Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot...

The flight was unbearable. He was a last minute passenger on the military transport. He had taken off a six a.m. and they would be landing in Hawaii for fuel and then continuing on to their destination. He couldn't wait to land. He was hot, tired and grumpy. It felt like he had been on this plane for days and all he wanted was a shower, some hot food and bed.

Carlisle had been summoned to Germany at Edward's request. As a physician he would be able to assess his son's injuries and then give Esme and Bella the word on how he was. A worried as he was for his son, he was almost more so about his daughter-in-law. The pregnancy had been touch and go ever since Edward had gone missing.

Emmett had, had to pull a lot of strings to get Carlisle on this flight and he was only too happy to have a son who was well connected in the military. He knew that he wanted to get Edward home by Christmas but he was unsure of the extent of his injuries. He only hoped he could get him for the birth of his son.

After what felt like days the plane touched down in Germany. Carlisle was met at the gate by an officer who immediately took him to see Edward. Carlisle was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. Edward was extremely pale and thin. His cheeks were hollow and he had dark rings under his eyes. What stuck him harder was the sweat running down his brow and the shear terror on his son's face.

"Edward? Son?" Carlisle placed his things at Edward's feet.

"Dad?" Edward whispered.

Carlisle turned and looked around. He saw no signs of a doctor, but he did see a nurse. One nurse and forty full beds. This was unacceptable. "Excuse me, nurse?"

"Yes sir?"

"Where is the doctor? I would like to speak to him about my son."

"I'm sorry, sir. The doctor is in surgery. May I help you?"

Carlisle ran his hand through his hair. "Where is my son's chart?"

"I'll get that for you. I'm sorry sir, but we are very short staffed right now." The nurse walked around the corner and a minute later came back with Edward's chart. She handed it to Carlisle and then went back to her patient.

Carlisle opened the chart and looked at the meager contents. From what he was reading, Edward had spiked a fever several days ago. And it had been steadily rising. Carlisle turned again and summoned the nurse over. "Where can I find medical supplies? I am going to start caring for my son. I am also going to put a call through and get clearance so that I can begin to help with your overload of patients."

She pointed out all the supply areas to Carlisle and then asked him if he needed her assistance.

"What can I do to help?"

"What is your name dear?"

"Jane."

"Well, Jane. You seem to have your hand's full, let me help you. I am going to get some vitals on my son and then try and draw his fever down. Once I have administered some meds to him, I will help you with the rest of your patients, alright?"

"Are you a doctor? I mean obviously you are, but..."

"I understand Jane. I promise I am going to help you." Carlisle headed over to the supply stations and loaded up a cart of supplies and headed back over to Edward. While he was checking his vitals, he put a call through to the American Embassy and then to his wife.

"Carlisle? Is everything alright?" Esme asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Where is Bella, dear?" Carlisle asked, as he took Edward's temperature.

"She's sleeping. Carlisle, you're scaring me."

"Sweetheart, I think I am going to be here for quite a while. The hospital here is woefully understaffed. They have forty beds, all full. I haven't seen a doctor since I've been here. I've only seen one nurse. Sweetheart, Edward is not well. I need you to try and keep Bella in the dark about this as much as possible. He has a very high fever. I am going to start him on some medication and then see what I can do to help here. Edward will be my priority until he is well enough to travel and I don't know how long that will be. It's not good Es."

"Carlisle, you take care of my baby and bring him home. Call us when you can and I will try and protect Bella and the baby. But, honey, she really needs to hear his voice."

"I'll see, Esme. I love you."

"Love you, too."

Esme walked through the kitchen and into the living room. She sat on the couch and put her head in her hands. How was she going to keep this from Bella?

"Esme? Is everything okay?" Bella asked as she waddled into the living room. She less than seven weeks left and she was feeling huge.

"Of course, sweetheart. Sit down, let me get you a cup of tea." Esme rose and quickly went into the kitchen, trying to think of what she was going to say.

The doorbell rang and she went to answer it. "Alice come on in. You don't have to ring the bell, your family. You are welcome to come in anytime. Bella's in the living room. Would you like some tea?"

