*peaks in and waves hello* If anyone is still following this story...here's my next chapter. It hasn't been beta'd so excuse the mistakes.
SM Owns Twilight.
To Love Again- Chapter 9
EPOV
I burst through the doors of the emergency room like a mad man, gripping Bella's hand tightly. I looked around for Kate but I didn't see her. I ran up to the small window and knocked to get the nurse's attention. She turned around a little irritated that I tapped the window, but dammit this wasn't about being polite right now. I was a nervous wreck.
"My son, Nathan Cullen was brought in about half an hour ago…I need to go in and see him?"
She took her sweet ass time to turn around and walk toward the window, where she should have been sitting.
"What did you say his name was again?" she asked as she plopped her ass down on the chair and huffed. Well shit, isn't this her job—to help people that have loved ones in the ER? Shouldn't she be eager to find my son for me? Fuck!
"Nathan. Anthony. Cullen. He's five years old." I practically growled at her, I ran my hand through my hair and breathed deeply through my nose. Bella noticed my rising anger she squeezed my hand, and rubbed my arm to try to soothe the monster in me that was trying to get out. I looked down at her and my eyes softened a little.
"Sorry babe." I whispered as I pulled her hand up and kissed it.
"Here you go Mr. Cullen, he's in room 5-B through those double doors." She handed me a wristband with the room number. "Umm…but there can only be two people in there, your son's mother is in there with him." She glanced at Bella who was attached to my arm.
"Umm okay, thanks." I wanted Bella with me but I knew that it wasn't about me right now. Nathan needed both of his parents to be with him.
Bella nudged me. "I'm fine here Edward. Just let me know how he's doing. I'll wait for you." She reached up to kiss me and placed her hand on my cheek, I leaned into her hand, thankful that she was there with me and slightly guilty that all this was happening during our date night.
As soon as I passed through the double doors, I saw Kate in the hallway with Dr. Michaels and my Dad. I ran up to them. Kate turned to face me with a tear stained face, she walked toward me, buried herself in my chest, and let out a sob. I held her close as she cried; she was scaring the shit out of me. My heart started pounding even more than it already had been.
"How is he? What happened? I turned to my dad panicked. Someone needed to tell me what the HELL was going on with my son!
"Calm down Edward, he's fine now. Dr Michaels was just giving us an update." My Dad patted my back.
"Yes, Edward your wife brought Nathan in because he had severe abdominal pain," Dr. Michaels said. I didn't correct him that Kate wasn't my wife anymore. All I heard was that my son was in pain when they brought him. "We ran some tests, did an ultrasound and all signs point to appendicitis."
I ran both hands over my face and rubbed my eyes. "Dammit." I muttered to myself. I looked back up to my Dad and Dr Michaels, "So you're taking him into surgery right? Is he being prepped right now? I don't want you wasting any time." I knew that this type of situation was serious especially since it involved Nathan.
"Yes, we've already taken him in. He's lucky the appendix hasn't ruptured but we still want to hurry and take it out as soon as possible. Your wife already signed the necessary paperwork; we should be out of surgery in about half an hour to an hour and you'll be able to see him then."
"No. I want to be in the surgery room, I've had my share of laparoscopic surgeries. I just want to supervise… or you can go in Dad. " I turned to my dad to get his input about it, he didn't look pleased.
"Edward you know that's against the rules and I can't allow it," my Dad said, "You can't be there because he's your son and I can't be there because he's my grandson, my hands are tied. I'm sorry." I knew this already but since my Dad was the one in charge around here, I figured he would let me go in. I nodded at him, resigned.
I turned to look at Dr Michaels. "Fine. But I'll need a status update immediately following the surgery." My tone was serious and I glared at him for good measure. Dr Michaels cleared his throat and glanced at my Dad looking a little nervous. He should be, that's my son he's going to perform surgery on.
"Uh…yes well he'll be alright Edward. We'll take good care of him. I'll come and get you guys when we're all done." He and my dad left and I watched as they walked through another set of double doors and left us in the hallway. I really wanted to follow them, but I knew my Dad would not appreciate me making a scene in his hospital.
