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Bella had tried to be optimistic. She really had, but after suffering through another MRI and then being strapped into bed with the EEG cap on for almost ten hours, she was struggling to stay positive. Of course, it didn't help that her body ached, her head throbbed, and once again, they had placed a bag of fluids into her port because she had become dehydrated.

"Your hair is a mess again," Edward said, placing his hand on her stomach. Once again, he was curled up next to her in her hospital bed. She'd needed him close, and he needed to be close to her.

"I know," she groused, leaning her head against his chest. "How much longer do you think?"

"Not too long," he said, though she could tell he wasn't sure.

Her tests had taken longer than normal, which did nothing to make her feel better about the trial and its success. Edward tried to keep her distracted, but even she could tell he was just as nervous, just as scared as her. Their lives had been on hold over the last eight weeks. All she wanted was a future with him, and if the trial failed, their future would be shortly lived.

Someone knocked on the door to her room just before it opened and Carlisle and Emmett came inside. Bella felt her body tense as she looked up at Edward, who looked like he was about to throw up. She couldn't tell from their body language what the results of her tests were, which had her on edge. If it had worked, they would have been . . . happier, right?

Tears flooded her eyes, and it took several attempts before she could say a shaky, "Hey."

"Hey, honey," Carlisle said, as he somberly walked over and grabbed her hand. "Are you doing okay?"

She shook her head, her tears falling down her face. "It didn't work, did it? The trial failed."

Carlisle and Emmett shared a look before Emmett smiled and said, "It worked, Swan."

"What?" she whimpered. "I swear to God, Em, if you're lying, I'll fucking kick your ass."

He laughed. "The trial worked. You're EEG and MRI show normal brain functions. Blood tests are all within normal ranges. It worked."

"Oh my God," she wept, wrapping her arms around herself. "It really worked?"

"Yes, Swan, it worked," Carlisle snickered.

Bella turned and looked at Edward, who was staring at his brother with his mouth wide open. "Babe, say something."

"It worked," Edward whimpered, shifting his eyes to hers and bringing his hand up to her face, wiping away her tears. "It worked, sweetheart."

"I'm going to live," she sobbed, falling into his arms. "I'm going to live, Edward."

Their bodies shook with their tears, both of them letting go of weeks of fear and doubt on the success of the trial. She hadn't believed it would work, hadn't trusted that God was going to spare her life. But he had. Bella was going to live. It wasn't until Emmett cleared his throat that she remembered he and Carlisle were in the room still.

She turned and reached for him. "I can't thank you enough, Em. I . . ."

"Don't ever thank me, Swan. Seeing you and Edward happy is all the thanks I need," he said, smiling and took hold of her hand. "We're going to monitor you closely over the next year or so. Scans and EEGs every two months, just as a precaution since this procedure is so new, okay?"

Bella nodded. "When can I go home?"

"As soon as you're ready," he said, giving her hand a squeeze.

"Have you told anyone else?" she asked, looking from him to Carlisle.

"No," Carlisle said, laughing. "Kind of figured you'd want to be the one to tell them, Swan."

"Kind of feels like the kind of news I should give them," she agreed, smiling. "The trial worked. I just . . ."

Her tears overcame her again, and once more, Edward had her in his arms, holding her, soothing her. Only this times, her tears were happy and full of hope. Bella Swan was no longer dying.

—BDBH—

An hour later, Bella had been released from the hospital and despite the fact that her body still ached, for the first time she had hope for a future. A real future. While she dressed herself, Edward texted Alice and asked her to get everyone together that night. Bella knew she wouldn't be able to keep the news to herself for too long, but she needed a little time to process everything that had happened to her.

"There's someplace I need to go," she told Edward before he could start the car.

"Okay, where?"

"You drive. I'll navigate," she said, giving him a smile.

Half an hour later, Edward turned left into the cemetery and Bella directed him to her father's plot. He stopped the car and came around to help her out. With his arm around her waist, they walked over to where her father had been laid to rest. Her tears were already falling as she lowered herself to her knees, placing her hand on top of his grave.

"Hey, Dad," she whimpered. "Sorry I haven't been out here in a while. I could tell you that I've been busy, but that'd be a lie. I've been angry, Dad. At you, at God, at everyone. I want to blame you for giving up, for giving me Kufs. I know that's not fair because you fought as hard as you could. I understand that now. I just . . . I needed you, Dad. Needed you so much because I've been so scared." Edward knelt next to her, placing his hand on the small of her back. "I met someone, Dad. His name is Edward, and he's Volleyball player. A really good one, too. He gave me the will to live, Dad. The courage to try, and, um, well, turns out he has a brother with the cure to Kufs, I'm going to live, Dad. For me, and for you. I just wanted to tell you that I love you, and I miss you every day. Every single day, Daddy."

Bella wiped her tears off her face as she looked at Edward. "Take me home, Edward."

"Home it is."

