A/N: ok, so. I missed a bit of info in the bio I posted. There's only three more cousins that Bella has, and they're from the Higginbotham side. Shall be posting that in the next foot note. Carry on...

As time passed by, minutes seemed to turn to hours before my eyes.

I was beginning to get anxious. My four cousins were here. Heck, even my cousin Jasper is here with the girl he's been dating for the past six months.

My sister Rosalie had yet to arrive here. Along with the Swan Platoon. Don't ask, you'll see later…The Higginbotham clan seemed to arrive.

The more people that arrived, the edgier I became.

All of this situation has me more on edge than I already was. Something wasn't right, and from what I could see, it had to do with my parents.

My parents? Hold the phone. It's not my parents, it's my father.

Suddenly it clicked. My dad. It was him. Sweet baby Jesus and Father God, it has to be him. He had a heart attack three years ago, almost around the time I left to study in the University, and another almost a year ago.

"Daaahhhd." I called, waiting for him to make his way into the living room.

"Yes, baby?"

"Your doctor called you back with bad results from the lab tests you had done didn't he?" I question him,.anxiously.

I watched as his shoulders dropped, and he bowed down his head.

"I guess there's no reason to deny the inevitable. Bells, baby, the doctor wants to operate. As soon as possible." He murmured, his voice cracking at the end.

"What? Daddy...w-what—what exactly did the doctor say? Is it fatal?" I ask, tears beginning to fill me eyes.

"He says I have two arteries clogged. I think he said the procedure was called an endarterectomy? Though it does have it's risks, he said it needs to be done. The sooner the better. " he explains.

I blinked at him, as I let his words sink in.

"So, it's a fifty/fifty chance right?" I ask.

He nods, sadness clear in his beady brown eyes.

A cold sinking feeling dropped into my stomach, and the tears I had been holding back suddenly dropped, there was a great possibility I could lose my father.

"Dad…" Micah spoke from the doorway.

"Micah, my boy, what's going on..?" My dad asks, blinking a few times to clear the tears.

"Rose is here.. and she's brought a handful of people with her." He says, looking at me, expectantly.

"She brought two guys with her, didn't she?" I ask, staring at him.

"Yes, as a matter of fact she did." He says, surprised. "Do I want to know?" He asks, as he walks over to me and plops down on the spot next to mine.

"If Rose is here then...that means...oh, crap. Your grandparents are here too." Dad says, getting up quickly and leaving the room.

"Why doesn't anybody seem to understand what I am saying? Micah, does 'need time' seem like a complicated thing to understand?" I ask him.

"No, why? What happened?" He asked, confused.

I sigh, tired of explaining already. "Ok, so we went to Buffalo to get Rosalie's shit shipped home right? So, I might've been fucking around and bitching a bit too much on th way, and the security yardstick-up-his-ass guard heard me. Rose fucking left my bags alone, and they fucking confiscated them. Oh, and we nearly got arrested—" I say.

"Oh shit, are you serious? Bella, the nine eleven attacks happened just last year. You can't be joking around about that shit, especially at an airport. You could've gotten arrested or worse. Don't do that shit again." He chastises, giving me a 'I'm serious' look.

"I know, fucking stupid I know. Well, after that, while sitting in their office… this police officer walked in…I swear Micah, I think I've met my match. As has Rosalie. " I whisper.

"No shit?!" He replies amused. "I have got to meet the fucker who finds anything about you appealing." he adds laughing after I smack him in the chest.

"You asshole." I snip back.

"Alright, alright. Sorry, I guess. In all seriousness though, are you sure you're ready to start dating again?" He asks.

I breath in slow, and let it out, in the same slow pace. "Honestly? I think I am ready to give myself a chance again." I say honestly.

"Ok. Just—just promise me you won't shut the world out again. I don't want to see you getting depressed if you end up getting hurt again." He says.

"I think, it took time for me to understand it wasn't me who had the problem in that relationship." I answer honestly.

"Ok, just know we're always one call away."

"Bella, would you mind coming into the dining room for a moment everyone is here." My dad says, giving me a small tender smile.

"Yes, give me a second." I say, before a take a moment to calm myself before I stand up and head to the dining room.