Hey everyone!

If you guys aren't totally fed up with me for taking such a long time to update, and you still enjoy this story, I'm glad! The more of you the merrier!

And Eh Ma Cullen! Some people are actually reviewing! OoOoOoO! I'm so freaking happy! Seeing all the five reviews I get for a chapter, make me so damn happy, I just don't know how to thank you all enuff! So I'm just gonna try not to take over a month to update. Sorry since that's uber long, but I'll probably start doing weekly updates again... I hope :)

So... go and read, and enjoy!

BellaChristopher

BPOV

I stood on the soft sand that covered the beach as I overlooked the ocean. Fluffy, white clouds dotted the baby blue sky, and the brisk wind bombarded me from all directions. For once, it was sunny outside, not a raincloud in sight. The beach was bursting with energy. Everywhere I looked, there were people "tanning", they wouldn't get that much color, or children playing.

Taking a deep breath, I took a cautious step forward into the crashing waves. The water swirled around my ankles, and I couldn't feel anything from that point down.

That's the thing about trying to swim somewhere this far north; the water was freezing. Even though the sun was shining down on us, the water was still probably only fifty or sixty degrees. I shivered. The wind bit at my skin, and if it wasn't for the person standing next to me, I wouldn't be caught dead here.

Edward stood, still as a statue next to me. He turned his face toward me, his brilliant emerald eyes meeting my dull, brown ones. He smiled crookedly, and then, with a deep breath, he threw himself into the water with Emmett-worthy force. A funnel of water shot into the air, most of it smacking me in the face. Edward laughed, and began swimming farther away. "Where're you going?" I whined. "Wait for me!"

"You gotta catch me first!" he exclaimed swimming even farther out.

"There's no way I'm gonna get into this water willingly!" I shouted out to him.

"I guess I'm gonna have to help you then," a voice said from behind me. They shoved me, hard, and I flew, face first into the icy water. I spluttered as I came up for air. Booming laughter echoed from somewhere on the beach. I opened my eyes to see Emmett, practically bawling, he was laughing so hard.

My lower lip jutted out. Why did he always pick on me? I was already clumsy, slow, un-athletic, and ugly. Why torture someone more?

Then I saw a sight that made me laugh. Little Alice was tip toeing toward Emmett, and he had absolutely no idea. Her stormy blue eyes met mine, and she pleaded with me to be quiet. I did one up- I tried to make Emmett laugh harder.

I stood up, and began to walk back to the beach. I scowled angrily at him. "Ooh! You gonna hurt me? Bring it on!" He held up his fists and began swinging them around, boxer style. I nodding slightly, trying to tell Alice that now would be the time to knock Emmett in.

An evil grin spread across her face as she threw herself forward into Emmett. He was unbalanced from his little fist waving, so Alice had no problem knocking him down. She shoved his face in the sand, but she didn't hold onto his head long enough to drown him… sadly.

When his head came up, he was absolutely covered in sand. Alice, Edward and I all busted up. He looked so stupid. "I'm gonna kill you Bella!" he roared, stumbling blindly toward me. I knew he was joking, or at least I think he is. I screamed, which was stupid, cause now he knows where to swim.

See I can swim okay, but not fast. Emmett however, could probably beat Michael Phelps in a race. Trust me. Maybe since he couldn't see, I would be able to beat him. I looked over my shoulder and saw him swimming full speed toward me. Okay then, never mind that.

Edward must've seen something in Emmett that I missed, because he started swimming super speed toward us. There was no way that he'd get to me before Emmett did; Edward was at least one hundred feet away, and Emmett was only twenty feet at tops.

"Bella, you gotta swim!" Edward shouted. I obliged, and began to swim with full snail speed out deeper.

Emmett was about to grab me, when a giant ball of sand hit him in the back of the head. Then another, and another. I looked behind him to see Alice, chucking well packed balls of sand at Emmett's head. I picked up the pace, and swam faster, up to turtle speed.

Edward came out of no where and began punching Emmett. Emmett simply picked Edward up, and threw him five feet away. Edward was back in an instant, hitting and kicking, biting and scratching.

