A/N: Thank you to all of you who left the most pleasant reviews, I will respond to them but protests and being a street medic have made my posting schedule erratic.

This chapter is more dialogue than anything. I have some interesting twists and backstories that I'm going to add in the next few chapters as Edward is forced into reliving his own death, with crystal clarity seeing Bella ill. I did some heavy research on the Spanish Influenza for it! Hope it won't sound like a medical journal.

I'm finishing up the next chapter as we speak… however, I learned that posting two chapters on the same day leaves one behind.

I have a question at the end of the story about which direction the story should take. Please read, review, and let me know your thoughts! You guys are playing choose your own adventure with this story.

Per usual, Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I put it back on the shelf where I got them after I'm done playing. Thank you for finally releasing Midnight Sun if Mrs. Meyer ever comes across this. I've been waiting 12 years!

Enjoy

Chapter Two: And Then I Saw Her…

The flight to Seattle was long, but pleasant, well as much as airplanes and airports can be… for me. I try to drown out the voices, but it only takes a few passengers terrified of flying, screaming in their thoughts to annoy me. Thinking of Bella made it better, tolerable… until I saw who was waiting for me at the airport, and the look on her face.

"Rose? What are you doing here? What happened?" I asked immediately.

Rose's eyes went wide, she didn't know how to tell me…

"Tell me what?"

"Charlie is in the hospital… Alice doesn't think it will long before Bella is."

Any words I had in my mouth or in my head disappeared.

"So, Alice is…"

"She reconciled with Bella but noticed Charlie wasn't well and too stubborn to go. Alice told him she'd already had it, and has antibodies, so she took him to the hospital, Alice is with him, Esme, and Carlisle. He won't make it, and you know how fond she's always been of Charlie, plus she promised Bella she'd let her know if anything changed. Jasper and Emmett are here in Seattle checking a few things out. I came for you so we could talk on the way back to Forks." Rose looked ashamed. "I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry, Edward. When I found out about Bella getting sick… I thought about Emmett… I didn't know him, but the thought of him dying was unfathomable. I… Edward, this is all new to me… you loving someone. I have to admit I agreed with Esme about you… err… Carlisle changing you too soon."

"Well, I would have died, Rose. I didn't have much say in it, but you were wrong! You all were!" I snapped.

"I never understood why you…" she hesitated.

"Why I am attracted to Bella and not you?"

"Yes," Rose answered in a whisper, "not that…"

"I know Rose," I rolled my eyes. "Where you are going with this?"

"The last seven months have been absolute hell. That night… her birthday… I know I had a hand in what happened. I knew I was intimidating Bella. I was making her nervous. I got some sick pleasure out of her adrenaline. I didn't think she was your mate because you wanted to leave so quickly. Without coercing Emmett, I'm not sure we would have left. He's been a mess. I guess I didn't see how much our family loves her too. I was angry at you for making us leave and then leaving us yourself. But I get it, you've changed, Edward. You met your soul mate and she is family. She was the last piece of the puzzle. I enjoyed seeing you happy, for once, despite not getting you two as a couple. There is something different about our family. That was easy to see over the last year. I don't buy the whole you only change once theory. You are my brother, and I love you… despite being a moody bastard. Bella changed Alice too, and Esme, and Carlisle… like I said, Emmett never articulated how much he cared for her before. I don't think Jasper has to. Did you know he spent time with Carlisle working on the whole human blood issue? That may have more to do with Alice than you, but he's determined to never let that happen again, and I believe him."

"Really? Jasper didn't need to do that. I was the one who overreacted. Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Overreacted? No, you lost your shit and assumed too much. Alice and Carlisle have heard stuff, that's gonna make you unhappy, but you need to get that info from Bella. Everyone is wondering what you will do next. Because we want her to be well, and to help her through her grief as any family would. She's alone and likely scared. I don't want you to think Bella and I are anything alike or want the same things. Don't decide because of me, Alice knows this, the entire family does — Edward, change her, and soon."

"What? Who are you? Where did Rosalie go?" I chuckled; this was insanity.

"I may not have liked her much, but I understand why she wants to become a vampire. Edward, she's your mate, she doesn't want to be older than you. You two could never have a normal relationship, not a public one. As Bella ages, they will direct any negativity towards her. She will lose the only family she has, so it's time she joins ours, officially. I am happy you're back, and that we're back. We'll figure this out, okay? Just one more thing, one piece of advice for you and Alice."

Uh oh.

"Stop treating Bella like a child, like your child. Stop manipulating her. She's an adult, let her make her own choices, and stand by them. She can eat and sleep when she feels like it. You may have been a vampire for a century, but she's been a human longer than you were, and a legal adult at that! Give Bella the autonomy she deserves. You don't always know what's best. The last seven months proved that. Edward, it is not your job to 'feed the human.' Alice pushes her into being or looking like someone she's not, and that has to be a kicker to the self-esteem. Pick your battles, all right?" Rose shoved me with her elbow and sped down the highway.

The rest of the ride was relatively quiet. We were both caught in our own thoughts. I wanted to know what Jasper and Emmett were up to. What else could go on? Why did I have grave feelings about it? I had to put my priorities in order. It may be a while before I see them again. If Bella will let me, I'll never leave her side again.

xxx

Rose pulled into Bella's yard. I never thought I'd be so happy to see her hunk of junk truck again. Looking up, I saw Bella's open window. I could hear her heartbeat. Bella was sleeping, but her breathing wasn't rhythmical. "I'm going to the house, try to get settled in again. I'll apologize to her, but I think you have a few apologies to deal with first. Alice said you need to convince her to go to the hospital and see Carlisle as soon as possible. This virus, there is nothing stable about COVID, but everything will work out, I know it." Rose thought before peeling out of the driveway.

