I know, it was evil of me to leave you with that cliffy at the end of Chapter 5. I'm sorry! Just so you know, I'm a HEA girl. I hope that makes you feel better! Thanks as always to my BFF and beta BittenEV!

The song for this chapter is "Broken" by Lifehouse.

In case you were wondering how I chose the title of the story, it's from the Goo Goo Dolls song "Iris." I felt the lyrics were appropriate for Bella and Edward here.

Disclaimer: Belongs to SM. I own nothing.

Chapter 6—Broken

Carlisle sighed. "We got Edward's biopsy results today." He paused for a moment. "It's cancer, Bella. Edward has cancer."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I couldn't speak. I wasn't even sure if I could breathe.

"Bella? Are you there?" Carlisle's voice finally shook me out of my fog.

"I—I'm sorry. I just—I thought you said it probably wasn't…cancer." I could barely say the word.

"I was hoping it wasn't," Carlisle said sadly. "Dr. Hunter called today with the results. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Esme and I told him when he got home from school, and he was so upset. He just took off from the house. We figured he'd come home before too long since he didn't take his car, but it's been a couple of hours. I need to find him. Please, Bella. Do you have any idea where he could be?" Carlisle's voice was strained.

"I know where he is," I said.

Carlisle breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness. I'll come by and pick you up."

"No, I'll come to you. He's actually pretty close to home." I knew exactly where Edward was. His meadow. "I'll be right over."

"Thank you, Bella," Carlisle replied, choked up.

I hung up the phone and tried to process what Carlisle had just said. No. He had to be wrong. It couldn't be cancer. I had no idea how I had remained clear headed while on the phone because the only thing that ran through my mind at this point was the word "cancer." This was Edward. He couldn't be sick. I felt sick. I thought I was going to throw up. This wasn't happening.

Then I remembered that Edward was missing. I had to find him and assure myself that this was just a sick joke. I somehow ran upstairs to get my jacket and keys so I could go and find him. On the way down I nearly ran over Charlie.

"Whoa, Bells, where's the fire?"

"I need to go, Dad. Edward needs me. I have to go."

Charlie put his hands on my shoulders to stop me. "What's going on, Bella? What's wrong with Edward?"

"Edward. I have to get to Edward," I insisted.

"Bells, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Where's Edward?" I could hear Charlie talking, but it sounded like he was in a tunnel.

I shook my head to try and clear it. "Edward needs me, Dad! Let me go!"

"Not until you tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me, Bella. Did something happen to Edward?" Charlie gently put his hands on my face to look at him.

That snapped me out of my daze, and I broke down. "I need to get to the Cullens. Edward has cancer and he ran off and I have to find him. Please let me go." I was sobbing, and I wasn't sure Charlie even understood me.

"Wait, what, cancer?" Charlie was confused.

"Dad, I need to get to Edward." I went to push past Charlie, but he gently took my arm.

"I'll drive you to the Cullens," he said. "I can't let you behind the wheel like this."

Once we were in Charlie's police cruiser speeding towards the Cullen house, I was finally able to explain what was happening.

"Carlisle called. He got the results of Edward's biopsy. He has cancer. He got so upset when he found out that he ran off. I knew where he is, though, and I have to find him." I was sobbing once again.

"You'll find him, Bells," Charlie said soothingly. "You'll bring him home."

The ride to the Cullen house wasn't very far, but tonight it seemed to take forever. We finally did arrive, and I jumped out of the car before Charlie could even turn off the ignition. I ran through the front door and into the den where I found the Cullens and Jasper.

"Bella!" Alice called out as she ran over to hug me. It was the first time I had ever seen her truly upset. "You know where he is?"

"I do. It's a spot he brought me to once. He goes there when he's upset," I explained as I gently broke Alice's hug. "It's a meadow in the woods not far from here."

Carlisle began barking out orders. "Let's go. Emmett, get flashlights. You and Jasper will come with us. Charlie, do you want to come too?"

Charlie shook his head. "Do you really think it's a good idea for all of you to go? Edward's already upset, and you really don't want to ambush him."

Carlisle opened his mouth to speak, but Esme cut him off. "Charlie's right. Edward was very upset when he left. If he sees all of you coming for him, he may try to run away again. I think just Bella and Jasper should go." Emmett began to protest, but Esme cut him off as well. "Emmett, I know you too well. You'll let your emotions get the best of you. Jasper will be a lot calmer. Jasper, will you go?"

"Of course," Jasper replied.

Alice ran out of the room but quickly returned with two flashlights. "Please find him," she said.

Esme quickly hugged me as tears streamed down her face. "Please bring my Edward home," she pleaded.

"We will. I promise," I assured her.

