#4

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After Edward recovered enough to sit and breathe nicely, Emmett suggested we went to the Palace to see my office there and so they could actually show me some of the things I would be doing this week. Seth offered his arm to Edward and we went along. A limo was waiting outside with more men dressed like Seth around it. I looked at Emmett and he smiled.

"Dad's orders… you don't mess with the King when he gives you an order"

"Especially if he thinks one of his kids should be inside a glass container to be protected from the world" added Edward with a smile. Emmett laughed.

"If Dad had it his way you would be bubble-wrapped inside a glass container" I couldn't help but laughed at that "You would be like our own version of Snow White!"

"Shut up, Em!" he mumbled and went inside the limo. Emmett gestured for me to follow his brother and after I did, he went inside and ordered the driver to start the journey.

"Where are we going, exactly?" They all looked at me like I had three heads "What? We can't possibly be going to the palace…" their faces said it all "We're going? To the Palace? Like THE PALACE?!" both brothers nodded and I panicked. "Well, I don't think I'm dressed appropriately for a place like that! I don't even know if I have to curtsy… by the way, what's a curtsy? I have seen people do it before but I actually think they look stupid…" a hand on top of mine made me stop my ramblings and I saw Edward smiling at me.

"Don't worry about any of that. If the press wouldn't chew me for it, I would go around in sweatpants all the time." I tried to smile but I was sure it came out as a grimace "Believe me, Bella. Everything would be okay and if you need anything at all just say it. Okay?"

I nodded and he squeezed my hand one more time before letting go and I was kind of sad that he did it. He turned to his brother and sighed.

"Don't even mention what happened at the press office to anyone, do you understand?" Emmett went to protest but Edward lifted a hand and didn't let him speak "I mean it, Emmett… It was bad enough the last time. Dad will be mad and Mom will be overprotective and trying to get me to see more doctors again and I can't take any more of that…"

"Have you tried to get another opinion? Try with a different doctor?" I couldn't believe I was actually trying to get more information.

"Bella…" Edward started but this time, Emmett cut him off.

"We did, actually… I lost count on how many doctors tried to see if there was a different diagnose. I mean, they all tried but no one got anything different…"

"Thirteen…" Edward murmured and I looked at him "Thirteen doctors and therefore, thirteen sets of exams and blood and x-rays and all that…" He played with the ring on his middle finger "I don't want to be a guinea pig… so I asked my dad to stop."

"And he just did? Like that?"

"He didn't have a choice. Because Mom reminded him that Edward had authority and age to make his own decisions now" Emmett added and I got it now. He was the Crowned Prince and he was of age already… so, it was his decision.

"I'll probably have to tell you the whole story at some point because it's your job now, but I'm too tired to do that right now" Edward said and I saw he had his eyes closed, his head resting against the seat and his voice was a little slurred.

"The meds working okay, baby bro?"

"Yeah… my heart isn't racing as much anymore… so, working just fine I guess"

I wanted to ask more. To understand these people more. But as soon as I opened my mouth I exclaimed "Holy shit!" so loud even Seth laughed and Edward and Emmett looked at me with amusement in their eyes "I'm not even sorry I said that, by the way… what is THAT?!"

"What? Our house?" Emmett replied while the limo stopped in front of the biggest manor I've ever seen. Well, it's a freaking castle. There were people moving around the lawn and I saw Seth stepping outside and helping Edward do the same. Emmett helped me and I was sure my jaw was still on the floor. "Welcome to La Casa de los Cullen, I guess"

"This is not a casa. Believe me…"

"I thought you didn't know Spanish, Bella" Edward added from my right

"I'm taking online classes. I can't live here and not learn it" I replied, surprised he remembered what we talked at the lake.

They guided me inside the huge doors and took too many lefts and rights that I was sure I was gonna lose my way pretty quickly here. But suddenly, Emmett was opening a smaller door and leading me inside. There was a really cute and practical office here with a wall made of glass that overviewed the back garden and a water fountain that was just breathtaking. I was focused on the landscape until Edward's laughter brought me back and I realized Emmett had been talking to me all this time and I wasn't listening at all…

"Oh my God, I'm sorry… this is just beautiful"

"Don't worry, but did you hear a word I said?" Emmett wondered with a smile that made his dimples come out. I shook my head and blushed and Edward laughed again.

