Chapter 39

'Alice!' Jasper screamed as he clawed at white ice. Edward cautiously ran over to the edge of the once flowing river.

'Jasper!?' He called out. I panicked and ran back into the church calling for help. Alice had fallen into the creek that ran by the church, Jasper was slipping and sliding on the ice trying to get to her. Emmet and Carlisle ran out to Edward's side and began with an equally panicked screaming. We could all see the hole she had fallen into and the ice was slowly splitting.

'JASPER! GET OFF THE ICE!' I heard Carlisle call. I felt my heart pumping hard against my rib cage. Jasper let out a scream and dived into the same hole Alice had fallen into.

'NO!' We all screamed. I heard a small cry from behind me and saw Atticus scratching at Esme's arms to get to his parents. Neo was trying to run past a large Rosalie who was desperately trying to stop him. I ran back to help her and scooped him into my arms. He wriggled trying to run toward Emmet who was leaning over the edge trying to pull the pair out of the water.

'Get that rope!' I heard Carlisle yell as he carefully crawled out onto the thin ice. Jasper was holding himself onto the ice, his face desperate as he dived back under to help Alice. The splashing had stopped, which was not a good sign. I saw Jasper re-emerge with a none responsive Alice under his arm. Carlisle handed him a rope and I heard an ambulance pull up. Carlisle heaved them out of the water. Jasper was shivering and Alice was blue. I heard Atticus scream 'Momma'. He still desperately clawed against Esme's frail arms. The ice began cracking. Emmet rushed on and pulled Jasper over his shoulder while Carlisle lifted his lifeless daughters body into his arms. They hurried off just in time, all of the ice fell into the water. Carlisle carefully placed Alice onto the cold snowy ground. The combination of her pale skin and he white gown caused her to be camouflaged. Carlisle stareted trying to breathe life into her body while Edward pumped her chest. The paramedics rushed over and pulled her onto a stretcher. Jasper, to weak to move, called her name. Another ambulance arrived and paramedics slowly walked over to Jaspers side. They carefully pulled him onto a stretcher and loaded him into an ambulance. I saw Esme crying. She carefully handed Atticus over to Rosalie (who handled him with much difficulty). She ran toward Carlisle who accepted her into his arms. They both weeped. Edward hurried over to me and pulled me into the direction of the car park. He begged everyone to follow.

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When we arrived at the hospital Carlisle and Edward rushed off, leaving Esme, Emmet, Rosalie and I to mind Atticus and Neo. Atticus was terribly upset. Esme tried soothing him by rocking him gently but i suspected she was in need as much comfort. Rosalie placed her arm around Emmet and rubbed his head as he focused on his lap. I sat with Neo fast asleep on my lap. We sat in silence for two hours before someone came to talk to us. A small nurse, no bigger than Alice, asked for Jaspers family. Rosalie stood up slowly and walked to the nurse.

'He is absolutely fine, mild hypothermia and shock but otherwise he is okay. He is asking to see his son,' she said delicately. Rosalie thanked her and pulled Atticus out of Esme's arms.

'I'll be back,' She said and she floated off in the direction of his room. Esme started to cry heavily and Emmet moved over to her side. He pulled her into his arms and let her cry onto his lap. She wailed for the next half an hour calling for her daughter to be okay. It was hard to sit through, i felt happy that i had the excuse of Neo's sleeping to avoid the confrontation of hugging a mother who could have just lost her daughter. After what seemed like forever a doctor came out and asked for the Cullen's. Esme stood and leaned on Emmet for support. The doctor stepped forward and carefully asked Esme to re-take her seat. She began to panic and Emmet did as well. I carefully removed Neo's sleeping body from my lap and walked over to them. I carefully sat them both down and stretched my short arm around them both.

'I am sorry, Alice is unfortunately only being kept alive on life support. We were able to get the baby out and she is doing wonderfully, however your daughter shows no brain activity. I suggest you come and say your goodbyes,' He said solemnly and turned his back. Emmet let out a cry while Esme collapsed onto the floor.

'Not my baby!' She wailed hitting her fists down hard against the cold sterile floor. Emmet laid down over three chairs and curled his leg up while I began crying. Alice couldn't die. I sat here the whole time, not worried because Alice was always okay. I began sobbing violently as Neo woke. He walked over to Emmet who picked him up. He cuddled him tight to his chest and kissed his head. Neo reached his little hand up and wiped a tear away from Emmet's cheek.

'It's going to be okay Daddy,' he said with a small smile. Emmet smiled and ruffled his hair.

'Yeah I know buddy,' He said carefully. He walked toward the doors in which the doctor came through and turned back.

'I'm going to see her,' he said his voice raising as he tried to avoid losing his cool. He turned and carried Neo with him. I moved down on the cold floor next to Esme and pulled her limp body into mine. I rubbed her back soothingly as she wailed into my purple bridesmaids dress. I felt her tears soak through to my skin.

'Esme,' I whispered. 'Esme we should go see her,' . I felt her nod her head and I carefully helped her up. She fell into my body, barely able to move by herself. We careful stumbled toward Alice's room. I opened the door and was overcome by what I saw. Alice looked so young, so frail. Like a soft little angel. Esme began wailing again and tried to drop to the floor. I held her frame up and carefully walked her to a chair by Alice's bedside. I carefully sat her down and walked over by Emmet. I offered to take Neo and he nodded. Neo happily came over to me, hugging tight to my chest. After a few minutes Edward and Carlisle joined us. Carlisle was a mess. His hair was messy, like he had continuously run his hands through it, while Edward looked beside himself. The both took their place by Alice's side. Carlisle sat by Esme and they cried into each other's shoulders. I heard a knock at the door and I carefully placed Neo on my hip. I opened the door and saw Jasper in a wheelchair with Atticus in his lap. His face was swollen from crying. Behind him I saw Rosalie rolling a small cot that contained pink blankets wrapped around a tiny little baby. I silently placed Neo down and went to push Jasper into the room beside his almost wife. We all sat silently around the room, the only noise was the sometimes gurgle from the brand new baby and Alice's heart monitor. I suddenly thought about how heartbroken Alice would be if she never got to hold her young daughter. I stood up, drawing no attention to myself, and walked silently over to the crib. The baby was very small, obviously born before she was ready, however she looked healthy. Her eyes studied my face as I took in how much she looked like the mother she would never meet. I carefully picked her up, shocked by how light she was, and carried her over to Alice. I placed the tiny infant on her chest and kneeled by her bed holding her on carefully. Jasper looked at me.

'She wouldn't like it if she never got to hold her,' I said sadly. He nodded and went back to holding Alice's hand. We all sat around silently, even the baby understanding the importance of hush. Finally a doctor came in.

'Mr Hale, are you ready?' He asked indicating to the machine keeping Alice alive. Jasper looked around helplessly while Esme and Carlisle cried for their daughter. Jasper nodded and the doctor began to whir the machines down. The room was even more silent than before. The heart monitor beating less. Soon it turned into a flat line and Alice was gone. I heard Jasper cry and Esme ask why. I silently stood and began to walk out of the room to leave the family to mourn, and to mourn by myself in peace. I Carefully removed the baby from Alice's chest and re-wrapped her into her blanket. As I left I placed her carefully into her crib, again amazed at how much she resembled her mother. I went to walk out the door but as I did i heard a beep. Maybe hope was not lost.

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