"Thanks, but only if you guys are having some." Alice said as she shrugged out of her coat.

"Go on in. I'll be there in a moment."

Alice went into the living room and found her sister-in-law and best friend lounging on the couch. "Hey preggers. How you feeling?"

"Like I'm going to give birth to Emmett. I am huge Ali, how am I ever going to push this kid out?"

Alice laughed. "If he's too big just tell them to do a C-section."

"No. I want to have natural child birth. No drugs and no scalpels."

"Oh, Bella. Honey. You are going to want drugs. Child birth is not easy." Esme commented as she came back in with a tray of tea and cookies.

"Let me help you Esme." Alice jumped up.

"Where's my brother? I thought he didn't have to go in today."

Alice looked up from her cup, "He was called in. Something about a soldier who needs a little one-on-one training. I didn't understand."

"Have you heard from Carlisle yet Esme? He should be in Germany by now."

"He called. Bella, he told me that Edward was very sick, but that we shouldn't worry because he is getting excellent care."

Bella nodded, " I hope I get to hear from him soon. So..Who want to put my big butt in the car and take me to finish my Christmas shopping?"

"Lets all go. I'll call Rosalie and see if she wants to meet us for dinner." Esme jumped up and Alice helped Bella off the couch and into her room to get her clothes changed.

Several hours later, Bella was seated on a bench waiting for Esme to pull the car around. She had finally gotten everything. They had even made a trip into a baby store and cooed over all the clothes.

"Bella?" Rosalie tried to get her attention.

"What's up Rose?"

"I want to throw you a baby shower. Have you and Edward decided on a name yet?"

"No. I haven't spoken to him for a while Rosie. Why would you need to know his name to throw me a shower?" Bella wondered.

"To put on the cake silly." Rose giggled.

"Oh. Well I haven't talk to Edward and I am not going to name this baby without him."

Esme showed up with the car and everyone loaded the bags and then Bella. Once she was situated and everyone was in they drove home. As soon as the bags were unloaded, Bella went to bed and was asleep before her head the pillow.

Edward was fighting to break the surface of the fever. Carlisle had been administering antibiotics for several days and his fever was still raging. He was trying to treat both the infection in Edward's leg and the inferno in the rest of his body.

"Jane? Would you mind getting me some fresh water and a clean rag?"

"Certainly, Dr. Cullen." Carlisle had been granted clearance and had pitched in where needed . He had helped so up superficial lacerations that should have been done in the field. He had helped assist in a surgery to amputate a young man's leg that was full of gangrene. The guy was lucky to be alive.

Jane came back with the lukewarm water and a clean cloth and offered them to Carlisle. He immediately poured a small amount of rubbing alcohol in the water and wet the rag. He wiped Edward's brow and neck with it before dipping it in for fresh.

Edward moaned as the cool liquid touched his overheated flesh. He moved his head and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze landed on his father. "Dad?" He rasped.

"Don't try to talk, son. You need to save your strength."

"Bella?"

"Bella is fine. She is with your mother. She's waiting for you to get better so you can come home to her." Carlisle made another pass with the cloth.

"Baby?"

"He's fine and still safe in the womb. He's waiting for you too. Sleep son."

"So thirsty." Edward's eyes pleaded with his father.

"I'll see if I can get you some ice chips. Try not to move. I'll be right back." Carlisle moved to the small kitchen and filled a paper cup with some ice and quickly returned to his son. He rubbed the ice along Edward's lips and watched as he snaked his tongue out to lick it up. He did this several times until Edward drifted off to sleep. Carlisle checked his temperature again and was relieved to find that it had gone down. One degree down, but that was promising. He sighed and told Jane he was going to try and get some sleep. He told her to go get some rest too. He knew that they would both be back again in the morning. He hoped that Edward would continue to improve overnight.

Across the ocean a woman dreamed of her husband and baby. All safe and together.

AN: Sorry this is late. I am already starting on the next chapter and I hope to have it up soon. Keep those reviews coming...Lets see if we can get up to 500..Now I am not completely familiar with medicine and military hospital operations so I took some creative liberty here...Til next time.