Hey guys! I'm really sorry for the delay, but with recently starting back up at school, I was struggling to find the time to write. And I hated that.
I hope this 3,224 word chapter makes you forgive me, I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, and if you wouldn't mind, could you please leave a quick review on your thoughts please? Thank you.
I wish to have the next chapter up soon, I'll try my upmost best!
"Bella wake up!"
My eyes shot open and I broke the dream-water that had been drowning me.
My breaths were short, sharp and shallow and my throat hurt.
"Oh, thank god" Edward sighs, and releases his hold on my arms.
"W-what? What h-happened?" I stutter, and noticed that Carlisle had only just left go of my ankle's.
"You were having a nightmare, Bella. I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't. You were screaming, and then you began kicking and flaring your arms, so we had to hold you down. Are you okay, love?" Edward says gently, holding me in his arms. Carlisle doesn't leave the room, instead he watches me carefully, as if he was expecting me to explode.
"No" I whisper, and curse myself for being so damn weak.
He strokes my cheek softly, as if I was the most precious thing in the world, "Do you want to talk about it? It might help".
I let out a shaky breath, "I woke up after the operation, and I called for you. You answered me, but there was something different about your voice. I knew what was wrong. I screamed at you to tell me where Mom was, I was begging you to tell me she was alive. And then your eyes met mine, I knew what had happened. I looked around the room and everyone's faces, Charlie's, Phil's, Esme's, everyone's faces held pain or sadness. Then you told me Mom didn't make it, you told me she'd died. And I started screaming, and I couldn't stop. I guess I was actually screaming in real life too".
And then a gruesome image flashed through my mind.
Mom, lying lifeless and pale on a operating table. Her stomach was still cut open, and her blood was everywhere. The resuscitating panels were removed from her chest, soaked with her blood, and the heart monitor read 0, which too, was covered in my Mom's crimson blood.
I gagged, and leaped from Edwards lap into the bathroom. Hunched over the toilet bowl, I emptied my stomach contents. Edward came in straight after me, pulling my brown locks back and rubbing soothing circles with his hands on my back, whispering sweet nothings into my ear.
A few minutes later, when I had nothing left in me, I flushed the chain and Edward passed me a glass of cold water. Greedily I drank it, and pressed the cold glass against my clammy skin.
He then helped me stand, and I brushed my teeth twice before the horrible taste went away.
Edward was now holding me, standing in the middle of the fancy bathroom. I fell into his arms easily, and I was calming myself by breathing in his mind-fogging scent.
"You ready to go back to bed, love?" He whispers into my ear, kissing my forehead straight after.
"No, not yet" I mumble and I grab his hand and lead us towards the open-plan living area.
The whole family looked at me with sympathetic eyes, and I felt embarrassed after knowing they had heard me puke and have a nightmare.
I went into the kitchen, but was still clearly visible to everyone. I leaned against the cabinet, and rubbed my face with my hands.
Edward followed me, and stood before me, chest to chest, nose to nose. His eyes were asking me 'What had I imagined?' but he didn't want to push me.
"It was Mom, again. She was in theatre, but she'd passed. Her stomach was open and-".
"You don't have to tell me" Edward whispers, upon hearing chokes and sniffles.
"No, I want too. Her stomach was still cut open, and there was blood everywhere. The heart monitor, which read 0, and the resuscitating panels were both covered in her blood. It was everywhere. But the worst part was her face. Mom wasn't smiling, she was lifeless, dead. Her tanned skin was pale and grey and her dull eyes were fixed. What if that happens, huh? What if she dies?"
Edward cups my cheeks with his hands and has a look are pure belief and determination on his face, "Your mother will not die. You hear me? I promise you Bella, with everything I have, your mother is going to be perfectly fine. I swear it too you".
"Has Alice seen anything?" I whispered, and Alice soon appeared in front of me.
"Yes. I saw Renee, about 3 weeks from now. She's still weak, but she's living in a hotel for the time being in Forks, to be closer to you to plan the wedding with Esme. You and I are with her, and your moaning because I'm making adjustments to your dress, Renee's laughing at you".
I smiled, "That sounds just about right".
Alice laughed but then it faltered, "Geez, I gotta go through your whining twice. It gets pretty darn annoying after a while you know".
"I'll do it for a good reason, Alice".
"A good reason to you is not a good reason to me" she chirped, and then danced away towards Jasper.
I glanced at the clock, which read 12:12am. I knew I needed to go back to sleep, but I also knew it wasn't going to happen easily.
"Has Carlisle still got those sleeping pills?" I ask Edward, and at that second Carlisle enters with a box of tablets in his hands.
He hands it to me, "These will help, but only take two".
I whisper a thank you, and knocked back the pills quickly, desperate for sleep.
"Are you ready go back to sleep now, love?"
"Yeah" I slurred, as if I was drunk, it shocked me how quick the pills kicked in. My eyes widened.
