CHAPTER 5

BELLA

I was trying to get to the hospital as fast as I could without causing an accident. Edward was sitting in the back seat still holding pressure on poor Charlotte's finger. Adeline and Evangeline had fallen asleep after they finished screaming hysterically but Lottie was still quietly sobbing while looking at her hand. A sound that makes my heart break into a million pieces.

"How does it look?" I ask, looking briefly in my rearview mirror.

"The bleeding has subsided but I'm certain she is going to need stitches... May even lose her little nail," he replied looking guilty. I know that feeling, the feeling of being helpless while your children are hurt. Even being medically trained when it's your child it's totally different.

"It wasn't your fault Edward, it wasn't anyone's fault. Accidents happen it's something that comes with the territory of having children," I said, sympathetically. He smiled slightly and went back to comforting her.

We arrived at the emergency room entrance about 5 minutes later. Edward immediately jumped out of the car and starting getting Charlotte out. I was immediately torn on my direction. My baby was clearly in pain and needed to get in as soon as possible but I had two other children in the car sleeping. It was then that I realized the girls hadn't been to this hospital since their release from the NICU and I prayed we would never be back…

"Bella go park and get the girls out of the car. I've got her," Edward stated, sensing my inner turmoil. Could I trust him with her? I knew that I had to but it didn't make it any easier. Quickly nodding to him, he closed the door and sprinted inside with my … our… little girl. While I made my way into the parking garage to find a parking spot and get in there as fast as I could

EDWARD

All I could think about was getting to the back of this place as soon as possible. The very crowded ER waiting room would make any parent cringe but being that I am a surgeon here and the tip of my 1 year olds finger is hanging off I think it would be safe to assume we won't be waiting long.

"Dr. Cullen!" one of the ER nurses exclaim, as I run pass them.
"Please buzz me back," I call toward her. The familiar buzz of the door unlocking let me know she heard and I quickly run to the nurse's station, coming face to face with my dad. Damn! I forgot he was the ER doctor tonight.
"Edward. Is everything ok?" he asks running over to us.
"Dad her finger… its bad," I tell him, trying to gently pry open the tight fist that Charlotte has made. She quietly whimpers into my neck, effectively making my heart break.
My dad gently lifts her from my arms and rushes us into a room where he can examine her better. The tip of her finger is almost black at this point from her squeezing it and I'm praying it won't have to be completely removed.
"What happen," my dad asks, as he examines her tiny little digit.
"We were at the Aquarium and she got her finger caught in the stroller pipes. By the time she started screaming it was already hanging off," I explain. At this point I'm trying to calm her down by humming and holding her other hand. She is still crying but not screaming as my dad has applied some numbing spray to the wound. I wonder to myself how Bella is doing with the other two girls although I don't have to wonder long as she just walked in with both girls in her arms. I quickly help her by grabbing Evangeline and placing her on my lap. Fortunately she doesn't make a fuss since she seems not to like me, just reaches over and pats Charlotte's head.
"How is she, Dr. Cullen?" Bella questions. Trying to see over my dad. Wait she knows my dad. Duh she works here you idiot. How have I never seen her before? I mean I know this hospital is huge but certainly our paths had to have crossed, not that I would have known who she was.
"Bella?" My father asked, surprised. 'Is this one of your girls?"
"Yes," she answered. "I always said you should meet them but I certainly didn't mean like this. How is it looking?"
"I'm almost certain I will be able to re-attach the tip of her finger. She will have some stitched for about a week or so but we will soft cast her hand so they aren't pulled at," my dad explained, making eye contact with the both of us.
"Thank you so much Dr. Cullen. Im so glad you were on call tonight," Bella sighed in relief. She came over to sit with me next to the gurney and gave Charlotte a light kiss on the forehead. "Momma loves you Lottie Lou."
We spent another two hours in the ER. X-rays were done to rule out a fracture, which thankfully she didn't have. They stitched her up while she was under some light anesthesia while her sisters carefully watched. To my surprise Evangeline stood perched on my lap the entire time. She kept looking at Charlotte then up at me, her little brow squinted up like she was trying to understand what was going on.
We finally left around 4 in the evening. All of the girls Bella included were tired so I offered to drive them home, which Bella thanked me a million times for. She curled up on the passenger seat and fell right to sleep along with the triplets who were secured in their seats.
As I pulled up to their house I parked the car in the garage and looked over at her. Bella. The mother of my children. We had known each other for less than two days and she already meant so much to me, to my family. She brought the only children I would ever have into this world and I hope we can become friends. Maybe more than friends. She was beautiful and to be honest could we really ever be just friends?

END OF CHAPTER 5