Kate had composed herself somewhat but she was still hanging on to me tight. I walked us over to a small waiting room around the corner. It was empty; we took the chairs closest to the door and sat down. The chair was uncomfortable, and the room was stuffy. Not a good combination. I made a mental note to tell my dad about this. How anyone can wait in here for long periods is beyond me.
"Why didn't you tell me he was sick?" I asked as soon as we sat down. I tried to keep my anger in check for both our sakes. "This doesn't just happen out of the blue, he must have been in pain for a while. Why didn't you call me at first sign?"
"I didn't think it was such a big deal, Edward. He was just complaining of a stomachache at first but then it escalated and that's when I freaked out. I called your dad and he told me to bring him in right away...when we got here there were doctors and nurses all over him, I couldn't think. I hadn't even thought of calling you. I was just so scared and shaken up." She started to cry silently again. "He was just screaming in pain, I've never heard him cry like that. I'm so sorry, I didn't know" Tears were now running down both of our faces, our hearts in pain for our little boy. I put my arm around her and she leaned into my shoulder. I brushed off the tears that had escaped from my eyes and exhaled.
"He'll be alright, Kate. Don't worry."
That was all I could say to comfort us both. As a doctor I knew that this surgery wasn't life threatening but as a father…there was nothing anyone could say to take away the fear that something could go wrong. The weight in my chest was making it hard for me to breathe and each intake of air felt like I was closer to losing my resolve to keep it together.
Xoxoxox
"How is he?" Bella asked when she saw me come out into the main waiting area an hour later.
She knew that Nathan was in surgery. I had stepped out for a minute to let her know what was going on. She said she would wait out there for me until we got word that the surgery went well.
And it did. There were no complications. Dr Michaels came to give me the report himself. I drilled him about every detail and he appeased me. Kate and I were able to go in and see him right away thanks to my Dad. My parents came in a short while later just as Nathan was waking up.
"He's doing great, not much pain anymore. He's talking up a storm right now with Kate and my parents," I chuckled. "The doctor said we can take him home tomorrow but his recovery will take a few weeks."
"That's good. He's a strong little boy." She said as she wrapped her arms around me. I hugged her close and nuzzled her hair. She smelled amazing, a blend of vanilla and…Bella. Perfection. "I'm so glad he's okay." She breathed into my neck and placed a kiss there.
"Thanks for waiting out here, you didn't have to." I whispered into her ear and squeezed her to me.
She pulled back to look in my eyes. "I wanted to be here Edward…for you. I cannot imagine how hard this was for you and Kate. I'm glad everything went well." I leaned down and kissed her lips softly.
"Do you want to come up and see him?" I reached down to hold her hand and pleaded with my eyes for her to say yes. I knew it wasn't fair because I could never say no to Nathan when he gives me that exact same look.
She laughed and slapped my arm. "Edward! Now I know where Nathan gets it from." she giggled then put on a serious face. "But I don't think it's a good idea right now and I really need to get going. I just wanted to make sure that he was okay."
"Alright, then let me take you home." I turned to walk toward the exit but Bella stopped me.
"No. I was thinking of just calling a cab…you stay here with Nathan. He needs you by his side."
I shook my head no. "It's not a problem Bella, I still have to go home and change I'll be back later. Come on." I grabbed her hand again and led us out the door. There was no way I would let her go home alone, at this hour, in a cab.
When we got there I spent a little time getting well acquainted with her mouth again, parked in her driveway. I buried my hands in her hair and I let the feel of her lips and warm breath relax me from all that had happened tonight. I reluctantly let her go giving her one last peck on her soft lips as she giggled against my mouth. She got out of the car with a promise to call me the next day.
Xoxox
In the weeks following Nathan's surgery, Kate and I worked together to keep Nathan as comfortable as possible, each working around each other's schedule to be home with him. Most days he was irritable from being restricted from certain activities, but we managed. Bella gave me some activity sheets for him to work on from home and he turned them in to me for Miss Bella to grade. I eagerly took that time to go see her.
We've been seeing each other almost every day even if it's just for 5 minutes on some days but we talk on the phone often. She lets me vent about my day and I do the same for her. I like where the relationship has been going. We've learned a lot about each other and we enjoy each other's company. We have an unspoken rule to be exclusive now, which doesn't matter since we weren't seeing anyone else anyhow. But it's good to know where we stand. It's good to know where I stand in her life.