Edward chuckled, "Yes, they work very quickly" he said as he caught me from falling over my own feet, trying to get to the bedroom.
He swiftly swept me up into his arms, and carried me back into the bedroom. Everyone called a 'goodnight' in my direction, but I was only strong enough to flick my wrist once or twice in an attempt of a goodnight wave.
Edward laughed quietly again, and placed my drowsy form on the bed, pulling the covers up to my chin.
"Goodnight my love, I love you" Edward soothed, and kissed my head.
"Wuv' you" I murmured, and then sleep drowned me, for the second time that evening.
I woke the next morning, to soft, sweet, cool kisses repeatedly pressed to my skin. When the all-too-familiar lips met mine, only then I reacted. I smiled, and kissed Edward back and then felt him smile against my lips.
"This is a very good way of waking me up" I said, my voice still thick with sleep and my eyes still closed.
His soft chuckles shook the bed lightly, "Good morning love".
"Mmmm, morning" I hum, and when I open my eyes, I'm lying horizontally across the bed, my feet dangling of the edge. The soft cotton sheets were wrapped around my body several times, and I was hugging a pillow to my cheek. Edward lay beside me, placing kisses up and down my bare arm and along my shoulder and neck.
"How did I end up like this?" I asked, and his face lit up with amusement.
"Those tablets pushed you straight into dream-land, so all night you were moving around and talking" He laughed, and I groaned.
"What did I say?"
"Oh, just a things about my sparkly eyes and fluffy hair" Edward smirked, and I playfully hit him.
I poked my tongue out at him, "Just be grateful I didn't say anything nasty about you. Anything else?"
"Alice and her 'over-obsession with too tight clothes and too high heels, and you mentioned your mother once or twice".
My eyes widened and my breath caught, "Mom! Crap! Got to get to the hospital, the operations in...four hours!"
I launched myself of the bed, still wrapped up in the sheets, and ran into the bathroom, before I could close the door Edward had stopped me.
"You need to calm down love, its 8am, we don't have to be at the hospital for another two hours".
"I want too see her, Edward".
He wrapped his arms around me, pulled me to his chest and kissed my head, "I know love, but everything's going to be alright, I promise".
"You promise?"
"I promise" he kisses my lips, and I felt hope and security flood my body.
Maybe Mom would be fine after all.
The nine of us arrived at the hospital at 10:02am, and by entering through reception I saw the Blondie again.
"Hey hunnie! Do you like, remember me, like?" I teased, passing her with a sarcastic grin.
"Oh, its like you! You like, hung up my call, to my like girlfriend, like!" she whined, and I slyly waved as the elevator doors closed.
We reached number 24, after multiple stops, and speed-walked towards my mothers room.
I opened the door, and flew to her side.
"Bella, sweetheart" she smiled, looking a little worse than yesterday and that worried me.
I hugged her and kissed her cheek, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm good baby, Doctor Richards said he'll be coming around soon to talk to us, and then their gonna prep us for surgery".
"Okay. How comfy are those chairs, Phil?" I teased, watching Phil's face crease after getting up from the plastic chairs.
"Like candyfloss Bella, perfectly, ow, comfortable" he moaned, his hand pushing against his back.
I laughed, and soon the room was bustling with chatter.
Around 10:30am, the Doctor entered the room, with a sense of confidence surrounding him.
"Morning, Cullen's, Swans, Dwyer's. So, today's the day-"
He continued to talk more about the procedure, and what would be happening before/during/after the surgery.
"Okay, any more questions? Nope? Okay, I'll send in a few nurses to get you both prepped, and I'll be back around 12 to escort you to theatre".
We said some 'thank you's' and then he was gone.
"Baby girl?" Dad's voice broke me out of the trance I'd been in, and he motioned me over to him.
When I reached him, he hugged me tightly.
"Whoa, Dad, what's gotten into you?" I laughed almost nervously, but put my arms around him.
"Your going into theatre Bells, and I'm your father, it's my job to worry".
"Then quit your job, because I'm going to be fine. We're both going to be fine" I stated, mentioning my mother because I knew it wasn't only me he was worried for, but mom too.
Charlie said no more, but instead he hugged me.
Then a fairly young nurse popped her head around the door, "Bella Swan?"
I left go of Charlie and faced her, "Yes?"
"We're ready to get you prepped, if you'd follow me".
I gasped, because now it hit me. What if mom rejects the liver? What if she does on the table? What if she never wakes up again? What if she's not at the wedding? What if I never wake up? What will happen then?
"Bella? Love, are you okay?" Edward was standing in front of me, shaking me slightly out of my daze, a worried expression played on his face.
"What? Um, yeah, I'm fine" I lied, least, I think I did.
He smiled, almost sadly, "Don't dwell on what if's Bella. If you don't wanna do this then-"
"No. No, I'm doing this. It just hit me suddenly, that's all".
