The night before I'm going to be discharged is filled with coughing and a heavy chest. Dread and pain fill me with each cough, and I'm thankful Emmett and Edward aren't here to witness it. They're both going to freak the fuck out.

Internally, I'm freaking the fuck out. I try not to show it to my nurse, Nora, when she checks on me at midnight. She wheels the blood pressure cart in and frowns at me.

"Let's check your temp first," she says, pulling out the thermometer. She slides it under my tongue, clicking her own as it beeps. "One-hundred-point-nine. Let's get your blood pressure, and then I'm going to let the on-call doc know you're getting sick."

"We don't know that."

Her brow cocks, and she huffs. "Yes, we do."

"Well, I can still leave here with a cold."

"We'll see, sweetie, but … I'd prepare yourself. Also, I'm supposed to call your brother if anything changes."

I shake my head. "No. I don't want you to call him."

"That is your choice." She sighs, wrapping the blood pressure cuff around my arm and clipping the pulse oximeter to my finger. At least, those numbers are normal. "Try and get some rest. I'm sure I'll be back with something for your fever once I get the okay."

I let out a long breath, nodding as she leaves my room, closing the door behind her. I've still got a heart monitor on me, but the little box for it goes in a pouch I keep around my neck, so it's easy to get up and go into the bathroom.

I splash some water on my face and look at myself in the mirror. I look better than I have in months—even with the beginnings of a cold. This heart has changed everything, and I'll fight to keep it for the rest of my life. Whatever sickness I have right now won't be my undoing. It might be a little bump, but I'll get through it.

I didn't come this far to lose, after all.

I make my way back to the bed, grabbing my sweater off the chair. I'm a little chilly, but at least, I've been able to wear my own clothes now instead of the thin gown. My pajama bottoms are fleece, covered in cats, which Esme bought for me.

She and Carlisle were here the day before last, and she brought me a whole basket of gifts—lotions, pajamas, a stuffed animal, and some snacks. I've gone through half the bag of gummy worms already.

Speaking of which, I grab the bag before sitting back down in bed and pulling my blankets up. I'm tired, but the cough makes it impossible to sleep, so I turn the TV on and start munching.

It's not long before Nora returns with medicines—the best being the cough syrup.

"This has codeine in it, so no getting out of bed, all right?" she asks, and I quickly nod, taking the cup and quickly downing it. Next, she hands me ibuprofen and an antibiotic the on-call doctor prescribed. "Hit the call button if you need anything. Hopefully, the cough syrup will help you get some rest."

"It has in the past. Thanks."

She smiles. "Of course, sweetie."

When she leaves, I grab my phone and decide I should text Edward, but he beats me to it somehow.

On-call doc called. You're coughing? How do you feel?

I can't believe they called him in the middle of the night, but he probably asked the doctor to if something had changed.

Yeah, but I'm okay. They gave me meds just now. Does Emmett know?

His response comes within seconds.

Yes. We're on our way in.

Of course, they are.

I'm so ready for my boyfriend to just be my boyfriend. Tomorrow was supposed to be the start of that, but if they don't let me go, we'll have to keep pretending. It's hard to even get five minutes alone here because Edward is worried we'll be caught. I just want to kiss him without fear.

Fuck my lungs for preventing that.

They make good time getting from the hotel, showing up in my room just fifteen minutes after Edward's text.

He instantly puts his stethoscope in his ears, pressing the end to my back and telling me to breathe deeply. His brow is etched in concern, and I'm suddenly afraid.

"What is it?" I ask. "It's a cold, right?"

He shakes his head as Emmett takes his turn listening to my lungs. My brother curses loudly.

"It's fucking pneumonia," he says. "You should have discharged her sooner, Edward."

My boyfriend's brow cocks. "She wasn't ready. We just got her off the pain meds. There's always a risk of acquiring infections here, Emmett, but she needed the care."

I see true anger in Emmett's face, and it's directed right at Edward. "Well, she's sure as fuck not getting discharged now, is she? Which means she could get something else. If she loses this battle now …" He seethes, and I reach out, grabbing his hand.

"It's not his fault," I say. "Jesus. Calm down, Em."

"I … fuck." He sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I'm sorry," he mumbles halfheartedly. "What's your plan here?"

"Hit her hard with IV antibiotics right away. But these medications have some nasty side effects, Bella."

I shake my head. "I don't care. Just save me again, okay?"

Thanks to May, Nole, Fran, Brier, and Meg for prereading and Sally for Beta'ing.