There in the clearing stood Esme. She approached her two sons, patted Emmett on the back and than knelt down and embraced her son tightly. He placed his hands around her and held on tightly. Emmett took a step back. Esme continued her embrace, rubbing his back in a soothing motion she whispered in his ear, "Shh, shhh. There's no need for this my dear. Everything will be all right." Edward seemed to calm a little, but only slightly. Esme knew the pain of loosing the one you loved, the pain of loosing her child had never left her. If it hadn't been for Carlisle and Edward she never would have made it through those years. Human or not emotions and reactions defined who they were and with great love comes great pain. It was common law that vampires couldn't cry, but as he raised his head a single tear was evident in his left eye. Esme wiped it away. "Now I need you to stand up." She grabbed his shoulders, Emmett stepped forward to assist if needed, that and he was afraid he may loose it again and do to Esme what he had done to Alice. Edward slowly stood up, still holding Esme tightly.
"Good." Esme motioned for Emmett to stand back. "Now I need you to take a deep breath and try to free your mind. Images of Bella started to flash through his memory again,
"I can't" he muttered,
"I know it's difficult son but you have to try." Edward squeezed his eyes shut for several seconds then slowly opened them again,
"Good." Esme stroked the back of his head, "Now I need you to be focused. I need you to stay calm. You're stronger than this Edward I know you are." She kissed him on the forehead and stroked his cheek, "I don't want to loose you." Edward met her gaze, remorseful for the pain he had caused her.
"I don't know if I am." He finally responded.
"Then let us help you." Emmett insisted, "We're not your enemy Edward. We're family, let us help you." Edward didn't look at Emmett, but he did respond,
"I don't know how." His voice was croaky, "This…. Feeling is so strong."
"You've been through a lot lately Edward, we all understand what a toll this has been on you. You've always felt things very deeply… but you need to trust us, to trust that we can help make this better because if you try to do this on your own you will never win."
"But Bella…"
"Is alive, for now, she is at the hospital by now where Carlisle is doing everything he can to keep her that way." Esme interrupted, "Let's focus on that for now. Bella is alive. Let's not mourn her until the time is appropriate."
Edward shook his head as he tried to gain control of the emotions that raged within him.
"Trust in Carlisle Edward." Emmett added, "He's never failed us yet."
"I need to see her."
"I don't know…" Esme knew the battle hadn't been won yet.
"I need to know how she is."
"I'll take you." Emmett looked at Esme, she didn't like it but maybe seeing Bella alive and breathing would be enough to pull him through.
"We will both take you."
"Thank you Esme, for everything." Esme took his hand and they walked back through the forest towards the jeep.
*****"There he is" Alice chirped as she saw him, "I think it will be okay." She told Jasper. Jasper wasn't so sure, he moved in front of Alice to prevent a repeat of Edwards assault. "It's okay Jasper, Esme has spoken to him." Jasper didn't move.
"Alice, Jasper." Esme acknowledged them, Esme looked at the tear in Alice's shirt. It wasn't like her to be so sloppy. Jaspers stance was enough to tell her that something very wrong had gone on here, and it didn't take a genius to know who had assaulted her. Esme looked at Edward and then back to Alice "Are you okay my dear?"
"I'm fine, it's nothing." Alice shrugged it off.
"I'm so sorry Alice. I don't know what came over me." Edward apologized, too remorseful to meet her gaze. Jasper growled obviously not convinced.
"I'll tell you later." Emmett whispered to Esme. She nodded, best not to bring it up now anyway, more important matters to attend to. Then Emmett turned to Alice, "Man you should see it up there Al, it looks like a tornado had ripped through the area. There's not a tree standing."
"Hurricane Edward." She gave Edward a reaffirming smile, "I can see the paper now. Unexplained phenomenon hits Forks National Forest." Alice and Edward had always been very close, it was a comfort to Edward to know that Alice seemed to have forgiven him already. Esme noticed his shoulders drop, a positive sign.
*****Back at the hospital Bella was still in emergency surgery. Charlie was in the waiting room, his knuckles were white as he hung onto the coffee cup so tightly. Nurses rushed passed on a frequent basis but none of them looked up long enough for him to gauge how things were going. He was going out of his mind. He never could handle just sitting still and waiting, but there was nothing for him to do. He stood up and started pacing back and forth in the tiny waiting room. "Nurse, please." He grabbed one of the nurses as they walked past, "Bella Swan… how is she?"
