A/N: Sorry! Busy with school. Here's a short chapter. More to come soon, if I get reviews. Much love!
Previously….
A few minutes later, we came to a red light. I heard a long, obnoxious honk, before I heard an engine sputter and accelerate. Before I knew what had happened, we'd been hit by another car, crashing against the passenger side, and Edward tried to guard me with his arms, but he, for once, was too late.
My rib cracked audibly. My head slammed against the dash board, and I felt blood trickle down my neck. I could smell it. I'm sure Edward could too…
No. This would not be harder for him than it was for me. I tried to warn him, but failed as I slipped into unconsciousness.
*************************************************************************************
I finally broke through the darkness, feeling numb and the faint sound of breathing echoing in my ears, after being unconscious. My eyelids slowly fluttered open, and focused on Edward's torn and agonized face. I was silent, measuring his body language. Tension rolled off his shoulders like boulders from a cliff.
I reached out, and he came to my bed and sat on the side, careful not to shift me in any way. He took my face in his cold hands, stroking it softly. He let out a strangled breath and closed his eyes, his eyebrows pulling together.
When he opened his eyes back up, they were intense and dark. He had not fed for days, from what I could tell.
His somber voice broke the silence. "Bella, I am so sorry, my beautiful wife. I should have heard Mike, I should have known… that drunk bastard is a waste of human skin. I can't tell you how sorry I am, I just…"
I broke him off mid-sentence, trying to silence him with my lips, wincing in pain as my torso objected to me sitting up. I slouched back into the hospital bed, recognizing my too white surroundings. Edward leaned in and kissed me, and I threw as much energy as I could muster into the kiss. I clutched his shoulders, my torso and head silently screaming at me.
He pulled away, and his eyes were lighter. This reminded me…
"Edward, what about Aro? We're going to be too late!" He hushed my cracked voice, looking around cautiously as he covered my mouth with his hand. I breathed heavily, taking in his musty smell. And I couldn't help myself, I starting crying. Huge tears, full of want. I wanted to taste Edward again. I wanted him to taste me. I wanted our bare arms and legs to be forever intertwined, and I wanted to be changed. Mike's stupid fucking van had wiped away all our plans, along with the Volvo, crashing us into confusion.
Edward took his hand off my mouth and wiped away my tears with his thumb. He pressed his face to mine, shushing me sweetly. This only made me cry harder. I buried my head in his shoulder, and he stroked my hair. "Sh, Bella, love. Carlisle says if he talks to the doctors, he'll be able to take you to our house, so you won't have to be in this dreadful place. It'll be a speedy recovery, baby, I promise you. And once you're put back together everything will be fine. You are so fragile, Bella, love. I'm just happy it's not be that caused this damage to your beautiful body." He hands traced my features, sliding down my collar bone and leaving my skin flushed from his much needed touch.
Surely, when I was done healing, we'd have to cut to the chase and change me quickly. Would there be no time to say goodbye to Charlie? My head, still cloudy from meds and unconsciousness, starting clearing up as I thought through my options. I looked up at Edward, taking a deep breath.
"Edward, before you change me…" I started, looking away and shaking off my embarrassment, "I mean, right before… I want you to make love to me. One last time."
He looked into my eyes and looked as if he'd cry if he could. His eyebrows pulled together and a shudder rippled through his torso. He closed his eyes, and slowly, a smile crept up his face, my own mouth pulling upwards in sync with his.
Finally he opened his eyes, and they were liquid gold, full of love, desire, and strength.
"Anything you want, Bella, love. Anything."