Disclaimer: I don't own twilight.

Bella~

I was shaking against Alice in the hospital waiting room. I was freezing cold. I couldn't blink. I couldn't speak. My only thought was of Edward. Edward had been shot in the chest. The bullet narrowly missed his heart and if it had been any closer he would of died instantly. He was in surgery now to remove the bullet and check for further damage. He was looking at a lengthy recovery but the doctors assured me barring no further complication he would be fine but I couldn't shake the awful feeling that this was all my fault. No one was saying it but I knew it was true. I should be dead. It was me Jake should of shot. Not Edward. How did this happen? I looked up at my father sitting across from me in his police uniform, covered in Edward's blood as was I.

"How did this happen?" it was the first thing I had said in hours. My voice was a croak. Barely a harsh whisper among the waiting. I felt Alice's eyes turn from me to my father. Jasper was with Rose and Emmett while Rose got checked out. I had refused the exam.

"It all happened so fast..." my dad said. His gaze never met mine.

"I want to know how this happened and I want to know now." I demanded. Dad finally looked me in the eyes.

"the hostage negotiator said we were running out of time. We had to offer him something." Dad was keeping his voice down. It was clear he didn't need the whole town in on the specifics.

"So you offered him Edward? You offered him Lilly's father? Are you crazy?" I shouted. I rose to my feet, looming over him. He stayed seated not looking at me now.

"It was Edward's idea. He even took the time to get his affairs in order, Bells. He knew exactly what he was doing." Alice came up behind me and pulled me back down next to her. I cuddled into her shoulder and sobbed.
"You shouldn't of let him do it. Why wasn't he wearing a vest?" I asked between sobs.

"Yes, I'd be interested in knowing the answer to that myself." Elizabeth said from across the waiting room. She walked twords us. It was the first time she had said a word to us. She wouldn't look at Alice or me. She only talked to my father and the other officers. Since Edward went into surgery she hadn't said a word.

"It all happened to fast. In normal hostage situations these things are decided well in advance and the person going in is briefed and ready for what they are doing but this time..." he trailed off.

"this time it was your daughter so my son's life was fore fit?" Elizabeth was beginning to lose her composure. I had only see her lose it one other time and that was her husbands funeral.

"He volunteered." Dad said again. He and Elizabeth were standing toe to toe now.

"And you let him do it? You let my baby walk in there to save her." Elizabeth was shaking from head to toe.

"He had my baby. I would of done anything to get her back." he admitted. Elizabeth reared back and slapped dad across the face as hard as she could. Five officers appeared out of no where, getting between Elizabeth and my Dad. He waived them off. They helped her to a seat across the room where she finally lost it and broke down. I understood how she felt. One half of me knew as a mother the agony she must be going through but the other half of me knew she was the one who kept Edward from me. Alice from Edward and Lilly from Edward as well. I wanted to say she was getting what she deserved but I couldn't. No mother should have to go through this.

Edward~

I was standing at the end of my drive way. I knew it was my driveway but something was different. I turned in a circle looking around me. I had a fence. A white Pickett fence with a gate. One of the ones with the heart carved in it. A child laughed from the back of the yard. Her giggle I would of known anywhere. It was Lilly. She ran around the front of the house followed by a small silky puppy. The dog bounded after her, it's tongue dangling from it's mouth.

"Come inside baby. It's time for dinner." Bella's voice was like an angels song coming from inside the house. I was suddenly warm all over. Utterly content.

"Come on Chance." Lilly scooped her puppy up and ran inside leaving me alone once more. The sun was hitting the house in the most beautiful way. It was spring here in this time and the flowers were blooming. It smelled wonderful like fresh cut grass and sun. it was perfect. I ran up the narrow stone path, opening the door to go inside. The house was as gorgeous inside as it was outside. It was finished. The cascading cherry wood staircase and the walls were painted. I walked from room to room noticing how everything Alice and I bought on our trip was put in place. I laughed to myself thinking she was right, I actually did need all this stuff. I went into the formal living room noticing immediately the row of pictures on the mantel. I picked them up one by one smiling at each one. Lilly and I on Halloween. She was a farmer, I was dressed as a cow. Christmas morning all of us in front of the tree smiling. Bella looking down at Lilly while I stared at Bella in wonder.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" I would know the voice anywhere but it wasn't one I ever expected to hear again. I spun on my heel and smiled,

"DAD!" I shouted running to him. He opened his arms and I walked into them. He was warm. He smelled the same as always. He was in his usual khakis and polo shirt with penny loafers. I stepped out of our embrace and looked around me. It hit me that something wasn't right.

