The comatose boy on the sofa

Bella POV:

Alice had bolted into of my house without so much as a hello, flung me over her shoulder and proceeded to run back out; all I saw as we left through the door was a piece of white paper float delicately down onto the kitchen top. Looks like I'm going to be gone for a while - I groaned against her shoulder blade.

"Alliccccccccccceeeeeeee, what are we doing I'm getting motion sickness back here" I knew I was whining but being dragged from your house whilst you were half way through eating a bowl of Lucky Charms does not make a girl happy.

"Just trust me we need you" her voice had an edge to it, something was wrong very wrong.

"Alice you're scaring me what's happened. Is Edward ok?" Not that I should really care our last meeting ended with a screaming match in where he wished I didn't exist. His words were forever etched into my mind – your presence is like a personal hell do you no that, it's constantly burning me from the inside out, your very existence burns me. Why are you here to torment me? Obviously that led to a grade A storm out on my part, childish yes but absolutely necessary I wasn't prepared to let him see me cry over his harsh words. Another image filled my mind now one that took place just moments before the incident occurred. We were sat in the forest in the small enclosure we had found from our long walk, I was sat on the make shift swing – the words all but a blur to me now, I knew that we had been bickering and I had gone to leave. All I remembered after that was the kiss we had shared. The feelings from that moment rush to the fore front of my mind, squeezing my heart as the two memories warred with each other.

"Bella? Helllllllloooooooo earth to the human, come in human" I realised then that I was no longer moving and the scenery had finally stopped whooshing passed at a blinding speed. Alice's voice full of concern now, her face was pinched up in confusion.

"Huh"

"I was talking to you and then you went all Edward on me" her voice faltered with Edwards's name, probably realising that any reference would just about destroy my outward calm. I looked around and saw that we were at their house, never has it looked so intimidating, and I felt a strong urge to run away and not go in, not sure of what I would find.

Jasper came and opened the front door, no doubt sensing my hesitation and reluctance, "Please Bella" was all he said, I could feel the pain emanating from his person, without noticing I had drifted into the living room still feeling the intense emotions Jasper had greeted me with. It wasn't until I looked around the room and noticed that everyone had the same expression on their faces – torn and utter panic. My gaze finally fell onto what I can only expect to be the reason behind those looks, there he was sat on the sofa staring, just staring into space. The not needing to blink thing really giving him the extra factor in the scare stakes.

"Wh...What happened to him?" I stood in front of him now searching for any light in his eyes, there was nothing but a shell.

Alice had filled me in on the conversation Edward had had with this Jonathan person - one that did not fill me with warm squishy feelings, no wonder Edward had gone into shut down, how much loss can a person take.

"Why save me until last, you heard him he practically hates the ground I walk on, why the need to save me to last, I would have thought I would be served up first if it was up to him" my hand swept forward to gesture I was speaking about Edward, I saw a small facial twitch on his face, around his eyes. This reaction didn't go unnoticed by the small gathering, that were all now gapping at him.

Esme reached for my arm and led me to the kitchen " Bella, I know what he said to you was well to say unfair would be too kind a word, but he didn't mean it and you know that deep down" I shifted from side to side rubbing my hands up and down my arms unsure of what to do. "Since you came into our lives; albeit in an unorthodox way, I have never seen Edward with as much life in him as he does now. He lived when he loved Sofia and he died when she died but you..." she sighed and grabbed my hands, looking into my eyes as she spoke "but you resurrected him, you made he feel again and not think that it was necessarily a bad thing. You are the very essence of his existence and when he spoke to you like that the other day that was nothing short than blasphemy. He needs you now Bella more so than you can ever imagine. Please save my son"

There – those last three words and I knew my purpose here, I loved that comatose boy whether he wanted me to or not and we needed him and if there was any one who could get through to him then it was probably going to be me. I smiled up at Esme, stood on my tiptoes and kissed her cheek whispering a thank you before turning to go back into the living room. I watched Edward as I entered, his ears had picked up my presence but that was all his body would give away, well at least he knew I was here that was something right?

"Here goes nothing" I mutter, the others had began to move away as I moved forwards towards him. Jasper lingered at the door, testing the temperament of the both Edward and I. I turned to him and gave him just the simplest of nods to assure him I was ok.

