Chapter Twelve
Hazel's POV
I've lost track at how long I've been in purgatory. The sun never leaves and we never sleep. I haven't seen my birth mother since I first woke up. Paul was off somewhere down the beach running. He was unable to phase here, but he still had the built up restless energy. I was thankful he couln't phase, I was terrified of him in his wolf form, even more so of him as man. I know we're destined to be together or some shit like that, but I was afraid. I guess not as afraid of him, more like the possibility of him and I together. In this place, I didn't feel scared of damaged like I did when I left Anthony.
Before there to be an us between Paul and I, I needed to establish myself first. Penny and I were officially going to be living in Forks as soon as I woke up. If I woke up. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread of the idea of me never waking up.
Paul and I came to the conclusion that we were both in a coma. I was in a coma simply because I was in an accident, and Paul was in one because of the amount of pain he felt when the accident took place. I just wanted to wake up and hold my daughter. I felt the tears prick my eyes, but of course they would never fall.
~~~TOS~~~
Third Person POV
It had offically been three months since the accident. Penny was starting to believe her mom was never going to wake up, and just at the sheer mention of it happening, she would break down into tears. She wouldn't speak, she would nod her head yes and no and she would shrug her shoulders. But the bubbly little girl was gone, and in her place was a broken shell of Hazel's beautiful daughter. Her hair had grown and had began to get lighter. It was now a lighter shade of brown, it was still as wild and crazy as it has always been. Her eyes weren't as alive and she deep purple circles under her eyes from her lack of sleep. Charlie had put her in therapy, but the little thing just wouldn't talk. He began to fear that she never would again.
Charlie was distraught. He had went back to work, but he still visited his eldest daughter everyday after his shift was over. He was sleeping better, but he was still plauged with nightmares. They had a funeral just barely a month ago for his dear friend Harry Clearwater, and that just added on to the stress of both the pack and Charlie.
Bella had began college at PACC. Port A Community College. Most of her classes were online and she often did them while either at Jake's or while visiting Hazel. The threat of a redheaded leech was among the pack, and it only made them more on edge when Bella told them what she was searching for. It was Victoria, James' mate. She was coming after Bella because Edward had killed James. The pack made sure she was either on the reservation while she wasn't attending school, or one of the members of the pack was constantly by her side while visiting Hazel.
It's been three months and there was no improvment in Hazel's condition. She was brought out of the medical induced coma a month ago, but she wouldn't wake up. Her hair had grown back and Bella made sure to have someone come in and cut it so it wouldn't look so choppy when she woke up and she always had it in a braid.
Paul's condition was doing better, he would twitch in his sleep. Sometimes it was a hand and other times it was in his face. His family were worried of course, but they knew their Paul and they knew he would be okay. He had missed his 22nd birthday, but that didn't stop the pack and his family from bringing balloons and leaving them in his room.
~~~TOS~~~
It had been five months now, and the two young adults still have yet to have woken up. Hazel's birthday has passed, and with it came more sadness for her little family. Everyone was gathered in her room, it was packed with her little family and members of the pack. They were there to say their final goodbyes, in case when the plug was pulled that she wouldn't wake up. Tears were being shed and hugs were being given. Poor little Penny hadn't stopped crying since entering the hospital and she's been nestled in Bella's arms ever since. The doctor had come into the room then, and any whisperes that were being shared in the room came to a halt.
The doctor gave everyone a chance to say goodbye, and then he began the process of unplugging everything. Everyone held their breath as he turned all the machines off. As soon as he flicked the last switch, Hazel's eyes flew up and she gasped for breath before sputtering and coughing.
~~~TOS~~~
Hazel's POV
My eyes flew open at their own accord, I didn't even realize I had been asleep. But then, I started coughing and gasping for breath that I didn't have. My eyes scanned the room and I realized that I was in a hospital room. I was confused, why wasn't I in purgatory? Then it clicked. I had woken up from my coma. Did that mean Paul had woken up too? I looked at all the faces in my room and noticed that my family was there along with several members of the pack. I took several deep breaths to calm down my coughing. I heard a loud ringing and then there was a doctor in front of me with a flashlight. I couldn't hear what he was saying, the ringing was too loud. I opened my mouth to speak, but found it too dry to say anything. It took several minutes for the ringing to subside and I was finally able to hear what the doctor was asking me.
"Can you follow the light with your eyes please?" I did as he asked. "Do you know where you are?" I looked around again before nodding my head yes. "Do you know what happened to you?" Suddenly I was bombarded with images of the accident and the haze of being cut out of the car and riding to the hospital. I slowly nodded my head yes. "Do you know who you are?" I blinked at him before trying to speak again.