"I'm sorry…"
"Swan, Bella Swan MVA…"
"Dr Carlisle is still working on her."
"Yes I know that but how is she?"
"All I know is that there has been some complications"
"Complications, what sort of complications?"
"Please sir I have to go. I'll go and get one of the nurses to give you some more information."
"Yes. I'm sorry, thank you."
*****When Charlie saw Edward his anger raged. Blocking his entrance to the waiting room, Charlie stood his ground. "What are you doing here?"
"Please Charlie, how's Bella?" Edward asked remorsefully.
"You have a hell of a nerve asking me that."
"Believe me, I never meant for anything to happen."
"I've heard that one too many times from you." Emmett and Esme came to stand by his side, Alice and Jasper weren't far behind.
"Charlie please…" Edward pleaded, but he knew Charlie had never forgiven him for what had happened in phoenix, not even after two years. Esme took a step forward,
"Chief Swan. I understand you're hurting right now and you want someone to blame, but Edward is too. Please, just let us sit here with you, we'll stay out of your way and when Bella is safe we will go." Esme tried to reason with him.
"No. I won't you out of here now."
"Charlie, I appeal to your better nature. Please, let's not argue about this here. Edward is in just as much pain as you right now, look at him. You are a good judge of character and a kind man…" Charlie took a look at Edward, the smug boy he knew was gone replaced by an obviously distraught young man. He looked at Alice and Jasper behind him, they too looked like they had been through hell. Charlie didn't say anything, he just nodded.
"Thank you Chief Swan. We won't say a word. I promise." Edward sat in a corner keeping to himself, he tried to read the thoughts of those around him, of the nurses in the theatre, Carlisle's mind. Carlisle was uncertain, and Edward could recall the conversation Charlie had had with the nurse about complications. I took everything he had to keep his anger locked inwards. Esme sat closest, her hand on his shoulder. Alice and Jasper sat in a chair opposite Charlie and Emmett leaned against the back wall. Charlie stared at Edward, Edward just sat with a blank expression on his face, oblivious to Charlie. They sat in silence for almost twenty minutes before another nurse came in. Charlie and Esme stood up to meet her, Edward didn't move,
"How is she?" Charlie asked
"Dr Cullen has gotten the bleeding under control. Her spleen was ruptured which is what was causing most of the problems and it had to be removed. He's set her arm and wrist and repaired her collapsed lung."
"But how is she?"
"She's in intensive care." Charlie started to feel faint, Esme held his hand for comfort, Charlie didn't complain, "She has a tube which is helping her breath for now. Her lungs are still very bruised along with a few of her ribs so she's in a bit of pain which we are given her morphine for."
"And this spleen… does she need a transplant or something?"
"No. the human body can manage quite well without a spleen."
"Can I see her." The nurse looked around considering Charlie's request. "I'm afraid she needs her rest at the moment. She won't be out of the anesthetic for at least another hour."
"I'd like to sit with her if that's ok."
"All right. But only one at a time." Charlie pulled away from Esme. He looked at Edward and then back to Esme.
"Thank you for your company, but we made a deal."
"And we will honor it." Esme looked at Edward,
"I'm not going anywhere,"
"Edward, please. Let's go home and get some rest. Bella won't be up for visitors for a few hours yet. We can come back later."
"I can't leave her, not now." Emmett prepared himself for intervention.
"If you think I'm going to let you anywhere near Bella you are very mistaken. I don't want you within a hundred feet of her and that's final."
"You can't order me away like that. Bella is eighteen she can decide for herself…"
"Edward." Esme scolded him, he shot her a look, like she was being disloyal.
"I am her father and I will do what is best for her." Edward started to tense up, a faint growl rumbled from within.
"Edward." It was Carlisle, he stood in the doorway, blocking any outside passers by from seeing what was happening, "Leave us." He demanded.
"No."
"Edward. My office, NOW!" Edward was furious, but permitted Emmett to escort him to Carlisle's office.
"May I stay?" Alice asked,
"If you like, but I don't want you're brother anywhere near her."
"We understand Chief Swan. Edward just gets this way when his scared. When he calms down he'll understand that you are only doing what you think is right."
"Yeah right."
