You guys ROCK! Your love for Coop and praise for Flash is overwhelming; thank you. However some of you did threaten me with a shoe and other blunt objects if I didn't get this up soon, so here you are!

Possible Kleenex moments ahead.

Chapter 18.
Edward.

My phone started to vibrate in my pocket when Bella and I were heading away from the field. I had a suspicion that it was someone calling from work to update me on one of the many projects we were working on - those unlucky fools who had to go in over the holidays; how I pitied them. Seeing Mom's name on the screen, and not a co-workers, had me stop in my step - Bella, too, stopped walking when she noticed I had. It was unusual for her to phone especially as I said we'd be back soon.

"Hey, Mom."

I barely had the greeting out. She spoke in a rush; her words were laced in worry. "Edward, somethings happened - you need to get to the hospital. Now."

It was like my whole body shut down. I couldn't move, I could barely speak - never had a few words scared me so much. "...What's happened? I-I... please, give me some answers." A hand was felt stroking my arm, but I couldn't respond to it. I was unable to do anything but worry.

"Your father thinks Cooper has relapsed - we're taking him in now. I'll explain it all when you get here."

I wanted to shout and scream and beg for a better answer, but I didn't have the time to stand and chat. My son needed me.

"Um, okay. We'll be there as soon as possible. But... Mom, is he okay?"

Please, please, please...

"...I don't know. I'm sorry, Edward; I wish I could give you a clearer answer."

I felt myself rapidly loosing it. But it wasn't the time to break down - I had to get to Cooper. I had to see my boy.

Bella offered to drive us. She knew how little concentration I would have had on the road, but she was just as worried; I spotted her wiping away the occasional tear from her cheek.

With the Twins safe in our arms, we ran into the hospital and searched blindly for someone who could take us to Coop. A helpful nurse took us up to PICU where Cooper had been rushed to.

I felt my heart drop - if you're taken to intensive care, things aren't often okay.

Seeing my son, lying in that hospital bed with various wires and machines being attached to him, was heart wrenching. If I didn't have Ellie in my arms, I would have collapsed on that floor. He looked so small and vulnerable in the bed.

When the doctor strapped an oxygen mask around Coop's head, I snapped out of my silence. "What are you doing?" I demanded and made a quick pace to the bed.

"His blood oxygen levels are very low, which is why he is having such difficulty breathing. This will help him; I promise."

I stole the empty seat beside the bed. Coop held out his arm for me, which I took without hesitation. Tears slipped down his cheeks and dropped onto the pillow under his head.

"Dad's here now, Bud. I'm not going anywhere; there's no need to worry."

Unfortunately that doesn't work for me - I'm going to be grey from all this worry.

But, fuck me, this is hard.

Time passed without me knowing, and soon another doctor came in to report that they were ready with the echocardiogram to find out the full extent of Coop's problems. Bella and I followed as they carted him off to a room, but we had to wait outside during the test.

"You holding up?" She asked, looping her arm around my back.

I shook my head, "it's all happened so quickly." My stinging eyes met hers, "I'm so scared, Bella."

Her eyes welled up and her bottom lip began to wobble, "I know you are. I am too. But we both know he's going to be okay - he's done it once; he can do it again." She lifted up on tiptoes and kissed my lips comfortingly.

"This is much more severe than last time, though."

"Yes, but our boy is strong - he has more than enough to fight this with." I stayed silent, not knowing what to say. "Flash saved his life, you know." She spoke suddenly.

"What? How do you know that?"

I love that bloody dog.

"Esme told me back there in the room. He came to her and rose the alarm. He clearly noticed that something was wrong and went to get help."

I'm getting him the biggest bone, ever.

"I can't believe..." My sentence stopped when a sickening thought entered my head. "Bella, if Flash wasn't there, Coop could have..." I couldn't even think the word.

"No! Don't you dare think like that. If Flash hadn't been there then Cooper would have worked out how to get Esme's attention. Don't fill your head with those thoughts - not now."