Jasper and I headed out the back door and down the path toward the meadow. I was so upset and scared that I was surprised I was able to remember the way. Jasper radiated calm, though, and I was happy he was with me. He didn't say a word, but his presence alone was reassuring.

The woods were pretty dark, even with our flashlights, but we found the meadow easily. I had been right. Edward was lying there, curled up in a ball.

"You go and talk to him," Jasper whispered. "I'll stay back here until you need me."

I nodded and slowly walked towards the center of the meadow. "Edward?" I called out apprehensively, unsure as to how he'd react.

Edward sat up quickly. His eyes widened when he saw me. "Go away, Bella! I don't want to talk to you!"

I continued my approach. "I'm not going anywhere, not until you talk to me. It's dark and cold out here, and I'm not leaving you."

Edward wouldn't budge. "I said go away! I don't want to talk to you or Jasper or anyone else! Just leave me alone!"

"No, Edward. I won't leave. Let's go home so we can talk." I had no idea how I was so calm on the outside because inside I was a nervous wreck. My heart was beating against my chest, and my stomach was full of butterflies.

"I told you to leave!" Edward yelled before turning his back on me.

I continued to approach Edward anyway and sat next to him. The grass was wet, and I wondered how long he had been lying in it. I gently placed my hand on his shoulder, but he continued to ignore me. I didn't care, though. I wasn't leaving.

After what seemed like an eternity, Edward turned and looked at me. I placed my hand on his cheek. "Oh, Edward. We've been so worried. Please talk to me."

Edward began to tremble, and his tears began to fall as he let out a guttural scream. "I'm so fucking mad! Carlisle lied to me! He lied! He told me I was going to be fine! Well I'm not fine! I have cancer! Cancer! My parents are gone, and I have cancer! It's like some kind of sick joke! My parents are dead, and now I'm going to die! Carlisle fucking lied to me! Why would he do that?! Why did he lie to me?! It's not fair! I can't die, Bella! I don't want to die! It's just not fair!" Edward's angry sobs filled the air, and I felt totally helpless.

I finally took both of Edward's hands in mine. "Carlisle didn't lie to you. I'm sure he was just hoping for the best. None of us wanted to think it was anything serious."

Edward began yelling again. "Well it is serious! I was finally getting my shit together, and now I'm going to die! Why didn't anyone tell me I was going to die?!"

"No! You are NOT going to die! You will not leave me! Do you understand?" I would beg and plead as much as I had to.

"It's not fair!" he cried. "When my parents died, a part of me died too. I honestly wanted to be in a coffin next to them. I had given up on life. I just existed. Then you came along, and you began to heal me. You loved me. I love you, Bella, and I never wanted to leave you. Now I have fucking cancer and I'm going to die!"

"You aren't going anywhere," I insisted. "You're going to fight this with everything you have. Cancer isn't necessarily a death sentence anymore. You aren't going to leave me."

Edward pulled away from me. "It's going to be hell, Bella. Carlisle said the cancer was in all of the lymph nodes that were biopsied. Who knows how far it's spread. What if it can't be treated? What if I have just a short time left? I don't want to be in agony."

I took his hands again. "Look at me, Edward," I said sharply. He did. "I love you. Your family loves you. We need you here with us. You can't give up. We'll be with you every step of the way. Fight, Edward! Don't let the cancer win."

Edward fell into my arms and cried. I held him and rocked him gently. When I finally felt him relax a little, I motioned for Jasper to come over. He and I helped Edward to his feet.

"Come on, let's go home," Jasper said softly. Edward nodded and let us lead him back up the trail.

As we approached the house, I saw all of the Cullens along with Charlie and Rosalie waiting. Esme was wringing her hands nervously, but she cried out and ran to us as we got closer.

"Edward!" she cried as she threw her arms around him. "Don't you ever do that to me again! Do you have any idea how worried I've been?!"

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I just, I had to process it. I'm sorry I ran away."

"Well you're soaking wet!" Esme gently chided. "Let's get you inside."

All of us made our way back into the house and settled into the den. Everyone began talking at once, but Esme insisted that Edward go upstairs to take a hot shower.

"Bella, you're all wet too," Alice noticed. "You should get changed as well."

"I'm fine. I don't need to change," I insisted.

Alice wouldn't budge. "I will not have my best friend die of pneumonia. Let's go." She then used her freakish strength to drag me upstairs to her room.

"Does Jasper know that his girlfriend has superhuman powers?" I quipped as I rubbed my arm.

Alice wasn't amused. "Ha ha. I mean it. I've already got a sick cousin, and I refuse to have a sick bestie." There were tears in her eyes as she spoke. I nodded and hugged her. "Go shower," she insisted. "I'll bring you some dry clothes."

