Thank You!! To those of you who reviewed, or put me on their alert lists, or favorite lists, or just read the story! It's really awesome to know you guys like actually like it!
This chapter is going to be a little harder to write, so I'm not sure how good it's going to be. But, I'm going to try my best to write Edward and Bella's conversation. It might be bad, and I'm acknowledging that now, so don't be to harsh later if this turns out as horrific as I think it will.
DICLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT!! And unfortunately I don't have a hot, sexy vampire boyfriend named Edward either – tear, tear-.
Previously…
She looked down again, and I smelled the salt of tears pooling in her eyes. When she looked up at me I could clearly see the tears threatening to leak out. "Aurora, has leukemia, she's dying and radiation isn't working anymore."
Edward POV:
I was frozen in shock. I replayed the words in my head over and over again trying to make sense of what she was telling me. Aurora has leukemia. It didn't make sense to me. How could an angel be dying? How? Why? Why, why would Bella be given this gift only to have it taken away so quickly? It didn't seem fair, it didn't seem right. It couldn't be true. Why would someone so sweet, so innocent, be so sick? I stayed frozen, waiting for the woman in front of me to say April Fools. She didn't. The tears she had tried so desperately to keep at bay, rolled down her pale cheeks. If there was anything worse than knowing the little girl upstairs was dying, it was seeing Bella have to deal with the fact that her angel was going to be taken away from her. And, though I barely knew them, it hurt me, too. That this sweet, innocent, adorable girl was going to be taken away, from Bella, from me. She was Bella's baby girl, and she was going to be taken away. It didn't seem rational, but, then again, nothing today had made any sort of sense. But, I cared about that little girl, cared if she got better, I had this insatiable urge to protect her, keep her safe. And Bella, I wanted to keep her safe, too. To see her happy, to see her with her little girl in her arms, never leaving her, leaving us. And I knew I promised not to get involved, not to hurt this family, hurt Bella, the way knew I would if I went any deeper with these irrational feelings for a woman I barely knew. Let them go any deeper than they already were in this ridiculously short time. But, I couldn't just walk away. Not now, not ever. And it didn't matter if she didn't feel the same way, now or ever; I was wanted to make sure they were OK. Always.
She finally spoke, " The doctors say there are a few experimental treatments they can try," she sniffled. " I'm so sorry," I replied, and hoped she could hear the sincerity in my voice and not just think I was saying that out of common courtesy. She looked up at me, and by the look of shock in her eyes, she did hear it. "They have to run some tests on her first. To see if this isn't just going to make it worse than it already is." The pain in her eyes was insufferable, to watch, and I can only imagine how it felt, although to some extent I did know, because I cared about Rora, too.
"When did you find out?" I asked her, her tears now flowed freely from her beautiful eyes. "About 7 months ago."
"How did you find out?" I felt horrible for drilling her like this, but I had to know.
"She was just really tired all the time, she had joint pains. I took her to the doctors and he did a blood test. He confirmed it about a week later." She lowered her head into her hands and sighed, wiping her tears away, succeeding in holding the rest back.
"I'm sorry, it's really none of my business."
"No, it's ok. I really should talk about it more often. I haven't exactly been the most verbal lately."
"That's completely understandable Bella, there's nothing wrong with that."
"Hasn't anyone been helping you out with this? Your husband?" again, I felt horrible for bringing something up that could possibly cause her more pain, but I wanted to know what happened. But what I didn't expect was anger, no more like…hatred, to well up in her beautiful eyes.
"Yeah, a lot of help he was." She said bitingly sarcastic.
"What do you mean?" I replied playing dumb, and I did it better than her, I must say, not being offensive or anything, she's just a horrible actress.
"He left when we found out, ran off with one of his many girlfriends. He'd been cheating on me for years; I just didn't do anything because of Rora. Then Antoinette was born about two months before we found out. He didn't even have time to be horrible father to her, thank God." So he'd been cheating on her for years? She didn't deserve that! Why would she let herself be treated like that?! Because she loves her girls, I answered myself. And again she blew me away with her love for them. At what a good mother she was. She had stayed strong for them, kept all her stress and fear and pain inside. And more than anything in the world, I wanted to be her outlet for all of that, the person to help her through this horrible ordeal. The person she trusted with all her problems, to be someone she loved, even if it wasn't more than a friendship love, I didn't care, as long as she trusted me to help her. And I would help her, to the best of my abilities. Even though, I have to say, I'm not sure how great of help I would be. But, I was going to try; I was going to get her to trust me. If it was the last thing I did, I was going to make her trust me.
She looked up at me again, the tears flowing freely once more, "I- I just, c-can't l-o-se he-r," she started sobbing then, I jumped up and ran to her side, pulling her into my arms, I briefly wondered if this was to forward. A complete stranger holding her while she cried, but she didn't protest, in fact, she clung to me with tenacious fingers and pulled me closer. I held her head to my chest while she sobbed, and I didn't even think about the salty tears soaking into my shirt, I just held her closer. And even though she was in pain, and seeing her that way caused me a pain so intense that it burned, burned worse than my transformation- one of the few memories I have of being human- holding her like that felt so right, so wonderful. And in that instant I felt a hole being filled that I hadn't even known was there. It was just so fulfilling holding her, even if she was crying, even if her pain made my heart break. I felt whole. I held her until she cried herself to sleep, and even then I didn't let go of her.
Eventually, of course, I did have to leave. So I left her a note explaining my absence, and my cell number. I told her to call when she woke up.
I drove home rather slow, slow for me anyway (about 85 mph). I wanted to think about things before I went home to face my family, mostly Alice, and Emmett was probably going to give me hell about the whole thing, too. I thought about the affect this was going to have on my family, on me, on Bella. Would they welcome her with open arms? Help as was I was going to try to do? Would they care about her? Her girls? I had no idea. I was just going to hope. Too many questions no answers. At least, not now.