"His a good man Chief Swan."
"I'll believe that when I see it."
"Mr Swan." The nurse motioned for him to follow her, and then he was gone. Esme turned to Alice.
"What happened?"
"Bella and Edward had a fight, he ordered her out of town to safety, she refused to go. She took Edwards car and sped off, just acting out. I encouraged Edward to give her time to calm down, I never saw the accident until it was too late…."
"It's not your fault Alice."
"I know, but it doesn't make me feel any better." Esme rubbed her shoulder, then hesitated where her shirt was torn, Alice noticed her hesitation, "It's nothing."
"Alice." Jasper cautioned her not to lie.
"Jasper. It's nothing really."
"Alice tell me." Esme insisted, but Alice said nothing.
"Edward was inconsolable, he grabbed Alice lifted her off the ground and threw her across the way into a tree…"
"He did what." Esme was furious,
"He wasn't himself. Please don't make anything of it. It's forgiven."
"Are we going to be able to control him?"
"Things will work out, I know they will." Alice reassured them, "Once he sees Bella…"
"I don't know if that's such a good idea right now." Jasper added,
"Please, If you can't trust him, trust me."
"All right." Esme smiled at her, "I need to speak to Carlisle. Will you be okay here."
"I will stay with her." Jasper insisted.
"I'll let you know if anything changes."
*****"Son, I understand your attachment to Bella. I do. I have also seen enough trauma and tragedy in my life to understand grief."
"But Bella isn't dead."
"I doesn't matter. Grief can manifest itself in many ways." He sat on the desk opposite Edward, "For us, it's a little more intense, our moods change so infrequently that our emotions, our feelings are magnified in a way beyond what most people would experience."
"What do I do? I can't stand feeling this way… I want to lash out at someone, anyone just to make it go away."
"You need to keep control."
"I know… but it is so.. difficult." The pencil Edward had been playing with snapped in his hand.
"I wish I could help, I really do but it is something that you need to work through on your own."
"I don't know if I can."
"I know you son. You have the strength, you just need to have a little faith."
"I fear my faith is waning…"
"Then take mine son." Carlisle stood up, shifting to doctor mode, "because Bella is going to need you. Think about how she will feel if she wakes up and you're not there."
"Charlie won't let me near her."
"That hasn't stopped you before." Carlisle smiled. Give him some hope, some purpose, channel his anger to constructive problem solving. "After all, he has to sleep at some time."
"Will she be okay? I read your mind.."
"I won't lie to you. It was touch and go for a while but Bella's a tough girl and she put up quite a fight. Her bones will mend in time, but her emotional state, especially after such a trauma, is going to depend greatly on her friends and family. They need to be a positive influence for her, encourage her to see past what has happened, to look to the future and not to dwell in the past." Edward stood up, having enough of this conversation, as he opened the door Esme was preparing to knock. He pushed past her and walked down the corridor.
"Please Edward, promise me you'll stay clear of Chief Swan." Esme looked at Carlisle. Obviously things had not gone so well.
"I'm afraid Carlisle." Esme walked in, Carlisle greeted her, pulling her close for comfort.
"I know." Carlisle was worried too. He'd do anything for Edward, but if he pushed his luck too far then it may be out of his control.
"I think we're loosing him."
"Edward is strong, he'll find his way back."
"I hope so."
*****Edward went straight toward Bella's room. But upon seeing Alice and Jasper, keeping guard just outside the room, Edward decided to find somewhere more private. Heading out of the nearest exit Edward climbed the fire escape to the roof. Sitting there, watching the world go by Edward listened until he could hear Bella's heartbeat, hear Charlie's thoughts. Her heart was weak. He could hear the machines pumping oxygen into her lungs, and the beep, beep, beep of the heart monitor. He hung his head low, trying to remember what Carlisle had said. "She needs you Edward, don't turn your back on her now."
****Carlisle was doing his half an hour obs on Bella. As he took her pulse and made notes in her chart Charlie shifted in his seat.
"Well?" He finally asked, trying to remain patient but desperate for answers.
"She's doing well Charlie. Honest." Carlisle put the file back and focused entirely on Charlie. "She's breathing on her own more, her blood tests show no signs of infection. We'll be ble to take her off the monitors soon."
"So she's ok? Then why isn't she waking up?"