Emmett definitely had the strength advantage, but Edward had speed on his side. He was able to dart in and punch Emmett and get back out again before Emmett could even take a swipe at him.

I started giggling, then laughing. Pretty soon I was cracking up. Watching Emmett and Edward water-wrestle was hilarious. I took a step backwards, and suddenly, there wasn't ground under my foot.

With a frightened yelp, I dropped down like a stone into the deep water. I had almost no air left in my lungs, and I couldn't tell which way was up or down.

I kicked feebly, but instead of helping myself, I made my situation worse. I got caught in a current that buffeted me around like a rag doll.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape the powerful pull of the water. I was getting flipped around, and I could do absolutely nothing about it.

My lungs were screaming with agony, wanting me to take a breath of air. I couldn't. If I tried to breathe down here, I would die. And, frankly, I didn't want to die.

My head began to pound from lack of oxygen, and I couldn't think straight. The water wasn't freezing anymore, and the current wasn't rough. It felt like being nudged around in a bathtub. Warm water, gentle waves; gosh it felt good.

My howling lungs ruined my moment of bliss. I was losing control. Any second now, my mouth would open, but instead of being met with air, it will be met with water.

A new current caught me in the stomach, and the little air I had whooshed out of my lungs. I gulped, trying to satisfy the need for air. Cold water flew down my throat, and I couldn't feel anything.

Then it all went black.

EPOV

I was wrestling with Emmett, trying to keep him from getting to Bella, from doing that maniacal thing that he was planning on doing to her. Who knows what evil thing he was going to do, not even I knew, but I did know that it would harm her. You never want to see that evil glint in Emmett's eyes. It can never be good.

I heard Bella giggling from behind us, and I got distracted. Did my swim trunks fall down? Or was she just enjoying our little fight?

Emmett took advantage of my distraction, and dunked my head under water. He held it there as I squirmed and flailed, and I was unsure if he was ever going to let me up. So I did a desperate thing- I kicked him where it hurts.

He jumped back, and I was free to come up for air. Emmett was crouched down, holding his crotch. I busted up. Emmett's eyes met mine, and they held no humor. "You better run, Runt," he hissed.

Anger exploded inside me. "I'M NOT A RUNT!" I screamed. Just because he was so big and muscular, didn't mean I wasn't.

I threw myself at Emmett, and our fight continued.

We were broken up by Alice's shriek of terror. We stepped apart immediately and turned wary eyes toward her. Alice didn't freak out for no reason. Except for when Emmett spilled root beer on her white cashmere sweater, but that doesn't really count.

"Where's Bella?" she asked, her eyes wide. I looked behind us to where Bella used to be, but was met with nothing, just the blue water and icy waves.

"Bella?" I whispered. "BELLA!" I raced toward where I last saw her, and ran straight off a cliff. I treaded water, and looked down into the depths, trying to find her.

A piece of plastic whizzed past my ear, and I caught it instinctively. Emmett stood on the shore next to our bag. "PUT 'EM ON AND GO SAVE HER, DUMMY!" he shouted from the shore. But I was way ahead of him. The goggles were already around my head, and I took a deep breath.

Diving down into the depths of the water, I began my search for Bella. I swam in circles, searching for her in vain.

Suddenly, a sparkle caught my eye. I turned toward it, and saw Bella's sequence swimsuit.

With a burst of energy I didn't know I had, I swam down, and grabbed her around the stomach. Kicking hard, I propelled us toward the surface. Bella was limp in my arms, and that couldn't be a good thing.

My head broke the surface, and I lifted her up. Emmett was waiting for me, and grabbed her from my arms. Running, he took her to shore. Dad was there, waiting with a towel spread out.

He laid her down gently, and Dad began CPR.

Please God, don't let her die.

"Edward! Come help!" Alice shrieked from shore.

I ran in a zombie-like trance toward the shore. Before I knew it, I was standing over Bella. Dad was doing CPR, and whenever he pulled up, I could see her purple lips and white skin.

"She's not gonna die, is she Dad?" I asked quietly. Tears were pooling in my eyes, and I wiped them away hastily not wanting to look weak in front of Emmett, Alice, and Dad. Or Bella, if she was somehow awake.