I pulled into the garage and walked into the house at a slow, human pace. The whole family was waiting for me in the music room, which was sort of a living room. Alice was bouncing up and down excitedly blocking her thoughts, Emmett was grinning ear to ear as he thought about the ribbing he was going to give me, Carlisle and Esme were smiling warmly at me also blocking their thoughts, Rosalie looked like she had better places to be, and Jasper was trying to deal with all the conflicting emotions. "Honestly, why are you guys smiling, there is a little girl out there dieing of cancer, a woman who has to raise 2 children by herself, while dealing with the fact that she could lose her baby girl. I honestly don't see what is so wonderful about that." I said cuttingly. "But, Edward, Don't you see? We're happy for you!"
"And why would that be, Alice?"
"Because you're not a cold fish anymore little bro'!" exclaimed Emmett, I shot him a glare.
"What your brother is trying to say, Edward, we're happy you finally found someone," said Esme with love pouring out of her eyes and extremely obvious in her tone.
"What on Earth are you guys talking about?" now, I know I'm a good liar, but no one fell for that.
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Edward! You're in LOVE!!" Alice yelled in her wind chime voice, saturated with pure joy. I knew that, I just couldn't bring myself to think the word. I'd only known Bella for a day. It was RIDICULOUS that I was in love with her. But, it was true; but that didn't mean I was going to admit, especially to them.
"You're crazy, Alice."
"Edward, stop denying it, you are in love with her! I don't care if you've only known her a day! Don't you believe in love at first sight?!"
"Come on, Alice. This is Edward you're talking to," laughed Emmett.
"For once, Emmett is right. No, Alice, I don't believe in love at first sight. Besides, the first time I saw her I wanted to kill her remember?"
"No, the first time you saw her you were amazed by her beauty, then after you smelt her you wanted to kill her," she stated in a chipper voice. She was right, of course she was, she was Alice. But, I still didn't want to admit it.
"You're all being ABSURD!" I yelled as I stormed out of the room, knowing this would get me out of more questioning, for now anyway. But, no matter how much I denied it, I knew it was true, I was in love with Bella Swan, after only knowing her for one day. If you think it sounds crazy, imagine how I feel (this is from the author as well, I told you this chapter was hard). I was in love with a woman I'd only known for one day, I wanted to be a father to her children, and I wanted it forever. I am the most selfish creature to ever walk the planet.
Bella POV:
I woke up on the couch, with the throw I got from my grandma draped over my body. Then I realized how I had fallen asleep, in Edward's arms! I jumped and, being me, I fell off the couch. Then I realized he wasn't there, and there was a note on the table in the most elegant script I've ever seen.
Bella,
Sorry, I had to go home. I put Antoinette upstairs for you. Here's my cell. Call when you wake up.
(503) 392-7899
Edward
How sweet is that? He didn't mind that I totally broke down in front of him? I had probably looked like a total idiot, too. He didn't mind my daughter had cancer? He didn't care about any of that? I hadn't scared him away? Did he really care? God, I hope he did. I it didn't know what it was exactly I was feeling. It felt familiar, in someway. Something I hadn't felt in a longtime. But I couldn't put my finger on what it was. Maybe it was just the feeling of having another person watching out for me? No, that wasn't it. I didn't know what it was, but it felt good, it felt right. I decided to take advantage of the cell number he left me. As I was dialing I thought, what if it doesn't work?! What if he left me a fake number?! No, Bella, does he seem like the kind of guy that would that?
No, but, that was before I totally freaked out on him!
Bella, he wouldn't do that!
How do you know?!
Bella, even if he did, you won't be able to prove me wrong, unless, you call the number.
FINE!
I know arguing with myself sounds crazy, but that's what I did. So, after I lost the argument with myself, I dialed the number, praying to God I wasn't about to be made a fool of.
It rang, ring, ri- "Hello?" I heard his voice. YAY! I WAS WRONG! "Edward, it's Bella."
"Good, I was starting to get worried."
"Worried?"
"I wanted to know if you were OK."
"Oh. Thanks."
"No problem."
"I thought for sure I had scared you off, you know, with me crying my eyes out in front of you."
"I'm not going anywhere, Bella. Ever" my breath caught in my throat. Did he mean that?
"You don't have to do that, you know."
"I know; I want to." I wasn't sure if I was imagining the emphasis on want, but I really hoped not. "May I come over tomorrow?" I was surprised at the nervousness in his voice.
"Yeah, that would be nice. I'm pretty sure Antoinette wants to see you again, too." I smiled. I heard him chuckle. "Thank you, for putting her to bed for me."
"No problem. She's sweet, looks just like you."
"Not sure if that's a compliment to her, though."
"Don't be ridiculous. You're beautiful Bella."
"Thank you. I appreciate that, even If I think you're crazy." I heard an exasperated sigh on the other end. "Bella, you are beautiful, you're gorgeous. And you're crazy if you think otherwise."
"Edward, any other time I would continue to argue with you, but I'm tired, so, if you're coming over tomorrow we can resume this then." I yawned right on cue.
"I'll be there. Bye, Bella, get some rest."
"Bye, Edward." I heard the line go dead.
And after I checked on my angels and lay down in bed, I found myself eager for morning to come.
A/N: So what you think? REVIEW! PLEASE! It means sooo much! Until tomorrow. Or whenever I update. Bye.
P.S.
Don't use that number, it's not real! I don't want to be responsible for a bunch of prank calls or wrong numbers to the good citizens of Portland Yes, that is the real Portland area code.