"I'm dead aren't I?" I asked him. He laughed his usual guffaw and shook his head.

"Not yet." he told me. His eyes were twinkling. My fathers eyes never twinkled. He was never that happy.

"then why are you here?" I wondered. He smiled and offered me his hand.

"I'm here because you want me to be. I can be gone just as quick. Would you like me to go?" he wondered.

"No!" I shouted. He offered his hand to me. With complete trust I took it.

"You've been busy. I trust you figured out my riddle." he smiled. I should have been angry with him over what happened with Alice but I couldn't be. I was to happy to see him.

"Alice. My best friend for all those years and I never knew." I said in awe. He smiled,

"Come now Edward, you know she wasn't your best friend. That title has always been Bella's." I nodded in agreement.

"Is Bella okay?" I asked him.

"She's perfect, a bit banged up but you know that couldn't be helped." he pulled me into the backyard. It was so lush and green. An enormous swing set sat in the middle of the yard. Dad took a seat on one swing. I took his lead and did the same. I watched as I came out of the back door and retrieved burgers and hot dogs off the grill. I looked great. I was almost glowing and not shot which was a real bonus. Bella followed me out a moment later. She took my breath away. She was wearing a soft green sun dress and sandals. Her hair was swept back half way. She ran her hand down my back and over my butt. I blushed in spite of myself. Dad pretended not to notice.

"Why Mrs. Masen you little flirt." I scolded playfully. Suddenly the food was unimportant. I took her in my arms and kissed her passionately. It was deep and soulful. The way she should be kissed every day.

"Not Mrs. Masen yet. Three more weeks." she said wistfully.

"And how are your feet my love? Cold at all?" I wondered aloud. She bit her lip in the way that drove me crazy and shook her head,

"Nope. Toasty warm. Getting warmer by the day. If I hadn't promised Alice this wedding we'd be married by now." I kissed her forehead and smiled.

"You were nice to do that for her you know. She loves a party." I told her. She laughed,

"She's your sister. I couldn't say no." She told me. I kissed her neck gently for a moment or two before we collected dinner and walked inside hand in hand. Dad and I just listened to everything around us. We sat there for a while in a comfortable silence.

"Dad?" I said quietly.

"Yes son?" he replied.

"Is this heaven?" I asked. He smiled,

"I suppose to you it seems that way. This is all you've ever wanted. Bella and Lilly. The house on maple street. Personally, I think if this is heaven i'd take it." he looked up to a second story window. A light flickered on. Lilly appeared at the window dressed for bed. Her puppy at her side. She waved down at us. On instinct I waved back. Dad blew her a kiss and she blew one back.

"can she see us?" I asked.

"she see's me. You aren't dead. She talks to me you know." he said still looking at her window.

"I'm always with her. Watching out for her. Caring for her. Loving her the way I would have if I had lived to see what you've created before us. I'm always with you and Alice too. I loved you both so much that even when my time was over I couldn't really leave." he said.

"it's time for me to go back." I sensed it. My time with him was over.

"I never really leave you. I'm the breeze in your hair or the tinkle in Lilly's laugh. I'm always there. Sometimes you just have to look hard to see me." he stood up opening his arms for me again. I embraced him as tightly as I could.

"I love you Dad. Thank you for everything." I said over tears. He smiled,

"I love you Edward." he said fading from my arms. I heard it then, Alice's voice saying my name. It was like she was all around me.

"Edward." she said. I spun around looking for her. She wasn't there.

"Edward." she called again but I couldn't see her. The house in front of me faded away. The grass went out beneath my feet. It was getting brighter and brighter until finally I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I was home.

A/n- I am so sorry this is so late. I've had so much family stuff going on and I wasn't able to finish or post anything. Hopefully things will settle down now and I'll get into a regular pattern again. Thanks for being patient.