Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight…but I can dream!!

Thank you so so so so so so so so much for reading and reviewing!! I can't get this chapter right! So constructive criticism is more than welcome!!

I was going to wait about a week to update but I rushed it so that I could give you some 'closure'!! So a) it is short and b) my beta hasn't actually seen this yet, so any mistakes/discrepancies will be fixed in due course!! I think that the next chapter will be the final chapter…! But I am open to persuasion!

Beep, beep, beep.

The steady rhythm of what I can only assume was a heart monitor pulled me back to the present. Slowly and warily I opened my eyes, afraid of what I might find. As I suspected I was surrounded by machines and wires…and needles. My breathing sped up at the thought and the machines mimicked.

There was a nurse at the end of my bad writing something on my chart. She glanced up when she noticed the change in what was a moment ago a steady rhythm.

"Try and relax. I'll send in the doctor. He is very anxious to examine you" she said brusquely.

I tried to obey but the more I remembered the quicker my breathing got. Where was Ali? What had happened to her? Was she okay? By the time the doctor came to see me I was hyperventilating.

"Shhh Bella, its okay" I heard the soothing familiar voice. An oxygen mask was forced on me despite my struggle. Eventually my breathing even out and I was capable of focusing on the scene in front of me.

Carlisle was standing next to me, still soothing me. Edward was on my other side, holding my hand tight. He brushed a strand of hair out of my face.

"Ali?" I managed to choke out, still struggling for breath.

"Don't worry Bella. Ali's being looked after." Carlisle soothed. "Alice and Esme are with her."

"Is she okay?"

"She should recover completely" was all Carlisle said before he proceeded examining me. But I shook him off.

"Carlisle, please, please, please look after her. I don't want any doctor near me; any drugs to stop me the pain; no-one attempting to pacify me until I can be guaranteed that Ali is okay. Do you understand?" my voice was hard, defying anyone to refuse to comply.

Carlisle stared at me for a moment "You are refusing treatment?"

I nodded, without meeting Edward's eyes; one smouldering look from him would be enough to silence me.

"As your doctor, I must advise against that." His voice was grave and I knew that he didn't like the idea.

"Carlisle, you know that I value your opinion above every other doctor's, you have no idea how close I've gotten to ringing you any time Ali has been sick. But right now, I need to be with Ali and I want you to be the one looking after her." The dread was plain in my trembling voice and my heart was racing (as the monitor let everyone know).

"Bella, calm down" Carlisle ordered gently "I insisted on being Ali's doctor and I am doing the best I can for her. But I strongly recommend that you stay where you are."

"I'm her mother; I have to be with her." I made an attempt to get up but Edward stopped me.

"I'll go to her. Don't worry I'll keep her safe" he mumbled making it obvious that he would rather keep me safe.

"You don't have to-"

"Bella, I'm her f-father. If you can't be with her then I'm the next best thing?" he looked at me for assurance.

Okay, this was big! Edward had finally said what I had being dying to hear. I nodded at him in encouragement, attempting to keep it casual. Edward glided from the room and I surrendered to Carlisle's examination.

"Mommy, did you fall over again?" A little voice dragged my from my fitful sleep. My eyelids flickered open to reveal my daughter propped comfortably in Edward's arms. She had a white bandage wrapped around her head and it looked as if bruises covered every inch of her little body. All the same, her hazel eyes sparkled (though that could gave been a side effect of painkillers) and her cheeks were rosy.

"That's exactly what happened" I said weakly. The painkillers had taken their toll on me. I stretched out my arms to hold her. She obligingly wriggled free of Edward's grip, well she attempted to.

Edward let her slip- into my arms. I winced slightly as she pushed against one of the many broken parts of me. She wriggled to get comfortable on my lap.

"Mommy, my head hurts" she whimpered into my chest.

"I know baby" I whispered and kissed her head "But everyone is going look after you."

"That sounds about right" a husky voice chuckled from the doorway. My head snapped up; Jacob was leaning against the entrance. Ali jumped from my bed and bounded into Jacob's arms, she certainly didn't get that agility from me.

"Hey gorgeous, you've been in the wars haven't you" he smiled down at Ali who beamed up at him. He brushed the curls from her eyes while she chattered about something of little consequence. I, on the other hand, was concentrating solely on Edward. I hadn't failed to notice his reaction to Ali's affectionate greeting.

Jacob had scooped Ali into his arms and moved over to my bed. "Hey Bells" he whispered gently "you look dreadful."

I nodded and glanced suggestively at Edward. Jacob picked up on the hint.

"Edward" he greeted with forced warmth. Edward just nodded in response; he was obviously holding back whatever greeting he would have liked to give. I felt grateful for that much.

"Look Jake, its Edward we are going to live with him" Ali chirped "We'll live in a humongous house and Alice is buying me a bike"

Jacob met my eyes. "You're going back to him?"

I nodded "I don't exist without him. And the Cullens are good for Ali."

"But you left him. You moved away from him. We could have made something." He sounded so downcast that I couldn't help but have pity on him. All the same I stared at him aghast. How could he think that we had a chance of anything? Obviously he wasn't as good at picking up hints as I thought.

"Jacob, sweetie, I love you but without Edward…my life is hollow. The last three years has been hell but the possibility that I would go crawling back to Edward was always there. And now, I see that I have no other choice, I can't live without him. So, I'll go back to him, if he'll have me."

I met Edward's hard stare, hoping that he would still be willing to keep Ali and I, even after Jacob's display!

"Alice and Esme want you around" he mumbled.

"And you?" I asked there was no rational reason to explain why I was so nervous.

"Seriously?"

He bent down and pressed his lips to mine; completely ignoring an astounded Jacob and a mystified Ali.

Thank you for reading!!

Hope it lived up to expectations!

xxx