We were taken back to the ward whilst we waited on the results. The urge to hold him in that giant bed nearly broke me, but I stayed where I sat - only inches from him. Coop asked continuously why he couldn't sit on my lap, but with all the wires he was attached to, he had to stay there.

It freaking broke me.

A doctor soon came into the room, "can I speak to you privately please, Mr. Cullen?" He waved towards the door he previously walked through. I grabbed Bella's hand as I stood, silently pleading her to come with me, but tapped my hand and smiled.

"I'll stay here with Coop and the Twins; call me if you need me."

I always need you.

Especially now. Especially when our son is in a fragile state.

We only stood outside the room, but I felt too far away. "Why can't you speak to me inside?"

The doctor held his clipboard up against his white lab coat. "It's always best if you hear before your son, that way you can decide which way to tell him."

I felt sick. "Tell him what...?" I knew the concern was evident on my face.

"The results from the test show that he has suffered a relapse and that he has a fairly severe case of aorta coarctation. Due to the degree of the narrowing we will have to act fairly quickly and surgery is our only option."

Relapse... severe... Surgery...

Those words ran circles in my head.

"Mr. Cullen," he broke me from my trance, "I understand that this is a lot to take in, but surgery is our only option." I could only nod. He proceeded to mention the risks and possible complications - it was mandatory to scare me, apparently. So I had to get my head around everything and willingly allow my son into surgery when there was a chance he could come out with a reaction to the sedative; problems with his lungs and nervous system; infection and bleedings. Oh goodness knows what else.

With no other option, I agreed with the procedure and went back inside to pass the news on to Cooper. The boy in question looked as though he had fallen asleep with his hand gripped tight in Bella's.

"Padre?" His voice was light and whispery.

"How you feeling, Bud?" I, too, whispered and brushed his hair gently with my palm.

"I don't feel too good, Dad."

"I know you don't, Coop, but you're my big strong boy and you'll feel better soon."

He nodded into the pillow and closed his delicate eyes. He was asleep again within minutes.

We waited until my parents had returned with our coffees to mention the surgery, Dad helped to reassure me that it's uncommon for people to have any internal problems after the procedure. As the operation room was set, we woke Cooper back up and informed him on what was going to happen.

"B-b-but... I don' wanna do it..." His eyes, as well as tears, were filled with worry.

"Hey, Cooper." Dad used his gentle voice. "What is it that you're scared about?"

"Um... that i's gonna hurt."

"And I can assure you that it won't. You're going to fall asleep and when you wake up it will all be over with."

"Really?"

"Would I lie to you?"

Cooper bit his lip, "I guess not."

"Exactly." Dad leant over the bed with a smile on his face, "and you want to know the best part?"

"What?"

"You're going to have a scar..."

I watched in amusement as Cooper's eyes widened. "A wicked awesome scar? Uncle Emmett's gonna be so jealous..." He grinned.

Everything seemed to be going fine - Coop had perked up and was oddly excited about his scar, but when it came to being put under sedatives he fell back into my little boy. The Twins began to cry with Coop.

"I'm ssssscared... Padre."

"Don't be scared, Cooper Trooper. We're all here for you and we all know you can do it." As he slipped into sleep I spoke my last comforting words. "You're just like your Mom - she was so brave and a fighter. I know she's proud of you, and I know she's with you during the process. I love you, Bud."

I had never been a religious man, but I prayed. I prayed so damn hard that he'll return in full form.

Without question I took the Twins from Bella and sat one on each knee. Ellie was amused by the collar of my shirt, Marco sucked on his two tiny fingers. I kissed each crown in turn.

"Either of you dare put me through this, I'm cutting your allowance."

0-0

In order to update when I said I would, I decided to cut this chapter in two, otherwise I don't know when you would have got it.

Still, I beg of you to trust me.

Pass on your hugs to Edward; he needs them.

X