I hopped to her window as if it hadn't been seven months. Bella's room was my second home during the happiest months of my life.

And then I saw her… What in the hell happened? Bella was curled up in a fetal position. Her hair knotted. It did not look the same; it was stringy, unhealthy. She had purple circles around her eyes, puffy, she'd been crying, and her face was gaunt. Bruises? How in the hell did she get that scar on her forehead? When was the last time the human fed the human?

This is my fault.

Keep your trap shut.

Planning on it.

I looked around her room. It was empty… no books… no music … no music player. I saw her iPhone on her night table. Maybe she ditched the CD player for MP3's. Empty, the tiny room looked as if no one ever occupied it, despite the beautiful girl sleeping on the bed.

That's what you wanted! Remember, you took everything from her?

This is my fault.

I'll give her gifts back and replace everything else.

There was only a slight burn in my throat as I stepped fully into Bella's room. Her scent wasn't as potent as I once found it, the smell of Freesia and lavender was dominant. I shuddered at the thought of losing her, of killing her on accident. The world would stop turning, and I wouldn't be far behind her. Though we'd end up in two distinct places.

I pulled her rocking chair next to her bed. I didn't know what to do next. I worried about her, yes, but another emotional flood overwhelmed me. Healing the missing pieces, I lost abandoning Bella in the forest. Would she feel the same? What did I not know? The boy? I surveyed the bruises and the wound on her head again… hmmm… recently removed stitches. How naïve am I? As if Bella could stay out of trouble.

Stop it!

Right.

I stroked her cheek, and she spoke my name. I would have cried if possible. I missed hearing her sleep talking, and Bella sounded content in her tone.

"Yes, Love, It's me. I told you I'd be here," I whispered.

"Edward?" Bella's eyes were still closed, but she was squeezing them shut.

"Bella?" I replied.

Bella opened up one eye, then the other, she said nothing; she looked confused. I looked around. Why was she confused?

"What?" I asked as the look continued, but no words were said.

"Am I dead?"

"No. I am."

"Har-Har seriously?" Bella asked.

"Why would you think you're dead?"

"Oh," Bella flushed and looked away, "I … Just… didn't think you would really come. Better not to have expectations, having hope without permission to do so. You know the saying hope springs eternal misery?"

"I am not sure that is the phrase but, Bella, love, you should be angry, and maybe one day not miserable? I mean… I have hope that you'll forgive me, eventually. I'll respect your wishes if you can't. I know I do not deserve your forgiveness. I've gone about this all wrong. I went about everything all wrong."

"But you said…"

"I lied…"

"It was so easy for you," Bella's brow furrowed, looking down, twisting her fingers.

"No, it was the hardest thing I have done in my entire existence. I thought it would kill me to do it. You believed me so easily. I thought I'd have to spend hours trying to convince you."

"You did almost kill me. Why would I go somewhere, or fight for someone who doesn't love me? Or want me? There is nothing special about me that can hold you. I've always known that."

My temper flared and then faded. Angry was not how I felt. I felt devastated. How could she believe that? I was a convincing liar. I almost killed her? I'd talk to her about that later. Too many ways to get sidetracked here. "I didn't know you felt that way. I want you, everything about you holds me. I am sorry for so much, but I'll never forgive myself for the days after your birthday and for the words I said to you. Every moment I missed being with you. Do you think you can forgive me?"

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have told you to come home, would I? I'm not cruel, Edward."

I winced.

"But you haven't yet?"

"You've been here like two seconds. I forgive you enough to be happy that you're here, for now."

"… for now?"

"Until the next disaster, you've been trying to ditch me since we met. You knew exactly what you were doing. You trusted your judgment and didn't give me a say in it. You run when things get hard. I can't really trust you not to do the same thing again. Edward will always do what Edward thinks is right."

"I'm not going anywhere, never again, not without you. Unless… you've moved on."

"Don't be stupid."

"Can I sit?" I asked, my voice cracked with insecurity.

"Sure," Bella answered, smiling.

I knew Bella was sick. I knew that I was the reason she looked the way she did. With the way she looked at me, her face said something else. I love her, and I am still drawn to her like a magnet. Before I knew what I was doing, my lips were on hers. Bella responded with her usual enthusiasm, and I returned it in kind.

"That was nice, I don't seem to be affecting you. Are you okay?" She asked.

"The thought of never seeing your face again is far more potent now. I can't lose you. I promised to not act like a nursemaid, I know. I am not doing that right now. Bella, you're burning up, your breathing is off. Carlisle is back, I think you need to get looked at. I'll be by your side the entire time. I love you, and I want our forever, so you have to survive this."

"But what if I'm not meant to? If I don't?"

"Bella, if you get critical, I will change you right there, if that's still what you want."

"I expect you to." She grinned, "I'm gonna take a quick shower and brush my hair and teeth. Then I'll go to the hospital with you."

Bella had almost closed the bathroom door but took off her shirt and threw it at me, laughing hysterically as the door slammed shut.

That was different.

She was different.

This was different.

But maybe, just maybe, different could be an enjoyable thing? After a 'clean break,' was a fresh start possible? That's what I wanted, to start all over again.

This was far from it.

Then again, when were we ever normal?

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I promised more fluff than angst, but with New Moon—angst is unavoidable.

Question: Do you think Edward should turn Bella soon or should they wait? Your reviews help guide the story, especially here, so R/R! Midnight Sun is less than two weeks away! (I should warn you, this will be a pregnancy/Renesmee free fic. I want more romance! Less freaking out!