"Are you sure?"
"Yes" I went to leave with the nurse, before he stopped me again.
"Should I?" he was indicating should he come with me, but I shook my head.
"I won't be long, the nurses will probably kick you out anyway. You can help calm Renee down for me, please? I'll be back before the surgery, I promise.
He nodded, and then I left.
The prepping phase didn't take long, I had to sign a few forms and change into a gown, that sort of stuff. It passed like a blur really, I just wanted to get back to Edward and Mom.
It was 11:45 when I returned back to Mom's room, and she too, had been prepared for surgery.
Doctor Richards had come early, and was talking to the family when I entered.
"It should take around 5-6 hours before they- Oh, back so soon Bella?"
I laughed nervously, fiddling with the gown ties, "Yeah, I guess so".
"I was just explaining to your family that surgery should take around five hours. If your all set, we'll take you down to theatre now".
"No!" I yelled loudly, and everyone turned to stare at me, shocked looks on their faces.
"I mean", breathe deeply Bella, "I mean that I haven't said goodbye yet, that's all".
The Doctor nodded, "Aah, I understand, I will be back in five minutes to take you down" he then left the room.
"Bella!"
A little black-haired, pale skinned pixie jumped on me, her arms wrapped around my shoulders.
"Alice?"
"It's going to be okay. You and your mom are so strong Bella, there's nothing to worry about. I've seen the future, remember?" she taps her head for affect and laughs.
"I trust you, Alice".
"Good".
Jasper and Emmett come up to me, and then I suddenly have four arms curled around my body. It sounds strange, but the hospital must have strengthen Jasper's will-power against his thirst.
"Hey guys" I sigh, trying to get my arms to reach over their shoulders.
"We'll be waiting just outside those theatre doors with all the ice-cream you can eat, got it?" Emmett said, with a large grin on his face.
"I got it, Emm".
"Don't worry about a thing Miss Bella, ya'll gonna be just fine" Jasper said, using his power to calm me, with his sweet Texas accent.
Then, they broke into song.
"Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"
Rosalie then stopped them, "Bob Marley sang it better you guys!" They pouted, and Emmett stormed off to talk to Renee, Phil and Charlie, Jasper following behind laughing.
Rose stayed in front of me, and I could tell she was trying to say something, but struggling with it.
"Rose?" I said.
"I've always thought of you as a sister" she blurts out, and almost looks relived when she said it.
I smile softly, "Me too Rose. I'm sorry we didn't get along well before".
"It was my fault too, I was selfish and stupid. But I'm ready to accept you into the family, you belong with us" she whispers into my ear while surprising me with a hug.
I sniffle and feel my eyes starting to water, "Don't make me cry now" I laugh.
She smiles and moves out of the way for Carlisle and Esme.
I'm quickly taken into their arms, their cold bodies soothing me.
"Your both going to be just fine, and when your both fit and healthy, we are all going to chose the dresses for the wedding, sweetheart" Esme says, stroking my hair.
"I'd like that, Esme".
"Procedures like this are preformed everyday, Bella. There is no need for your panic or concern, I promise you that" Carlisle kisses my head.
"Thank you, for everything you've both done for me. Thank you for accepting me so easily into your family" I said, and my sobs finally came and the tears finally fell.
"Sssh, dear. We should thank you, for bringing light to our boy, for giving him love. It was our pleasure to welcome you into the family, a beautiful child who spread warmth throughout our family, thank you, daughter" Esme sooths and they both give me one more kiss before Renee calls me over.
"Mom?"
"You listen to me now, baby girl. I want those tears stopped, there's no need to cry. I am going to be fine, and that's all thanks to you. No one else, you. And I thank you for that, for saving me without a second glance. Thank you baby girl".
"I love you, Mom".
"I love you too, sweetie" she kisses my cheek and then the nurses wheel her out the door.
"Edward?"
He looks up, from talking with Charlie and stares at me, "Yes love?"
"Walk down with me?"
He excuses himself from the room, and follows me out taking my hand in his.
We both stand in the sterile room, and Mom is already under anaesthetic
Edward lays me down on the bed, and the man begins to prepare the anaesthetic for me.
"I love you, so much Edward" I whisper, never breaking eye-contact with him.
"I love you, Bella Cullen".
I tug his hand, and I pull his lips down to mine. It was slow, soft, sweet, remember-able.
He quickly pulls away, "Don't Bella. Just don't".
"What?"
"Don't kiss me like this is goodbye, don't kiss me like I'm never going to see those big brown eyes again!"
"And if you don't?"
"That's not going to happen, Bella".
"I-" I begin to speak, but the aesthetician puts the mask over my face.
"I love you Edward. I love you more than I ever thought was possible. I love you irrevocably and unconditionally. I love you" I manage to mumble, before the darkness consumes me.
Hope you enjoyed!
Please review and I'll see you soon!
Bye for now! :)