When alone, I continued my journey to the sofa I sat on my knees in front of Edward trying to look up into his eyes, but his gaze was just a little too high for them to meet.

"Edward? Can you hear me of course you can hear me I mean you're a vampire, a very rude vampire but one all the same" I said with a smile in my voice hoping for some reaction but I was welcomed by more cold hard staring out of the window. This is going to take a very long time I thought to my self. I sighed and sank down and sat on the floor now next to his feet. I tried for the next half an hour to try and talk to him but nothing worked.

My phone vibrated I took it out already knowing who it would be – Alice –

Keep it up he'll crack I just know it! I haven't seen it yet but I will :) Oh Jasper says Edward has many mixed up emotions just mean everything you say and the barriers will fall. We all love you xxxx

I smiled and showed Edward my phone "It's Alice, telling me to ignore your stubbornness, like that helps" clucked my tongue thinking about what to do next. I needed something to work with anything, I needed a sign.

I hadn't realised I had fallen asleep until the nightmares had started. I was running in the woods, a shadow was chasing me it was so fast and everywhere. My breathing was laboured I knew I couldn't run for much longer but I willed my legs to go on. Eventually gravity took me and I fell over – I'm not sure over what but I fell all the same. I scrambled to my knees; I was covered in mud and forest debris. I heard a growl and looked up to see Edward glaring into the shadows. Things happened so quickly that I wasn't sure what had set it if but suddenly Edward and the shadows were fighting.

The movements were blurry from the speed behind the attacks; I could hear snapping and growling erupting from all around me. I was screaming Edwards name over and over, tears streaming down my face as all I could see was darkness. I pleaded with the shadows to leave him and take me instead but the fight continued. I sat shaking on the forest floor, my mind a whirl when I was interrupted by a sound that sent shudders down my spine, the sound of metal being manipulated against its will. I heard a thud and something move the leaves by my foot. My hands trembled as I felt around the floor for the mystery object.

The moon filtered down through the tree tops and created a small spot light on where I sat. My eyes grew large with horror as I took in the object. Edward's lifeless head sat perfectly in between my fragile human hands. I could feel the noise bubble in my chest finally erupting in an ear piecing scream.

I didn't realise that I had been screaming out loud until I was being shaken until I heard his golden voice flow through my mind.

"Bella Love, please wake up, please. Its just a dream, its just a dream" I stirred, the world becoming clearer every so slightly, my eye lids fluttered open to recognise that I was no longer on the floor but on the sofa in Edwards arms.

"Ohh it's not real, you're here and alive!" I cried and flung my self into his chest sobbing as I explained my dream to him. His soothing words of comfort somewhat eased me, as he stroked my hair telling me that it would all be ok.

I sat up straight, rubbing my eyes realising that he no longer sat staring. "Hey, welcome back" I croaked

"You brought me back" his small smile made my heart melt

"Hmmm just I time I guess" I snuggled back into his chest but my mind stopped me in my tracks and I pulled back out of his arms and onto the seat of the sofa properly.

"Bella are you ok?" his voice rang with concern, I willed my self not to look into his eyes knowing my resolve would be undone the second I looked into his astonishing eyes.

"It's just I'm sorry I know how you feel about me, I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable being like that with you" I couldn't look at him, the words I had spoken were breaking my heart as I uttered them, I choked on them in the end unable to continue with those ugly words.

"What? Bella nonononono" he cried and took me once more into his arms. I gave in without hesitation; I was back where I belonged for however brief it may be.

"Please Love understand me, the other day I don't know what got into me. I know I said hurtful things but I didn't mean them I promise you that" his voice remained low and soothing, but I contorted my body so I was facing him.

"Yes Edward you meant every word of what your said…ahah let me speak" I held my hand up to him to stop him from interrupting me "you may not mean them now but you did then Edward. I think that's what you're attempting to say anyway would that be right?" My eyes no doubt red rimmed from my nightmare and the sudden feeling that I was going to be rejected again by him.