There are days that I scare the living shit out of myself because I am consumed by thoughts of her. It doesn't matter where I am. I can be seeing a patient, or driving home to see Nathan, or tending to his incisions, or having a late dinner with Kate, or shopping for toiletries at the market, or in the shower…or in the shower, she consumes me and I wouldn't have it any other way. But it still scares the shit out of me that I might be going insane. The best moments I've been living is when she makes me stay on the phone with her long after we've said our goodbyes…I don't hang up until I hear her soft even breathing that tells me she's finally asleep.
Some nights, I have to admit, thoughts of her make it painful for me to sleep and I have to either take a really cold shower or give myself a release—I'm becoming a pubescent boy again, much to my embarrassment.
Tonight our phone conversation was short. Bella had been busy all day with parent conferences and staff meetings, so she said she wanted to go to bed early.
"Goodnight babe, I'll see you tomorrow for lunch," I told her.
"Mhmmm…see ya tomorrow." She mumbled. I chuckled at her.
She was really tired today. I don't know how she does it with all those screaming kids. I can see she loves it every time I go see her at school and she has a smile that lights up the room. It can be total chaos in her classroom but she stays calm and collected.
Nathan's been missing the hell out of her lately too. He keeps asking us when he can go back to school so he can see Miss Bella. Or he keeps asking if Miss Bella can come to the house and sing songs with him, because apparently Kate and I don't know the moves to certain songs or the exact words the way Miss Bella does. Bella gets a kick out of imagining Nathan scolding me for not doing the right moves to I'm a Little Tea Pot.
I've been seriously considering bringing Bella to the house to visit Nathan. It's not fair to him that he's missing out on all the school activities and being with his little friends. Last week Bella had the whole class make a "get well" banner for Nathan. The kids finger painted all over it with every color imaginable. When I brought it home Nathan loved it, but when I hung it up in his room, he looked at it longingly. He said he wished he could have been there to help paint the banner too. It broke my heart. I didn't tell Bella that part, I just told her that he loved it. Kate suggested that he send a "thank you" card to the class and that got his spirits up again for a bit.
Monday morning. Hectic as always.
"Da-aaady!" This is Nathan whining all morning, because he can finally go back to school. He's been bouncing up and down from the living room to the kitchen every three minutes trying to get us to leave already. But I have some last minute paperwork to do and we still have a good half an hour before school starts. The kid needs to chill the fuck out. Yes, I know he's five. And I'm stressed.
"Nathan! Stop jumping, we talked about this."
"But my cuts don't hurt no more…" he lifts his shirt to show me the tiny incisions.
"I know but you have to take it easy, and don't let anyone touch them." Damn, maybe I should cover them up. "Alright well go grab your stuff, I'm done here."
"Yes! Finally,"…and he jumps again. "Oops sorry Daddy." I shake my head. I can't blame him for being excited, he's finally being let out of the house to go somewhere fun.
Bella is standing outside of her classroom when we arrived. I'm excited to finally see her. It's been way too long. Four days to be exact. That's a long time for me. I had to go out of town for a conference that the board was having. My Dad was going to be speaking two of the four days and I had to be there. By the time I got back last night I was beyond exhausted. And that is why I was doing paperwork this morning because now I'm all backed up…and this shit is stressing me out just thinking about it.
I pushed all those thoughts aside and focused on that beautiful woman by the door.
"Miss Bella, Miss Bella I'm here!" Nathan yelled and took off running. I was about to tell him not to run but I just shut my mouth defeated.
Bella caught him in her arms and laughed. After she greeted him, she reminded him of his rules about taking it easy. He looked down sheepishly.
"I tried to tell you little man, Miss Bella makes the rules. You have to follow them." I looked up at her and winked, she stifled a giggle. Kate and I had already spoken to Bella about the precaution we needed to take with Nathan and that was not too much physical activity for him for a little while. I can't help that I'm a doctor and a paranoid Dad. His regular pediatrician suggested the same until further notice.
"Say goodbye to your Dad and go inside to start on your activity sheet," Bella told him as she ruffled his hair.