"H-Hazel." My voice was scratchy and it burned from the lack of use.
"Very good. Now, you've been asleep for a very long time. Five months to be exact, I'm afraid you missed your birthday, but now that you're awake and once you're better you can celebrate to your hearts content." I froze at his words.
Five months? I'd been in a coma for five months, I missed my birthday. I missed five months of my life. I felt dizzy and my head began to spin. I leaned back into my pillows and closed my eyes.
"Mommy?" I opened my eyes and saw Penny peering up at me from the side of my bed. She had tears running down her face and her eyes were rimmed red. I felt my own tears start to run down my face as I gently tried to pull her onto the bed with me. She noticed me struggling so she lifted herself up onto the bed and wrapped her arms around my neck. Her shoulders were shaking with sobs and she cried into my neck. I gently rocked her in my arms as I hummed to her. "I was so scared, mommy." I felt my heart break at the tone of her voice. She sounded so sad, and broken.
After Penny had calmed down from her crying, and everyone had given me their hugs and said they were happy to see I was awake. The pack left with the exception of Jacob, I assumed so they could go see if Paul had woken up, I hope he did. I felt my face flush red at the thought of him. While we were in purgatory, we talked and it was nice. He told me all about himself and his family while I told him about mine. I told him I was adopted and all about Anthony and what had happened. I knew he had feelings for me, but I made it clear to him that I wasn't going to jump into anything until I discovered who I was and until I was healed. All my life I was never able to focus purely on me or put myself first, and being a mom made it even harder for that to happen. But I know with the help of my friends and family here in Forks that I could do it.
~~~TOS~~~
Paul's POV
I was awake. I knew I was, otherwise I wouldn't feel so damn hungry and groggy. I woke up to see myself surrounded by the pack, including some new faces. Seth and Leah to be exact. They had phased while I was asleep. After I had eaten and stretched and showered Sam was able to fill me on on everything. I felt angry, sad, hurt, and tired. Angry because there was a new leech, sad because of Harry's death, hurt because I wasn't near hazel and the ache in my chest was practically burning. And tired for obvious reasons. A couple hours later, I was left to myself. I wanted to sleep, but I knew I had slept long enough. So I decided to go see Hazel at the hospital. It would ease the ache in my chest and I knew she was awake, because I was awake.
When I arrived at her room, I listened in on who was in there. All I could here was a soft singing voice and a little giggle. I smiled to myself before gently knocking on the door before opening it. When I walked in I saw Hazel sitting up in bed with Penny wrapped tightly in her arms. Hazel looked up at me and smiled before ushering me over to her. I sat at the end of the bed and just smiled at her. Penny hid herself under her mother's mom and peeked at me. I looked down at her and smiled and did a stupid face that kid's love. She giggled before wriggling out of her mother's arms and over to me. She sat next to me and poked me in the arm
"You're really big. Are you a giant?" Her hazel eyes were filled with curiosoty. I chuckled and shook my head.
"No, I'm not a giant. I'm just a big dude." She pursed her lips and nodded her head, pleased with her answer. She layed her hand on my arm and then immediately pulled it away.
"You're really warm! It's a good thing you're in a hospital." She gave her head a clear nod before crossing her arms.
"And why is that?" I asked her, raising a brow.
"Because it's obvious you're sick if you're that warm." I laughed at that. She said it in such a 'duh' voice, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I agreed with her that it was indeed a good thing. "If my mommy was feeling better she could be your doctor. She's a nurse." She sounded so proud and when I looked over at Hazel she was smiling and shaking her head.
"A nurse, huh? Well, that's good. I get hurt a lot." I winked at her and laughed when I saw Hazel's cheeks turn red.
~~~TOS~~~
Third Person POV
As Penny sat there and watched the exchanges between her mom and this strange man she couldn't help but feel at peace. She didn't know who this man was, but she knew he made her mommy happy. And she hasn't seen her mommy this happy in a long time. She knew her mommy wasn't happy with her daddy, and she may be young but she knew that her daddy wasn't a very nice person and she had hurt her mommy and that made her dislike her daddy. She smiled softly at the way her mom and the man looked at each other. She saw the look in the man's eyes and she liked the way he looked at her mom, and she started to fantasize on what her life would be like if this man became her daddy. She curled up into his side and got goosebumps when his warm skin came into contact with her back and started rubbing circles. She yawned and closed her eyes, letting sleep take her.
~~~TOS~~~