Chapter Seventeen: Oh My God! Bella!
Edward's POV
I had a feeling when Bella said that she was 'ready for it all' that she meant more than just being ready for my world. She was finally ready to be my wife. I was furious at Emmett for nearly crushing Bella. I pulled her away from him but she asked me to let her go. I told her no and pressed her closer to my chest. I knew that as soon as I let her go, the others would crowd around her. She looked especially fragile right now and I didn't want her to get hurt. I couldn't let them take her away from me either. Then she threatened me by saying that if I didn't let her see her future family, she would find a different route to becoming a Cullen. I knew that she was really threatening to have Carlisle change her and she meant it.
Alice had a vision right after Bella said that. I saw in her mind that she was seeing a very near future. If nothing changed, in a month or so, Bella will be my wife. Through Alice, I saw a small wedding in our backyard. Bella looked absolutely gorgeous in her dress and she was smiling widely at me.
I heard Alice squeal about her vision but my eyes were on my soon to be wife. I had a huge smile on my face when Bella looked up at me. She was smiling too and somehow I could tell that we both knew what Alice's vision was.
I was only half listening as Emmett asked Bella to explain some things to him. In Emmett's mind, Bella was already a Cullen. It confused him that she said that we were her future family. Subtlety isn't really Emmett's strong suit.
I listened to the sound of Bella's sweet voice as she explained about wanting to be a legal Cullen. I laughed silently in my head when Esme asked Bella if she wanted her and Carlisle to adopt Bella. They didn't know that Bella was ready to be my wife but I did and it made me ecstatic. I was finally going to have a permanent hold on my beautiful Bella. I continued to stare lovingly at the one thing in this world I couldn't and wouldn't live without.
I knew exactly what Bella meant when she asked me to help her out and I didn't hesitate. I let go of her and moved to kneel in front of the woman I love more than my own life. I took her warm hands in mine and asked her to marry me.
I only let her say the one word before I silenced Bella with a kiss. I was so elated by our engagement that I let my control slip slightly. I picked her up, still kissing her, and spun her around with me. I could feel only immense joy. I set her back on her feet and opened my mouth to tell her that I love her. The words caught in my throat as I took in her appearance.
She was extremely pale, paler than a vampire, even for her. Not even a second later, she looked green and nauseous. I was worried she would throw up again. Worrying about Bella getting sick proved to be a wasted effort. In the next second, she lost all color in her skin, swayed a little, and then collapsed. I immediately caught her. I was thankful that my reflexes were working because I could barely think as my family's thoughts assaulted mine. 'Oh my god!' 'What the hell happened?' 'Oh no, Bella!' 'Bella, no!'
"Oh my god. Bella, love!" I shouted when her head lolled against my arm and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. "Carlisle, what the hell happened to her?" I shouted at him.
My family was a rush of action. Carlisle started shouting orders as I watched my unconscious fiancée. I couldn't concentrate on anything else.
"I don't know what happened to her. It appears to be a combination of fatigue, stress, and lack of nutrients. I can't be sure if I don't run some tests." Carlisle said as he examined her. 'I want to take her to the hospital. I can treat her more effectively there.' He added in his head. His thoughts were subtly colored with panic and worry for Bella.
"Fine, then let's go. Get to the cars; we are taking her to the hospital." I shouted at them.
"Jasper, Alice you better come with Edward and me in his Volvo. The rest of you, take my Mercedes and follow us." Carlisle ordered them.
We all rushed to the cars, Bella in my arms. Jasper got in the backseat and held Bella as I got in with them. Jasper was trying to keep us calm and wake Bella up with his power but it wasn't working well. Alice got into the passenger's seat and Carlisle was behind the wheel. He floored it when we were all in and took off in the direction of the hospital. Bella's breathing was shallow, her heartbeat slightly irregular. She wasn't looking good but she had definitely looked far worse. I was extremely worried about her; we all were. Oh god, Bella! Don't leave me now!