"I told you she wasn't, doofus!" he said to his brother and then looked at me "He was asking you if the office was okay or if you wanted something else before you start here tomorrow. I mean, books, décor, whatever… name it."

"Wait… this is MY office?" I didn't understand.

"If you want. I mean, I asked Mom and Dad that, if you were going to work with me, I would be more comfortable if you could work from here. Zafrina seemed okay with the idea too. Because we asked her. I mean, I'm pretty weak right now and I have so many obligations that…" Edward was rambling and it was cute, but annoying at the same time so…

"This is perfect. Really. I mean, I didn't even assume I was going to get an office at the Press Office and now I get one at the freaking palace?" Edward smiled "Sorry, really, I keep blurting really weird stuff out of my mouth but… It's perfect. I'm not a needy person so, this is cozy and perfect for me"

"I'm glad you think so… I mean, if you think of anything you want to change or want to add to the space let me know and I'll make it happen" Edward was blinking profusely now so, the meds must have worked. "Emmett?" his brother looked at him again "I'm gonna leave now. I'm too tired to keep up with the tour but please make her feel like home here, okay?"

"Not possible. My house is the size of this room…" I blurted and slapped a hand over my mouth. They both laughed "Damn, I left my filter at home today"

"I'll make sure she feels like home but in a king sized version of it" Emmett said and Edward smiled before looking at me.

"I hope this is not too intimidating for you and I'm sorry for the show at the press office"

"Show? You were sick. I understand that and don't worry, I'll have to get used to all this soon. I'm gonna work with you guys now right?" He looked at me with a little smile on his face "You go get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow, if I'm lucky and I don't get lost on the way"

Edward didn't say anything else and Seth just looked at him and then he winked at me before leaving with him. Emmett came to my side and smiled.

"Thanks for not freaking out. I mean, not a lot of people would still be cool as a cucumber after all this"

"I'm more freaked out by the palace than your brother's condition" I added watching his reaction "I mean, he was sweet with me when I met him at the lake, even if he didn't reveal his true identity"

"All he ever wanted was to have a normal life. Edward has always been a quiet guy, never wanting the spotlight, always remaining behind the doors of this palace if he could. He was happy to go to boarding school in Spain because he knew – or thought at least – he could lead a normal life like that, but…"

"He's not normal… I mean, he's a freaking prince…"

"Yeah, but the spotlight was never on him for a long time. It was always on me. The older brother, the one getting the crown, the one that would rule the country…"

I wanted to ask something but didn't want to be rude or intrude… Emmett saw my face and tried to smile "Hey, let's go see that fountain for real and not behind a glass wall" He lead me to the back garden and it was truly beautiful, he sat beside a huge tree and patted the space beside him for me. "I can see you want to ask something and don't know if you should" I gaped at him and he smiled "Hey, I was educated to understand people and their reactions"

"I just don't want to be rude or anything" he looked at me and made a hand motion for me to move forward "I mean, I was just wondering… why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you leave him all the responsibility? He's sick…" I couldn't look at him "I mean, I get it, you're in love with your fiancée but he's your brother and you left him a shit-ton of responsibility on his shoulder when he has a heart condition that can be lethal and you just selfishly didn't care at all, I mean…" I glanced at him and he looked furious. I realized what I had said and backtracked "I'm sorry… I'm just assuming…"

"I know. It's okay. But, you must know. I didn't know about Edward's heart problems until he was crowned and I couldn't do a thing to reverse my decision. He didn't express any problems with his health until that moment…" he was looking at the grass and wringing his hands "He's my baby brother. When he knew I was heartbroken because the parliament didn't agree to change the law about the commoners marrying the crown prince or princess, he offered to take my place. I knew how unhappy he was on the spotlight, but he assured me he was okay and it was the best solution to it all"

"But it wasn't…"

"Of course it wasn't. Dad made all the arrangements because, since Edward spoke about his decision, Dad was on board, he said I was too radical and made rash decisions all the time and that Edward was level-headed and charismatic and he cared about the people. So, the abdication was complete and then a week later my 21-year-old little brother was getting crowned and everyone in the country was happy because he was going to be a great king. My Mom had objections because she thought – still does actually – that Edward was a little blinded by our protection and love to see the real in people's faces. But she agreed and… it was the worst decision ever…"

"When did it happen? When did you guys realized something was wrong with Edward?"