—BDBH—

By the time they arrived back at the bungalow, Bella was exhausted. Edward lifted her out of the car and carried her onto the front porch, where he laid her on the lounger, covering her with a blanket. He sat on the lounger next to her, watching her sleep with a peaceful smile on her lips. He'd be lying if he said he didn't think she would survive the trial. The physical and mental struggle had been real, and he didn't think she would be able to last too much longer. But the trial had worked, and she was going to live. No, they were going to live. A real live, a real future. Together.

Edward was startled when his phone rang. He scrambled to his feet and into the bungalow so it didn't wake Bella. When he pulled it out of his pocket, he smiled when he saw Esme's name on the caller I.D.

"Hello, Esme."

"Is she okay?" she asked. "Edward, are you there? I swear to God, if you don't say something, I'm coming over!"

"She's fine, Esme. We just got home, and she's taking a nap. Did Alice text you about coming out tonight?"

"She did, but are you sure she's strong enough?"

Edward chuckled. "No, I'm not, but it's important to her, Esme."

"You got the results, didn't you?" she asked. "Carlisle won't tell me."

"We did," he said, trying to keep the giddiness out of his voice. "She wants to be the one to tell you, tell everyone. Just . . . It's important to her, Esme."

"Okay," Esme cried. "We'll be there. Edward, thank you for taking care of my sister."

"I love her, Esme. I love her so much."

"I know you do," she whispered. "We'll be there tonight." She paused before adding, "We love you, too, Mason."

Esme hung up before Edward could reply, though he had to admit to being surprised. He knew Esme liked him, but to hear that she truly considered him a part of her family meant so much to him. He wasn't used to having anyone care about him, anyone but Jasper. And now, he had a family.

—BDBH—

Just after seven that night, Bella once again found herself curled up on the lounger on the front porch. Alice and Jasper had been the first to arrive, as always, and were helping Edward get the fire pit going, setting up the stereo, and had brought more food than any of them would ever be able to eat. Bella wasn't stupid, of course. Alice knew she had gotten the results of the trial, and was trying to keep herself busy until Bella was ready to share with everyone.

"Are you warm enough?" Esme asked, reaching down and pulling the blanket up over her arms. "You're shivering."

"I'm okay," she said, weakly. She knew it would take some time for the effects of the trial to ware off.

Esme and Carlisle had arrived just a few minutes after Alice and Jasper. They, too, were trying to help get everything set up. Well, Carlisle was doing his best to keep Esme from annoying Bella. She knew it was selfish to keep the news of the trial to herself, but she had needed a little bit of time to process the incredible fact that she wasn't dying anymore, that she was going to live a long, happy life.

"So, Carlisle and I have made a decision," Esme said, smiling, though her eyes still looked sad.

"And what would that decision be?" Bella wondered.

"Well, he and I are . . . We're going to get hitched. Soon."

"Like how soon?" she asked, smiling.

"Like sometime this week," she confirmed. "I don't want to live without him as my husband anymore, Bells. I love him, and I need him."

"Do I get to be there?"

"Of course," she laughed, reaching for her hand. It took some effort, but Bella managed to place her hand in Esme's. "I won't leave you behind, sis. Not ever."

"I love you, Essie," she whimpered. "So much."

"I love you, too," Esme cried.

Bella and Esme sat on the loungers as everyone else started to arrive. James and Laurent first, then Seth and Tanya, followed closely by Emmett and Rose. Peter and Charlotte were the last two to show up, or so she thought. Bella was surprised when five minutes later, Renee walked around the side of the bungalow.

Bella and Esme shared a look before she pushed herself out of the lounger and held onto her sister as she walked down the front steps. "You're here."

"I'm sorry if you don't want me here," Renee whimpered, giving her a pleading look. "Peanut . . . I mean Alice said you'd gotten the results from the trial, and, um, I just . . . I wanted to be here for you. To support you. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Bella whimpered, looking over at Edward, stretching her hand out to him.

Edward was by her side in a heartbeat, his arm wrapped around, holding her up. She clutched onto him as she looked at each person: Alice and Jasper, Seth and Tanya, Emmett and Rose, James and Laurent, Peter and Charlotte, Renee, Carlisle and Esme. Her family. Tears flooded her eyes and her lips trembled as she tried to speak.

"Oh, my God, it didn't work, did it?" Esme wept, falling into Carlisle's arms.

"No," Bella cried. "It did work, Essie. I'm . . . I'm cured."

"Swan?" Alice asked, the shook and surprise on everyone's faces had her smiling. "Are you for real?"

Bella nodded. "I'm not going to die. Soon, at least."

"Oh, Bella," Esme cried, throwing herself against her, her arms wrapping around her. "I love you, sis. I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Essie," Bella cried. "Thank you for never giving up on me."

While Bella could hear everyone crying with them, celebrating with them, Bella kept herself in Esme's arms, thankful for a sister who loved her through broken dreams and battered hearts.

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