He looked up into my eyes. His brown eyes were flat, dull. "I don't know, son," he said in a monotone. Then he turned his attention back to my best friend.

I closed my eyes, trying to escape all the pain. But two words kept running circles around my head- my fault.

BPOV

Warm lips pushed against mine, shoving cool air down my throat. It got caught, not making it to my shriveled lungs. Pounding on my chest made my cough. And once I started, I couldn't stop. I coughed and coughed, and I could feel water stirring in my throat. Someone propped me up, and patted me on the back as I coughed and wheezed.

Soon, the water was gone from my lungs, and I collapsed, exhausted, against whoever was holding me. Someone began to sob, and I couldn't tell if it was with joy or sadness.

"I-is she gonna be okay Dad?" I heard someone ask softly. I tried to make my eyes open, but they refused to listen. I decided that it would be easier if I just laid still. Who knew drowning took so much out of you.

"She'll be alright, Edward, but I need to get to the hospital now. I'll drop you all off at Bella's house. Emmett, you'll be in charge, Alice you keep an eye on Bella-"

"I'll keep an eye on her!" Edward volunteered.

"Fine." Whoever I was leaning against scooped me up, and before we made it to our destination, I was asleep.

My eyes fluttered open groggily. I rolled over, trying to find out where I was, and fell off the couch. "Ow!" I shouted. Instantly, I was surrounded by my best friends, one of which was laughing his head off.

"Fall off the couch Bella?" Emmett asked through his fit.

"Yes I did." Looking down, I realized I wasn't in my swimsuit anymore. "Who put me in pajamas?" I asked, confused.

Alice giggled daintily. "It was me, silly! Don'tcha remember?" she asked. "I thought you were awake." She shrugged. "Guess not!" Emmett and Alice both doubled over with laughter.

I looked up to my one friend who hadn't laughed. Edward was standing there, just grinning like an idiot. Well, he didn't look like an idiot, Edward never did. His grin just seemed impossibly large for his face. "You wanna get back on the couch?" he asked, still grinning.

I smiled too, and allowed him to help me back on the couch. I sat down with an oomph in the middle of the couch, and Alice and Edward sat down on either side of me. Emmett collapsed on the armchair, and we turned on Disney Channel. To Alice's disappointment, Hannah Montana was on.

"I don't know why everyone thinks she has such good style," Alice started grumbling. "I mean, she dresses like a total tramp! And… she doesn't even wear designer brands!" She said this like it was the worst thing anyone could ever do.

"Oh no!" Emmett squealed, trying to sound like Alice. "She's nawt wearing designer brands? How DARE she!" He put his hand over his heart like he truly couldn't believe this.

Alice chucked a pillow at his face, and pretty soon they were in an all out pillow war. Edward and I just sat on the couch. I laid my head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around my waist.

I smiled. What could ruin this moment?

The phone rang shrilly, and Emmett swatted Alice away. "I, being the authoritative figure, have to go answer the phone," he said in an I'm-too-good-for-you voice. "Childish pillow fights will haf to wait dahhh-ling," he said to Alice, batting his eyelashes. She smacked him with her pillow, and he raced into the kitchen. "No respect for elders anymore. Tsk, tsk. Shame, shame. How dare you!"

He picked up the phone just before it rang for the last time. "Hullo?... Oh hey Dad. Whatsup?... What?... Don't joke Dad, seriously…" He stood there in silence for a moment. "Uh, yeah okay… I'll tell 'em… Yeah… Kay… Bye."

"What is it?" Edward asked, standing up and making me fall.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Alice piped up.

Emmett pulled his hand through his hair, a habit he's picked up from Carlisle when he's nervous.

"Harry Clearwater… he had a heart attack," Emmett mumbled.

"But he's okay, right? I mean, Dad was working on him, so he had to be alright!" Edward said quickly.

Emmett shook his head. "'Member how he got that call?" Alice nodded her head. "That was the hospital paging him. He had to choose, and, well, you know his choice." All three heads turned my direction, and I blushed.

"Wait, what happened?" I asked. I hate feeling out of the loop, which is what I felt like right now.