"Charlie. Bella's doing well but she still has a long way to go. She may wake up today, tomorrow or a week for now. Healing takes time…"
"I know, I'm sorry…"
"That's perfectly all right."
"Listen I never thanked you, I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there…"
"Bella is a wonderful person, we feel very blessed to have her in our life."
"I hope you understand that I mean no disrespect to you or your family… it's just that…"
"You are doing what a father must. You feel that Edward has endangered your daughter, that you must protect her from him. If our situations were reversed I might do the same."
"I new you'd understand…"
"But Edward is a good man, and hopefully in time you'll come to recognise that in him."
"I doubt it." Carlisle just grinned.
"He's hurting too you know."
"Yeah." Charlie wasn't a stupid man, "I know."
"As father to father, I'm worried about him."
"Hmm." Charlie wasn't interested.
"He blames himself. I fear his melancholy may know no end."
"Maybe there's some truth to that. Seems every time they have a fight Bella ends in up in hospital."
"That's hardly Edwards fault."
"Like you said, it's a father's prerogative to save his daughter from any perceived threat…"
"Edward is not a threat." Bella's heart monitor started to race a little. Carlisle checked it out and decided it was just a glitch, "Have you ever thought about what Bella wants? She's a well adjusted girl. If she wanted to walk away no one would stop her. Maybe she stays with Edward for a reason."
"That may be true, but she's too young to be in such a heavy relationship like that. She needs to go out, experience the world more. If Edward is as understanding and responsible as you say he is then he should understand that."
"Would you at his age?"
"Exactly my point."
*****Charlie and Carlisle continued to bicker. Bella's subconscious could hear their voices but she couldn't make out all the words. Images of Edward filled her mind. Her body felt restrained, she couldn't move or speak but there in the distance she saw Edward. Standing under an old oak tree. He was dressed in clothes from the early nineteen hundreds. He waved a hand in Bella's direction. She tried to call his name, but her voice was mute. Edward turned around and walked away. Bella wanted to chase after him, to call out but her legs would not move or her lips speak. There was nothing she could do. Edward was walking away, leaving her and there was nothing she could do to stop him…
*****…Bella's heart monitor started to race again, this time it was no glitch. Carlisle ignored his conversation and went to investigate.
"What's wrong?" Charlie asked standing up and moving closer to the bed.
"I'm not sure…" Her heat was beating too fast, and becoming erratic.
"Carlisle." Charlie was starting to panic.
"Get the crash cart ready." Carlisle told the nurse who responded when he pressed the call button.
"Crash cart. Hang on a second…"
"Please Charlie, give me a minute… Bella is in distress. The crash cart is just a precaution."
"Distress. Why?"
"I'm not sure." Carlisle looked at her eyes, he noticed that they were flitting back and forth. "I think she's dreaming."
"Dreaming. People don't go into cardiac arrest because they're dreaming." Charlie was confused.
"Bella's dreams are.. intense." Carlisle added. Charlie thought back to the months of screaming that Bella had endured after Edward's disappearance.
"What do we do?"
"Talk to her, reassure her."
"Can she hear me?"
"I believe she can."
"Ok… um…" Charlie didn't know what to say, "Bella, Bella it's dad."
"Good."
"Bella, I'm here, we're all here. You've been in an accident but you're fine…"
… Bella could now see her father, hiding on the other side of the tree. She waved to greet him, then saw the dagger in his hand. "NO!" she wanted to scream but it was too late. Charlie stabbed Edward from behind. Edward fell to the ground, bleeding. He reached out towards where Bella stood, then died…
… "She's crashing." Carlisle took the pillow from behind her head and lowered the bed, "Nurse."
"Chief Swan, we need you to stand back."
"What's going on?" Charlie ordered.
"Her heats failing…"
"But.." Charlie was interrupted by the sound of the hospital door being slammed open with force. There in the doorway was Edward. He didn't acknowledge anyone in the room. He looked at Bella, at the machines screaming out that she was in pain. He walked over to the bed and picked her up in his arms.
"Careful Edward." Carlisle insisted.
"Get him out of here." Charlie demanded but as he placed a hand on Edwards arm to pull him off of Bella Edward shrugged him off. Charlie momentarily lost his balance from the force of his push. Edward whispered in her ear,
"I'm here Bella, breath for me please, just breath." Nothing changed, "Please Bella. I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere." Charlie went to try again, but Carlisle held him back. The monitor started to even out.
