A/N

I cannot believe how wonderful my dedicated readers are. You guys blow me away! You give me the kindest reviews. You are the reason I update. Thank you so much!

I wasn't lying when I said things were going to start to get bad. Here they come.

Still EPOV

It has been two weeks since the ball. My Bella and I have gotten closer than I thought possible. I love this girl with everything within me, I would give her anything her heart desired, I would also give my life for her in a heart beat. I wouldn't have to think twice.

There has been a cold going around in Chicago. Doctors offices have been filled almost everyday.

"Good morning father. How is the factory?" We owned a factory that supplied many jobs for the people of Chicago.

"Not very good. There have been people getting sick and I'm losing a lot of workers." He looked up into my eyes. He must have seen something there that I didn't realize because he changed the subject quickly.

"Are you going to the market today?" He coughed loudly. "Sorry." I looked at him with a worried expression but he just smiled at me.

"I can. Shall I talk to mother?" He just nodded and continued his breakfast. Odd.

"Good morning son."

"Morning mother."

"Did you sleep well?" I just shrugged at her question. I really didn't I stayed up and watched Isabella sleep. She was having nightmares, I would have to wake her up every so often so she wouldn't scream.

"Father said you needed me to go to the market."

"I do actually. I'll write you a list. Did you finish your breakfast?"

"Yes mam."

"Go wake Isabella. I know you will want her to join you. Have her come to eat first." She gave me a wide grin. She loves Isabella. She loves the fact that I found someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

I walked into Isabella's room and sat beside her. She had a frown on her face and she was shaking her head and whispering "No"

I kissed her cheek. "Isabella?"

She was still mumbling her no.

I kissed behind her ear. "Wake up my Bella."

"No please. Please not him. I'll do anything. Make him better please. I can't lose him." She was getting louder and was squirming in the bed. She has been saying things like this all night. I know what her nightmare is. I caught whatever this illness is that is spreading and she was begging that I be spared.

"Edward wake up. I need you. Don't leave me please." She was crying now. She was breaking my heart and she didn't have the faintest idea.

"Isabella I really need you to wake up now." I shook her gently

"No! Save him!" She was screaming now.

I grabbed her in my arms and said her name loudly. "Bella!"

She shot up out of my arms and had tears running down her cheeks. She turned to look at me.

"Edward?" She looked confused.

"Yes my Bella?"

She flung herself at me and started crying relentlessly on my shoulder.

"You were dying. Dr. Carlisle was there. I was begging him to save you but he wouldn't. He said he couldn't. You didn't know who I was. You would wake up, look at me, and ask who I was and why you were at the hospital. You couldn't remember me." Her sobs were louder now.

"I could never forget you Isabella. Never." I rocked her from side to side hoping to soothe her.

"It was just a dream my Bella. Just a dream. It's alright. I'm here, I will not leave you and I will not forget you. It is alright."

She fell asleep after a few moments of me rocking and soothing her, my mother walked in quietly.

"She is scared mother. I don't know what to tell her, I have the same fears."

"I know. I do too. But you have to stay strong for her Edward. She won't get passed this without you."

"I'll do whatever it takes." My mother was sitting on the bed beside me. She put her chin on my shoulder and rubbed circles on my back.

"She will be fine as long as she has you." There was a pause. "Edward, your father and I were speaking a few weeks ago and, if anything were to happen, there is plenty of money for you and Isabella. There is..." I cut her off.

"Don't talk like that mother. Were going to be fine. Everyone will be okay." She gave me a weak smile and walked out of the room.

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"Here is what I need from the market, here is the money. Be careful and be back soon. I need those things for dinner tonight."

"Yes mam" I said to my mother as Isabella and I walked out of the house.

"I'm sorry for this morning Edward."

"You have no reason to be."

"I was just scared. It broke me to see you the way you were. Helpless and no one could save you. Knowing you didn't know who I was." Tears were forming in her eyes again.

"Isabella look at me." We stopped walking and I pulled her close to me.

"As long as we are together, there is nothing to fear. If I have anything to do with it, you will not be harmed. By anything." She gave me a watery smile and hugged me.

"Thank you."

"Now, think no more of that dream and lets have a good day. It is warm and sunny, it will be a good day."