"It was a week or so after the coronation. We were having a meeting at the parliament and it got a little heated. Edward tried to raise his voice above the noise but it was too much, suddenly my nice little brother shouted at everyone to stop and the crowd went silent. I swear, you could hear a pin drop. I was so proud of him, until he announced the meeting was postponed until further notice. I thought it was because he was tired of hearing those old bats fight but I saw his face. He was drenched in sweat and pale… so, when he stood up and left the room, I followed"

I was so into the story that I was looking at Emmett's hands like they were the most interesting thing on the planet and then his face when I laugh bitterly.

"I'm glad I followed him but that image won't leave my head as long as I live. He was hunched against a wall trying to calm his breath but he couldn't breathe, I saw that. Seth was coming to us when Edward vomited all over him and started to fall. I managed to catch him before he hit the floor but his eyes were white and I was fucking petrified. I remember Seth taking charge and calling for help but…next thing I knew a paramedic was with me and asking to let go of my brother so they could help him"

"That must have been awful for you"

"You can't imagine how much, Bella. Mom didn't want to make a huge spectacle out of his health so, everything was made in secrecy but… when they gave us the diagnosis, my heart shattered. My hand broke too, by the way." I looked at him with an eyebrow raised "I punched a wall. As I said, I was pretty out of it so, I don't even remember doing it. I remember the pain, though, especially when the doctor asked why did I do it and I only thought of answering that I wanted to feel pain, just like my brother"

I felt his pain too, I mean. He left everything he was raised to do in order to follow his heart and marry the girl he loved but his brother was suffering because of it. "I'm sorry I assumed anything, Emmett. I truly am"

"It's okay. I know a lot of people wonder that… even inside the palace. Dad even asked me a couple of time if it was worth it. And believe me, Bella, if I could reverse all this I would, but I can't and it's eating me inside…"

I could see it on his face… this was a situation when, incredibly enough, no one won anything at all…

After returning home – and finding Alice on the couch asleep drooling on the pillows – I grabbed a sandwich and went to my room to be able to research on my computer. I typed "Dilated cardiomyopathy" on the Google bar and when the results came up, I opened a few of them, Wikipedia being the first one… I blanched more and more as I read…

"Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood effectively. Symptoms vary from none to feeling tired, leg swelling, and shortness of breath. It may also result in chest pain or fainting. Complications can include heart failure, heart valve disease, or an irregular heartbeat."

"Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common type, occurring mostly in adults 20 to 60. As the heart becomes weaker heart failure can occur. Common symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling of the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen and veins in the neck. Dilated cardiomyopathy also can lead to heart valve problems, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and blood clots in the heart."

I closed my laptop and stood up trying to get rid of the images that were taunting my imagination. Edward had a really serious, fatal disease and I wanted to help him so badly that I actually didn't know what to do… I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the tears fall on my hands. I wiped them away and vowed to myself to try to make his life as easy as I could, even if he had to be the prince and all those complications of his life, I would do my best to make his life happier and easy… starting tomorrow. So, I grabbed my laptop again and started to read every article about Edward I could find.

AN: *hides behind computer* Hi everyone. So, I managed to get this chapter out and, I'm really truly sorry I went silent for so long but... with everything that happened in my life, I wasn't in the mood for writing but... finally, my muse is back and I'm back here with this.

This is not beta-ed so, any mistakes please let me know... if someone wants and can be a beta, or a pre-reader of this, it would be wonderful so, send me a PM!

Hopefully, I'll be back with a schedule soon. I'm gonna go write some more, before my muse escapes again...

See ya!
AYEN!