He took a few moments to ponder what I had said, I could see that he was warring with his self but eventually he solemnly nodded at me, I blew out a breath of relief at least that part was cleared up "I need to know, why did you think all those things about me that day? What made you say that you….that you…that…" I couldn't finish the sentence my body was wracked with the violent motions of my sobs; I couldn't hold it in any longer; the pain, the misery laid bare for all to see. I looked up pleading for understanding. He leaned in and kissed each of my eyelids before sliding off the sofa and knelt before me, he tilted my chin so that I would look him in the eyes before he spoke again.

"You need to understand I've spent the majority of my existence mourning the loss of my love – of Sofia – and then she comes back to me and tells me that I need to save you, I blindingly agree hoping that I would get more time with her" he chuckled slightly " I guess Rosalie's right I am masochistic. But what I didn't expect was to feel like this for another person. And when I started to I fought it, so hard it nearly killed me inside. I took a risk and gave in to those feelings and when I kissed you..."

He was interrupted by a He what?! From out side along with Alice's small voice defending the need for privacy that it was all psychic/ client confidentiality followed by the sound of running feet. He sniggered once before continuing his story.

"That kiss, it undid me completely, my entire armour fell away I felt vulnerable for the first time since I became a vampire. Sofia and I loved each other yes and I will never stop loving her but the way I love you is different- stronger – and that made me angry at first and I took it out on you Bella. Can you ever forgive me? God I'm a monster I don't deserve your love" he broke down, his face cradled in his own hands dry sobbing; I let my hand lie on his hair as I thought about what to say.

He kept repeating that he was a monster, nothing I could do would console him on this matter, I had to change direction; he had been in a vulnerable position and now was my turn to do the same.

"Edward look at me ok." He cautiously looked up at me, his face blank and unfeeling I could tell he was reverting back into his comatose state I had to save him from that hell.

"Do you feel?" I blurted out, earning me a quizzical look "what I mean is do you feel happy, love, guilt, jealousy, rage? Do you worry about others?" still he was unsure of what to say, of how to answer that question; I shook my head "Yes! Of course you do we have all seen it, both your family and my self. Every day we are faced with your relentless worry over the smallest of things, wondering if we will be safe. Do you realise that most humans are incapable of thinking about others like that? No Edward you are not a monster but you're right you're not human either. What you are Edward is a person. A loving, caring slightly moody person at that; you just have a few enhancements than others, that doesn't make you a monster - that makes you a different breed of person. Daily you go against what nature and fate have dealt you, you deny your thirst in order to protect others and be more human, how can you ever doubt what you are? Edward Cullen you are the most decent person that I know and I love you, so stop degrading your self for having feelings. Yes you said some hurtful horrible things to me but I have too, everyone in this world has done at some point or another – that's not what defines us, you of all people should know that. It's what we do that makes us who we are. What makes me love you as much as I do"

With that being said there was only one thing to do, I bent down and took his face in my hands and kissed him; it was different from our first kiss, the passion had been momentarily stored leaving way for the unbridled need that we both shared for each other. I gasped at the electricity I felt, he finally pulled away showering my face with smaller yet still loving kisses as he made his way to my ear. He whispered so quietly that I had to strain to hear him "You saved me Bella. I love you" My heart swelled at hearing his confession of love to me, with the awareness that I had completed that task that Sofia had asked of me I had saved Edward. Not from some impending doom or death but from his self and his thoughts of undeserving. Other thoughts entered my mind making me shudder.

Edward moved back to get a clear look at my face "What is it my Love" my heart stuttered at the sentiment.

" I was just thinking that I have done what Sofia asked, I saved you only it wasn't from some big bad but from your self" I sighed at what my stupid brain had inadvertently thought of.

"Then why are you so sad?" anguish coloured his features, how I ever doubted how he felt was now a mystery to me

"Just that you haven't saved me yet which only leaves the obvious, the big bad is coming for me instead" shock paralysed us both, he hissed at my words making me flinch

"Never say that again, do you understand me. Nothing is coming for you, he won't get the chance" the significance of his words hung in the air – we both knew of whom he spoke of, and that a fight was inevitable now. Just when life felt complete the fates decided to test it once again my threatening to end it. I tightened my grip on Edward's hands, staring into his now almost black eyes, my resolve stronger than ever. I loved this man with my entire soul, mind and heart and I was prepared to do anything in my power to protect it.