When we arrived at the market there weren't too many people there. A woman was walking by and she coughed all over me.

"Ew!" Isabella laughed at my disgusted face. "That's gross. People are so rude."

"It was just a cough Edward." She was still giggling.

"It is still disgusting."

We got the necessary ingredients mother needed and started back home.

"Where is father?" I asked my mother once we returned.

"He is lying down. He doesn't feel too well I'm afraid. I'll be back in a moment." She took a bowl of soup to my father and came back down with a worried face.

"Is he alright Elizabeth?" Isabella asked

"Oh yes dear. He will be fine. Just needs his rest." She smiled but I could see the fear in her eyes.

"Should we take him to the doctor mother?"

"No, he doesn't want to leave. I will send for a doctor to make a house call if he isn't better in a few days."

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Three days have passed and my father was still ill. My mother sent for Dr. Carlisle and he arrived late in the afternoon.

"I am terribly sorry for the hour. I have been sent on many house calls. People are getting sick all over Chicago." He told my mother and I. I was glad Isabella was in her room when he said that. She would be terrified right now, much like I was.

"Edward? Why don't you keep Isabella company? I'll take Dr. Carlisle to see your father. Alright?"

"Yes mam." I walked up the stairs to my Bella's room.

"Is that the doctor?" Isabella asked me

"Yes."

"Are you scared Edward?"

"No. My father is a very strong man. He will be fine." I gave her a smile but I could only hope she didn't see that it was mask. "Are you ready to sleep my Bella?"

"I suppose. Stay with me?"

"Of course. No need to ask. You know I will." She smiled and held the blankets up for me to crawl under. I pulled her to my side and wrapped my arms tightly around her.

"Goodnight Edward. I love you." I pressed my lips to hers lightly.

"Goodnight my Bella. I love you. Sleep."

She was sleeping soundly within moments. I heard my parents bedroom open.

"I will return tomorrow Mrs. Masen. I will arrive as early as possible."

"Is he alright? He will be fine won't he?" I heard my mothers shaky voice.

"I cannot tell. We have had many many cases like this at the hospital. We are running out of rooms quickly."

"What is it?"

"I cannot be completely sure. This ailment starts out as a cold. The coughing then sneezing. It then turns to the flu and then a sever case of pneumonia."

"But, people live through this don't they?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"Yes."

"No, people do not live through it. Most of the cases I've seen have died within hours. But your husband isn't far enough along yet. I will return tomorrow and do everything I can."

I stopped listening. I couldn't take it any longer. I was more terrified in that moment than I've ever been.

"Edward?" My mother called to me quietly. I unwrapped my arms from Isabella and walked into the hall to find my mother with tears pouring down her face.

"Mother!" I ran to her and pulled her closely to me. I walked with her downstairs into the parlor and we sat on a couch.

"The doctor, he says people do not live through it." I've never seen my mother cry. If she didn't need me in this moment it would have been too much for me to handle.

"He will be back tomorrow though. He will do everything he can for him."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be like this with you here."

"Think nothing of it mother."

"I am going to return to your father. I will stay with him as long as is needed."

I watched her walk back up the stairs and turn towards their room. I let myself break down. I made my mind up at that moment that I would do everything possible to get Isabella out of Chicago, out of this state. I couldn't stand the idea of losing my family, losing my Bella would be even worse.

I walked back to her room where she was sitting up waiting for me.

"Isabella?" I said softly

"I heard. I wasn't asleep." I saw tears start to fill her eyes.

"No. Isabella do not worry please. We will be fine. I promise I will do everything possible to protect you."

"But you can't Edward. There is nothing you can do."

"Yes there is. Isabella. I need you to leave. I want you to get out of this state, go as far as you can. I will follow you as soon as my father is well. I do not want you to stay here while this happens."

"No. I'm not leaving you."

"Isabella please."

"No! I am staying wherever you are."

"Why do you choose now to be so stubborn?" She smiled a small smile at my teasing, but it was only to hide my fear. I am not giving up on getting her out of here.

A/N

So I almost didn't stop writing this chapter. The events just unfolded themselves in my mind and I kept typing. I figured this was a good place to stop. There is a good chance I will update again today, let me see those reviews :)