EPOV

You would think after everything that happened the day of Marley's adoption party and then the morning we left for Disney that I'd stop trying to control things. My careful planning tends to end up the opposite of what I'm going for, but I'm a lovesick fool who just wants everything to be perfect when I bring Bella home.

As soon as we confirmed everything I'd set up to get Bella out of Washington, I went a little nuts organizing the day. The plan is to wake up before Marley has to start getting ready for school. I'm going to make her a special breakfast in an effort to ease some of the guilt I'm carrying over not telling her that Mommy is coming home. There are things I want to get done before four that will be a lot easier to execute without an overly excited and equally impatient child nipping at my heels.

I'll drop Marley off at school, run by my parents' house to get Bella's stuff, and stash it in the garage. I'll spruce up the house and change the sheets on my— our bed. Marley spilled a bottle of water a couple of nights ago while we were FaceTiming Bella, and I never got around cleaning that up.

While I finish last-minute things, Rose is going to pick up Marley from school and take her to the restaurant. I plan on making a stop by Flora's on the way to the airport to surprise Bella with flowers. We're planning on meeting at baggage claim even though she's not checking any luggage. I plan on spending a few minutes just holding her because I know when we surprise Marley at Rosie's, I'm going to be pushed aside.

When my alarm goes off, I'm ready to get the day started until I realize I'm drenched, and the bed feels more like a sauna. I vaguely remember Marley crawling into my bed last night, and I assume she had an accident, something that hasn't happened in ages. She's hiding under the covers, making small sounds, so I know she's awake but probably embarrassed. I lift the edge of the blanket, ready to put my daddy face on and assure her that accidents happen. I'm surprised, and my carefully thought-out plans fly right out the window.

Marley is curled in a ball, shivering violently despite the sweat and heat rolling off of her.

Shit.

"Muffin." I shake her, and she jumps in surprise.

When she opens her eyes—they're bleary and bloodshot from fever. I place the back of my hand on her clammy forehead and hiss.

"Daddy." She winces and grabs her throat. "I'm icky."

"Baby, why didn't you wake me up?"

She whimpers and tightens her hold.

I have to peel the covers off her and carry her to the bathroom. After depositing her on the sink, I get a lukewarm bath started and grab the thermometer. She's trembling so violently I have to hold her still to get an accurate read. One hundred and three. Fuck.

I give Marley some children's Tylenol and dig my phone out of the mess on my bed. Using the flashlight feature, I tell her to open up and curse out loud at the swollen, bright red tonsils.

"Fuck."

Marley, not used to hearing me swear, looks up with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry, Muffin." I press my lips against her warm temple.

Marley puts up a weak fight, but I manage to get her out of her pajamas and into the tub. She cries and wraps her arms around herself.

I call her pediatrician's office, and a nurse informs me that strep is going around. They're booked solid but can try to fit us in as a walk-in after three. She also tells me if the Tylenol and bath don't help with the fever, or it gets any higher, to take Marley straight to the hospital.

I grab a washcloth and run it over Marley's forehead and shoulders in an attempt to lower her temperature. She sobs and mutters unintelligibly, which only makes her cry harder.

"Shh, Muffin. Don't try to talk or it will only make your throat hurt more."

"But … but it hurts." She sobs.

I keep her in the bath, refreshing the water and monitoring her fever that doesn't seem to be going down.

"I want Mommy." Marley whimpers when I move to take her temperature again.

"Let's call her when we're done. Try to sit still for me."

One hundred and four. Looks like we're headed to the ER.

I try to call Bella, but she doesn't pick up which upsets Marley even more. I leave a brief message telling her to call me as soon as possible and give her a brief description of what's going on.

I change into a fresh pair of sweats and bundle Marley up in footie pajamas and a throw because she says she's cold, and she's still shivering.

Arriving at the hospital, Marley's temp climbs to one hundred and four-point-five, and they rush us straight back. She's so weak and delirious she doesn't fight against the nurses when they take off her pajamas and put an IV in to push fluids and medication.

I call Mom when the meds kick in, and Marley falls into a fitful sleep.

