Edward

I'm alone with Bella in her ICU room at Harborview in Seattle. The last thirty-six hours have been touch and go with things going wrong. Her kidneys are barely functioning from lack of blood flow, and her liver isn't much better. The balloon pump is working, but I haven't been able to get her stable enough to put an LVAD in yet.

At least, she's breathing on her own. I fucking hated seeing that tube down her throat.

I brush her hair from her forehead and caress her ashen cheek. "You're going to be okay," I tell her, willing my words to come true.

This is my worst nightmare.

The sliding glass door opens, and Emmett comes in with coffee for us. We've barely slept—too worried to take our eyes off of her. He must have run to the café and back because he was barely gone for ten minutes. We've taken turns getting coffee—one of us constantly with her.

"Did I miss anything?"

I shake my head, taking a cup from him as he sits down across from me. "No. Her labs should be back any minute though. At least, her blood pressure has been holding steady."

He takes her hand, pressing his lips to the top of it. "I'm back, Bells. You can wake up anytime now."

I wish so badly she would. She looks so small and frail in the hospital bed. I miss my beautiful, glowing girl, and I need her deep eyes to meet mine. I need to hear her sweet voice, that adorable laugh, and the way she says my name.

I need my girl back.

"I'm getting scared, Edward."

I meet his eyes across the bed and nod. "I know, but she just needs rest. She'll wake up soon I'm sure."

I'm not sure at all, but he needs to see a physician—not just his sister's boyfriend. He needs assurance and confidence. I have to give him that.

"She's going to be okay, Emmett. She's strong. The strongest person I know. Her body's been through hell, and we just weaned her off the vent a few hours ago. She needs time. She'll come back to us."

He nods, squeezing her hand. "I haven't thanked you for saving her life. If she had been at the house alone … I could have come home to my sister dead. Thank God she was with you."

"I should have noticed she was ill sooner."

"Yeah, and I should have noticed that morning. She wasn't honest with either of us."

"She didn't want to ruin Jared's birthday, I think."

"I think so too." He sighs. "But she's alive right now because of you—because she was with you. I'm sorry for Christmas. Truly sorry."

"We already talked about that."

"I know, but I see now it's a good thing that she has you. No one else can put a balloon pump in at Olympic Medical Center. That's why I wanted you to be her doctor, and I know you won't stop fighting for her—especially since you love her."

"I do. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

He nods. "She's special. Always has been. I'm glad you both have each other."

"That means a lot to me," I say as I suddenly feel Bella's fingers tighten around mine.

I'm on my feet in an instant, caressing her cheek as she groans. When her beautiful eyes flutter open, I about fall to my knees in thanks.


Thanks to May, Nole, Fran, Brier, and Meg for prereading and Sally for Beta'ing