I stepped into the shower, and my emotions hit me like a brick. I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor as my body shook with sobs. I cried until I had no tears left. I couldn't lose Edward. I needed him. His family needed him. I wasn't going to let him give up. I had just found him, and I wasn't about to let him go.

I finally got up and got out of the shower. Alice had left me some clothes, a pair of her pajama pants and one of Edward's t-shirts. I took a minute to inhale Edward's scent before getting dressed and going downstairs.

Edward wasn't downstairs yet, but we didn't have to wait long for him. He came down in pajamas, his hair a damp mess. He joined me on the sofa and pulled me close to him. After a brief awkward silence, he finally spoke. "So, what do we do now?"

Carlisle looked around the room. "Do you want to have this conversation here?"

Edward nodded. "You're all my family. We're in this together. I don't want to hide anything."

"OK. First you have an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Denali," Carlisle began. "She's one of the best oncologists I've ever worked with. She'll order some tests and draw blood. I'm thinking she'll want you to have a PET scan and a bone marrow biopsy in order to stage the cancer."

"I guess I'll have to have chemo," Edward nearly whispered.

"Most likely but it's not as bad as it used to be. There are a lot of medications that will ease the side effects," Carlisle explained.

Edward opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. I squeezed his hand in encouragement. He took a deep breath before speaking again. "Am I going to die?"

Carlisle got up from his chair to sit next to Edward on the sofa. He took Edward's hands in his own and looked him straight in the eye. "We're all going to die of something. Will the lymphoma kill you? Probably not. It's actually a very curable cancer. I'm going to make you a promise, though. I will not let this cancer win. I will search high and low and do everything in my power to make sure you get the best treatment possible. I promise you, Edward, as a doctor and your uncle, that I will help you fight this."

Edward gave his uncle a small smile. "Thanks."

Carlisle put a hand on Edward's shoulder. "You are very welcome. Now why don't you get some sleep? Your eyelids are at half-mast."

"Do I have any Ativan left?" Edward asked in a small voice. "I just feel, ummm, I don't know how to explain it."

Carlisle cut him off. "You don't have to explain. I'll bring your pill up to you. And yes, Bella can stay until you fall asleep," he added with a small chuckle.

Edward stood up, and I followed suit. "Good night," he called out to his family.

We went upstairs silently. As Edward turned back the covers and got ready for bed, his eyes never met mine. He just kept his head down. As he finally got situated in bed, he turned and looked at me sadly. "You really don't have to stay."

"I know, but I want to," I insisted. "I'll stay until you fall asleep."

Edward shook his head, still not looking at me. "That's not what I meant. I'm sure you don't want a boyfriend with cancer. It's OK, Bella. I understand if you want to break up with me."

I was so shocked that it took me a moment to find my voice. "Why on earth would I break up with you? I love you, Edward. I don't care that you're sick. I want to be with you. Cancer doesn't change a thing." I had to convince him I wasn't going anywhere.

He snorted. "You say that now, but when I lose my hair and end up puking my guts up from being poisoned—"

"I'll be right by your side to love you through it," I interrupted, tears in my eyes.

"You really mean it," he said in shock and awe. "You're really going to stay with me?"

"I do mean it, Edward. I will always be here for you. I meant what I said. I love you."

"I love you too," he said, pulling me into a hug.

We separated a moment later when Carlisle and Esme came into the room. Carlisle had a prescription bottle and a bottle of water. "Here's your Ativan," he said, placing them both on the nightstand. "I'll leave the pills with you so you can take them whenever you need them."

"Thanks and I'm sorry," Edward said.

"Sorry? For what?" Carlisle asked, confused.

"For burdening you with an orphaned nephew who has cancer. I'm sorry you have to deal with me." Edward was looking down at his hands, but I could still see the tears in his eyes.

Esme became angry. "Edward Anthony Masen, don't you dare call yourself a burden! Do you have any idea how much we love you?!" She sat on the bed and took Edward's face in her hands. "I miss your parents so much, but I thank God every day that we have you. You are family, and family members don't turn their backs on each other. We are going to take care of you and not because we have to. We'll do it because we want to."

Carlisle sat next to Esme on the bed. "Edward, I know I will never take the place of your dad, but as far as I'm concerned, you're one of my children. I will always be here for you, and I will keep my promise. I will fight for you, and I will never give up on you. I love you," he added, tears falling down his face.

Edward leaned forward to hug his aunt and uncle, and the tears flowed freely for all of them now. "I love you both. I'm sorry for doubting you."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Carlisle insisted. "Take your meds and get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning."

Esme and Carlisle left, and Edward took his pill. He crawled under the covers and pulled me close to him. "I'm going to fight, Bella. I'm going to beat this."

"I know, but you need your rest in order to fight. Go to sleep." I kissed Edward softly on the lips and held him until he fell asleep, praying that he'd be able to fight this battle and win.