoria were back, I would have never left for that long."

"You're really here?"

"Of course I'm here baby! I have no other place I would rather be than by your side. I should have always been by your side from the very beginning and never left you, but I was too selfish and self-centered back then. And I'm so sorry baby, Bella. But I promise I will be better from now on. You are my child, and number 1 priority. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course Mom."

"I love you Bella."

"Edward!" Bella called out, looking around the room. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Edward asleep in a chair across the small hospital room

"He's here. He's slept here for 2 days, 3 straight nights. He won't leave your side, no matter how much we beg him. He won't leave you."

"Days? Oh no Dad!"

"Your father is fine baby! He took a few bullets to the chest, and a bad shot to his shoulder, but lucky he was wearing a vest and Dr. Cullen was able to save his arm. Edward's father is a pretty amazing doctor, saving both of you like that in one night."

"He's here? Dad's still here?"

"He's in another room down the hall resting like you should be, he was sent home yesterday, but he like Edward refuses to be too far from you in case you wake up."

"Can you...can you go get him? I want to...I need to see Dad and be sure..."

"Ok baby, I'm going to see if he's awake," Renée rubs the top of Bella's head after kissing her forehead.

"And Mom, I love you too." Renée smiled.

"You rest baby, I will be right back with your father."


Bella looked over as Edward was awake once her mother left.

"Edward!"

"Oh Bella..." Edward rushes to her side. He pretended to sleep to give Bella and her mother some time alone. Renée was super welcoming to Edward while Bella was in the hospital. He allowed her to stay with her. Edward knew his family was close to pull him home to shower and change, because Edward refused to leave until Bella woke up.

"What? What happened to James?"

"He got away with Victoria, the red-headed woman. Your Dad thinks he got him good in the back, so they will need a doctor soon. But so far, nothing has turned up in any of the surrounding hospitals."

"I'm alive because of you."

"My Dad did most of the work. And Alice found you."

"And you fought James and won."

"I got lucky," Edward said.

"No, you saved me. I heard you. You told me to stay."

"I'm so happy you did."

"You saved me."

"Bella, your mother wants to take you with her when she leaves where you can be safe."

"Www-what, what...I, I-i-i-i-, no! Just, jj-j-just no!"

"Bella please, just think about it. James and Victoria can come back to Forks, if you are gone..."

"What? No! NO! I won't leave you."

"James and Victoria are still on the loose. They might come back here!"

"I don't care! I won't leave you!"

"James and Victoria won't go far, anywhere from Forks is too far if he's hurt! They will probably head back to Canada, out of the country. You can be safe away from here with your mother."

"No! I am safe here! With you!" Bella cried. "I want to be with you!"

"But Bella…"

"No, I can't believe you think...you can't want us...we can't be apart!" Bella said in a panic.

Edward realized Bella was going to be sedated if she didn't calm down soon as her heart starts beating fast on the monitor.

"Ok. Ok Bella. I'm here. Calm down. Calm down baby please. You're here, I'm here. We can stay together."

"Don't make me leave Edward! Don't let my mother take me away again!"

"I won't. Shhh...I won't." Edward kissed her forehead. Edward wraps his arm around Bella as he get into bed with her. Bella curls into his chest. Charlie came into the room, his arm in a sling.

"Dad!" Bella gasped. "Your arm!"

"Look at us. 2 broken Swans, my shoulder, your leg."

"I am so sorry Dad."

"Oh babygirl, this is not your fault."

"You were shot because of me."

"I was shot because of James and Victoria."

"Where are James and Victoria?"

"We can't find them. But it won't be long because James was injured pretty badly. Victoria will need to seek medical help. Carlisle believe if he doesn't seek help, with his wounds, he could die, and then we will find them."

"But they're free?"

"Not for long Bells. I promise you, I will find them and make them pay."