"Here, lemme explain you two," Emmett volunteered. Edward and Alice returned to their positions next to me, both of them looking at my face, gauging my reaction.

"Ok, well, when you were drowning, Dad got an emergency call from the hospital," Emmett began. "They were calling to tell him that Harry Clearwater was having a heart attack, and they needed him there ASAP." Emmett took a deep breath, as if what he was saying was very painful.

"Breathe, Bella," Edward whispered in my ear. I hadn't even noticed that I was holding my breath. Breathing in shakily, I turned my eyes back to Emmett.

"Dad had to choose between saving you, or saving Harry. And, well… you know who he chose." They all looked down, acting preoccupied with something irrelevant.

My throat dried up, and I tried to swallow, but found it was impossible. As if she could read my thoughts, Alice appeared next to me with a glass of water. I took a hasty gulp, and sat, still and silent.

"Why couldn't another doctor take care of Harry? What about Dr. Gerandy?" I asked.

Emmett shook his head (was it in pity?), while Edward answered my question. "Dad's the head cardiologist, or heart doctor. Dr. Gerandy is the neurologist. He doesn't know hearts as well as Dad."

"If Dad were there, Harry-" Emmett began. He was cut off by a vicious glare from both Edward and Alice.

"So… what's going to happen now?" I asked softly after a moment of silence. Tears pooled in my eyes. Harry was like family to me, and it hurt to lose him. Alice wrapped her arms around me, and we hugged each other with such force, I'm surprised we didn't break any bones. We cried into each others shoulders for a ridiculously long time.

All too soon my eyes dried up. Sniffling, I turned over, and laid my head on Edward's lap. He ran his fingers soothingly through my hair.

"Dad said you should come spend the night tonight, Bella," Emmett said softly. It was weird hearing everyone so quiet, normally they were all full of energy. It was like someone sucked the happiness out of my house.

"Kay," I sniffled. "Alice, wanna come help me pack?" I asked, holding out my hand. She grabbed it, and followed me upstairs to my room. Nose and eyes running like a faucet, I grabbed random items of clothing, and tossed them to Alice, who then folded them and put them in my bag.

"Poor Seth," Alice said after we'd filled my bag.

I thought of the little boy who was so sweet and innocent. "It's not fair how such good people should have to go through so much pain," I mumbled angrily.

"I know, Bella," Alice agreed, hitching my bag up on her shoulder. "We might wanna get downstairs before Edward breaks down the door." She giggled for a second, but stopped when she remembered why we were here.

The next few months were hard, especially since Daddy and Mom weren't ever around. I basically lived at the Cullen's, and even though I'd wished for it before, I didn't want it now. Daddy and Mom were busy all the time taking care of Leah and Seth, and they didn't want me to bother them. So, I got carted off to the Cullen's.

I missed the way things were before, when life was simple, when life was easy. Now everything has been tossed up, and no one knows what to do, not even Carlisle. I've hardly even smiled, and I could tell I was worrying Daddy and Mom, but I couldn't do anything about it.

My friends tried everything they could to keep my mind off of Har- him, but I always found a way to connect everything to him. The only one who seemed to know how I feel, is Alice, cause her Mommy and Daddy died when she was three. Carlisle and Esme adopted her, and she's been a Cullen ever since.

I spend most of my time with Alice, and almost none of it with Edward, however surprising that may be. He always freaks out when I'm "too quiet" or "too mellow", making a stink, and telling Carlisle who'll tell Daddy, who'll tell Mommy, who'll freak out.

Things were all screwed up, but I know I can make it, if my friends and my family stay strong. And that's a fact.

So... whaddid ya think? Good, bad, don't matter! Please review! I'd love to get TEN reviews for ONE chapter. That would make me squeal like a pig. It's a pretty funny sight, trust me.

I tried to make up for my lack of writing by making this longish! Hope you guyz like longish chapters, cuz that's what I'm gonna try to do now!

Oh, and FYI, the major drama is gonna be starting up like... next chapter... so be ready!

Pretty please review, and you all can cuz I accept anonymous reviews! Muahaha! Please review and make my day!

Love you all!

BellaChristopher