"It's working Edward." Carlisle told him. Edward continued.
"I know you can hear me Bella. I'm sorry. I promise I won't send you away. I'll find a way to keep you safe, here with me."
"Safe… What's going on?" Charlie looked to Carlisle. Carlisle said nothing. Edward whispered something in Latin. 'I am here, forever and always'
"I love you Bella and I don't want to live without you. If you come back to me I promise I'll stop hassling you about the marriage."
"Marriage?" Charlie mimicked, confused.
"Please Bella give me a sign that you can hear me." The monitor beeped again. Edward started to hum her lullaby. As he did, the monitor started to settle down. Nobody noticed it but Bella's hand started to twitch and her fingers wound them around his. As her heart rate stabilized and the tension in the room relaxed. Edward gently laid her back down on the bed.
"It's ok now Edward. Let me look at her." Edward took a step back, but didn't release her hand. "She appears to be back to normal." Carlisle was relieved. He looked at Edward and then at Charlie…
"I think you need to explain a few things to me young man." Charlie put a hand on Edwards arm, "starting with why Bella is in danger and what's this about marriage." Charlie looked at Carlisle, who indicated that he knew nothing about it.
"Outside NOW!" Edward didn't move, his eyes fixed on Bella,
"No. I'm not leaving her."
"Edward." Carlisle warned again,
"It was not a request it was an order. I want you out of here now" Bella's monitor started to go off again. Edward stroked her cheek and held her hand tight.
"I'm not going anywhere." The machines settled again.
"Perhaps we could make a compromise?" Carlisle noticed the pattern. Charlie would not win this one. Charlie too noticed the eerie circumstance…
"Is someone going to explain to me what is happening here?"
"Bella can sense Edward in the room. That's a good sign. She'll be coming around soon." Charlie breathed a sigh of relief.
"You." He said pointing at Edward, "Explain. NOW."
"I…"
"What are you trying to keep Bella safe from?" Edward looked at Carlisle, who cautioned him strongly not to talk. Edward didn't know what to say.
"She's been having these nightmares. They are so vivid that she has herself convinced that they are going to come true."
"Nightmares…?"
"Of someone approaching her in the woods. She cries out for help but no one comes…"
"But they're just dreams."
"To Bella they are very real."
"And the other…?"
"That is what we were fighting about before she left."
"Are you pressuring her to marry you, because if you are…"
"No, not at all Chief Swan. I asked Bella to be my wife, and she accepted. We were arguing because I want to wait a year or two until Bella has finished College but Bella wants to get married this summer…" Charlie was lost for words, "I told her I'd call the whole thing off if she didn't start being more reasonable about it all. That's when she took my car and drove off. I grabbed Emmett and we tried to follow her in his car, that's when we found her…" Charlie said nothing, he simply absorbed all the information… could he really be wrong about Edward?
"Dad…" Bella whispered, "Dad?"
"I'm here honey." Charlie went to her side, Edward smiled. Hearing her voice again was like watching the sun rise.
"I'll go and let the others know."
"Dad why did you kill Edward?" She was still a little groggy.
"I'm hear Bella, it was just a dream."
"But it felt so real… where am I?"
"In hospital. You had a car accident…" Charlie told her.
"Not the truck…" Bella asked concerned.
"No Bella." Edward smiled, "It was the Volvo."
"Oh that's good." She had a little grin glad her truck was all right, "I like my truck. I don't want a new one." and then closed her eyes, and she fell asleep.
"Let her rest." Carlisle instructed them as he returned. "I think you too have got a bit to talk about. I'll call you when she wakes. Charlie and Edward went to walk outside, as Edward opened the door Bella opened her eyes, "Wait don't go." She screamed. Edward moved back to her side, kissed her forehead and pulled the blankets back up over her,
"I'll be right outside I promise."
"Promise?"
"Sleep" he told her, and she was out like a light. They left her alone to rest. Charlie rubbed his arm. It was sore from where Edward had pushed him away, and a small bruise was starting to appear. Charlie had so many questions, ultimatums but he didn't know where to start. For now he was just content to have Bella back. He'd find his answers soon enough. He just sat in the chair, opposite Edward in the hallway. No one spoke. Eventually Charlie fell asleep.