"Be good okay…Grandma's gonna pick you up today and I'll see you when I get out of work," I kissed his forehead and he went inside.
I stood up and smiled at Bella.
I was about to say something but she spoke first. "Mr. Cullen I need to have a word with you in my office, could you please follow me." She turned and walked into her class. I looked around; no one was paying attention to us. I tried to hide my smile as I walked toward her office. I knew what she was up to.
I walked in but didn't see her right away, she closed the door as she was waiting behind it. She quickly locked it and turned around. She threw her arms around my neck catching me off guard. I held onto her hips as she attacked my lips and neck. This was new.
"I missed you so much," she mumbled into mouth. I chuckled and agreed with her, slowly pushing her back toward the door. When her back hit the door, she gently sighed. My hands went up to cup her face. I kissed her cheek, the left then the right, her nose, her eyelids. My hand tangled into her hair and I kissed her jaw and down her neck. She leaned her head to give me better access to the crook of her neck. She smelled heavenly and hummed her appreciation when I nipped her neck.
"Remind me to go away more often." I mumbled into her neck, "If this is the kind of welcome I get." I went back to kissing her neck, she pulled me back to her lips. I softly stroked her tongue with mine and we moaned into each other's mouths. She pulled away to catch her breath, too soon for my liking. I could kiss her all day.
"We can't…you know…here. I have to start my class soon." I could see the desire in her eyes and I know she felt mine.
I kissed her again and reluctantly pulled away to look at her. "It's okay maybe another time…" I grinned at her and wiggled my eyebrows. She gasped in mock horror and punched my arm playfully.
She smirked and pulled on the collar of my shirt to bring me closer to her face, her hips pressed dangerously into me. "Maybe." She kissed the tip of my nose and with both hands pushed me away. "I have to get to my class Mr. Cullen; it was nice chatting with you."
Inconspicuously, I adjusted myself before I turned around but she was already smirking at me.
"See you later on tonight?" I asked. I wanted to make sure we were going pick up where we left off later on. I really didn't want another date with my hand.
She nodded, biting her lip. She walked over to the door and opened it. She paused before she stepped out to look back at me again. "Edward, I don't ever want to wait that long to see you again…because I can't promise I won't hold back next time." She winked and walked out the door. I groaned and had to wait a minute before walking out too.
I looked at my watch—I was late. "Shit." I cursed and I heard a whole bunch of tiny gasps. I looked up and Bella was covering her mouth, trying not to laugh. The kids were all staring at me like I was in trouble.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a quarter. I walked over to Bella and handed it to her.
"Guess I owe you a quarter for cursing." All the kids giggled and she smiled at me.
"Thank you Mr. Cullen for being an example to the class." I said goodbye and I got dirty looks from parents as I walked out. Did they not see me hand over the damn quarter!
This is gonna be a long fucking day…and I have blue balls.
Thank you, Bella.
Thanks for reading guys.
RL has been a total pain in the ass, but i'm back to my story. i havent given up on it.
Thanks for your reviews, alerts and favs.
-MEL
RECS:
Check out the following if you haven't already...i admit, that they've taken up my time from writing. sorry!
*Fridays at Noon
Edward Masen's life intersects with Bella's at the restaurant he dines at for lunch every Friday. He's handsome, arrogant, and is used to avoiding love. She isn't impressed by the things that usually have women falling at his feet.
www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6453369/1/Fridays_at_Noon
*An Undefined Affair
Bella, recovering from a broken heart, meets Edward, who isolates himself emotionally. Their attraction is immediate, but can they be friends and lovers - without the love? lemony goodness.
www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6009627/1/An_Undefined_Affair
*Cullen's Anatomy
Bella is a down on her luck single mom whose son has a severe medical condition. Edward is a medical student whose ethic project is to help Bella and her son find medical care. Neither are too happy with the arrangement and can they work together?
www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6924081/1/Cullens_Anatomy
*My Facebook Reunion
28 year old English teacher, Bella Swan is dreading being dragged to her 10 year reunion with Alice; until a certain social networking site offers her a very welcome blast from the past...
www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6291957/1/My_Facebook_Reunion
...and i can't remember any others right now besides the ones I have on PDF.