A rapid test has already told us that she is negative for strep, and an ear, nose, and throat doctor is being called in to consult.

While we wait for the doctor, I try to call Bella again. I catch her up via voicemail.

Mom rushes straight over, and Rose is on standby because only two people can accompany Marley. Rose or Emmett will be picking Bella up from the airport for me.

Mom stopped by the house to get Marley some clean clothes and grabbed Hope to serve as a stand-in until Bella can get here.

Marley wakes up before the doctor arrives and cries for Bella, for me, and even Pooka.

It happens so fast I can barely catch up. In a whirlwind of activity, Dr. Clearwater swoops in, papers are signed, and Marley is whisked away for an emergency tonsillectomy.

I wanted to wait for Bella but Marley's tonsils were so swollen they were starting to obstruct her airway. Mom sits while I pace in the waiting room, and it's hard not to panic. This is Marley's first major surgery, and I am not prepared.

"Sweetheart, everything will be fine. Hospitals perform this surgery all the time. Come have a seat."

I nod and check my phone to try to get a hold of Bella. Damn it. I've missed ten calls and a plethora of text messages. I can't call her back because the last message informed me that she was boarding the plane.

I shoot her a text explaining everything that's happening and apologize for missing her calls because I know she's freaking out while she's in the air.

I give Mom my phone to charge and resume pacing the room until a nurse comes to get me. On the way to the recovery room, she tells me that everything went well. She also jokes that she's never seen a set of tonsils so big on someone so young before.

Marley is still coming out of anesthesia, so I hold her hands and press kisses to her small fingers while it wears off.

The nurse is the first thing she sees when she opens her eyes and she panics.

"Shh, Muffin." I coo. "Daddy's here."

Marley tries to talk, but the nurse stops her. "You have booboos in your throat, sweetheart." She pats Marley's knee and disappears.

My poor baby looks absolutely miserable and is grateful when I show her Hope. She clutches her dog to her chest as silent tears trail down her cheeks.

When nurse Emily returns, she has a new bag of saline and a syringe full of pain medication. She pushes the meds slowly and tells Marley about all of the different kinds of popsicles she has when she's up to try one.

"And Daddy can have one too when you're ready."

When Marley's eyes begin to droop, Emily explains that Dr. Clearwater isn't going to make us stay overnight, but he wants to make sure Marley doesn't have any adverse reactions to the anesthesia and her pain is manageable before he releases her.

"We also want her to eat at least some ice cream." She checks her watch. "You should be out of here by four, maybe five, at the latest."

Knowing that Marley can only have one visitor while she's in recovery, I explain our circumstances and ask Emily if there's any way Bella can join us when she gets here.

"I'll talk to the charge nurse, but I don't see a problem with that."

Out of nowhere, Marley sits straight up in the bed and cries out. "Daddy."

Emily springs into action. "Why don't you get in and hold her while I contact Dr. Clearwater and see if we can get her something else for the pain."

She helps me maneuver Marley's IV and the covers so I can pull her lax body to my chest. Emily tucks the blanket over us and tells me to relax before pulling the curtains closed.

Marley tries to fight the second dose of meds but eventually falls asleep, and the stress of the morning catches up with me. I plan on resting my eyes for just a minute, but I should know better.

~MM~

"Edward." A warm hand caresses my cheek.

Deep brown eyes greet me when I open mine, and I'm instantly smiling. "Cookie. You're here."

She nods and lifts the blanket to check on Marley, who is still out of it, drooling on my chest.

"I think Rose ran a few red lights to get me here. How's our girl?"

I try to sit up without jostling Marley too much but give up. Her comfort is more important than mine.

"Her nurse says she's doing good. We had some trouble managing her pain when she woke up, but Emily is confident we'll be going home soon."

Bella's nose reddens with emotion. "I've been freaking out since I got your message."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She smiles. "I'll never miss anything like this ever again."

"I love you," I blurt out, and her smile widens.

"I love you too." She leans down to kiss my lips.

I didn't plan on telling her I love her for the first time while we're sitting in recovery after our daughter had surgery, but sometimes, unplanned things happen for the best.