CH 38-The Waiting Game

Dedicated to Cindy (bornagoof) because she read BOTH of my stories and reviewed ALL of the chapters and I read them and was SO excited!!

EPOV

Carlisle got us a suite at the Marriot. It had separate 4 rooms and a living area. Alice and Rose needed a distraction, so they took it upon themselves to go shopping for us all.

"You don't want Bella to wake up and see us all looking like crap, right?" I could see how much this was affecting her...she needed something to do. Jasper went with them, and Emmett stayed in the room with Charlie. Carlisle and Esme were arranging something in their room...and I was...numb.

I couldn't think about anything....nothing except Bella. But when I thought about her all my emotions welled up and I went into overload, and kind of spaced out. I don't know how long I was out of it...but I was brought from my trance by my pixie sister yanking me up and throwing me in a bathroom to shower.

"You look like crap" she says. I look in the mirror, to see she's right. My clothes are blood stained, and my eyes red from tears. I took a shower, but all my motions were mechanical. I got dressed in the clothes Alice laid out for me. Just some simple PJ's. After I got out, I sat on the bed in whatever room I was in. Jasper was there, so I assumed it was the one he and Alice were staying in for the night. He was already pyjama clad, and Alice had hopped in the shower after me, so I assumed we were all going to look the same.

"Hey man....she's going to be fine. You know that right?"

"No Jas, I don't. I want her to be okay...I need her to be okay, but I don't know that she will be." I say his, because I don't know. I'm not psychic, and even my favorite pseudo-clairvoyant sister doesn't look too hopeful half the time. She puts on a good front, but when she thinks no one's around to see her, she's seriously worried. And that is what scares me. Alice had always...always been so optimistic.

"Edward....." Jasper says, but the thing is, there's nothing to say. He just walks over to me and hugs me. I've never actually hugged a guy that wasn't my dad before, but some how he made me feel just a little better. "You have to hold out hope." He releases me and stands when Alice calls for him from behind the door. I can hear them mumbling, but I just don't care. I got up and went back into the living room where there were trays of room service food out. Carlisle had some coffee and was talking with Charlie, who also looked like he just got out of the shower. They both looked up when I entered the room.

"You should eat something." Carlisle told me, motioning to a tray full of strawberries......that's what Bella's hair always smelled like.....I grabbed a cup of coffee, but didn't drink it. Soon enough everyone was sitting around in the living room/dining room area in the suite. Charlie was on the sofa, with Emmett next to him, and Rosalie next to Emmett. Alice and Jasper were curled up together on an over sized chair. Carlisle and Esme were on the love seat....that just left me. Alone, no Bella to pair up with. No one was saying much of anything, there wasn't anything to say.

"AH! Bella's going to be fine! We should all just stop acting like she's dead or something! She's alive....ahe's okay! She has to be!" Alice wailed, breaking the silence. "I just know it....she's going to be fine!" Her normally happy demeanor was gone. In it's place was fear....uncertainty. Esme had gone over to comfort her daughter, while the rest of us looked on helplessly. I saw Charlie shake his head, as he muttered something sadly under his breath. I used to read lips, and I think he was praying. He got up and went into his room; at the same time Jasper was carrying Alice to theirs. I got up and went outside to the balcony. I needed to be alone with my thoughts....Please, let Bella be okay.

ChPOV

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

[For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.]

I was raised by my mother to be Catholic. My father wasn't big on religion, so they agreed that she could take me to mass and wherever she wanted, until it was time for my confirmation. It was then that I could decide. I never did confirm my faith in the Catholic teachings. I don't really have a reason why I didn't, except that I couldn't really find a reason to do it. I really hope there is a God out there, and I hope he's watching all these people here who love my daughter....and I hope he can see what a wonderful person she is....and I really hope he hasn't decided to take her from me so soon.

Please, let Bella be okay.

EmPOV

My baby sister.....I love her so much. She completes our group...she's so amazing. We all love her so much. I can't believe I didn't protect her better. I should have done something. As I look down at my Rosalie, asleep in my arms, I can't help but think about how much my family means to me...and everyone here, in this hotel room, they are my family. Instinctively my arms tighten around my Rose's skinny body, drawing her tightly to me. I'm never letting her get hurt...and if I get the chance, I'm never going to let my baby sister get hurt again either....Please, let Bella be okay.