Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight, and no copyright infringement is intended. The original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story is owned by FrEeZeGiRL8000 (2010).

Decisions

'Half the promises people say were never kept, were never made.' - Edgar Watson Howe

EPOV

I was going insane.

Even though I knew what I did was not reasonable, I did not realize Bella's response would change me more than I thought possible. All I could do now was hope to the heavens that Bella would let me back into her heart when I got home.

I sighed as I watched the sky darken and felt the weather become colder around me A few weeks ago; I had been promoted and was able to perform my first surgery on a sick patient. Instead of working eighteen hours a day, I only had to do ten.

It was better really – the rest of the day I could be spending my free time learning Swahili if I wanted, but all I thought about was Bella. I thought about Bella a lot. I still couldn't find a way to make it up to her and more importantly, to win her back. I didn't know where she was, or if she was still friends with Alice. I knew my prolonged stay had impacted both my family and her. I probably needed to get home to find out just how much.

One month was long.

There were a couple of days where I didn't have to perform surgery, and I would simply stay indoors to write something or talk to other college guys. I knew exactly how pathetic they thought I was; that I was always indoors doing nothing.

I completely understood why Bella wanted to end our relationship because of her own reasons, but I knew for a fact that she was scared shitless. However, I wasn't going to push it when I got home because respecting her decisions was more important.

A chill ran down my spine as I thought of what Tanya and Jessica were doing right now. Could they be trying to find Bella in order to harass her? Was it possible that, after noticing my long absence, they decided to taunt and criticize her? Suddenly I was filled with a need to just talk to her. Just to hear her voice.

I stood up and ran into the main office and asked for the phone.

The young receptionist smiled at me flirtatiously and I wanted to roll my eyes. Was she fucking kidding me?

"Phone calls only restricted for family purposes," she said, handing me the cordless phone.

I nodded. "Sure thing. Mind if I take this call outside?"

"No problems."

I walked out quickly and shut the door behind me, pondering who to call.

Would Bella be with Alice right now?

Or should I ask Carlisle for either of their whereabouts?

I pushed Alice's number into the phone and waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?" Alice brightly chirped into the phone. I wondered what she would sound like if she knew this was her brother – the one who missed her wedding.

"Hi," I took a deep breath and answered, letting my voice sink in and waiting for the explosion on the other side of the phone.

Instead, I was met with a strangled cry.

"Alice?" I asked. "What's wrong?"

"When the hell are you coming back, Edward?" Alice asked miserably.

I gulped. "Just two more weeks left."

"And then you promise you'll be home?" Alice asked skeptically. "No more extension or anything?"

"Yes, Alice. I promise I'll be home in two weeks."

"Ok-ay then. Bye then?" she asked with uncertainty in her voice.

"No!" Words rushed out of my mouth before I could even process what I wanted to say. "Alice, I need to talk to Bella. It's really urgent, I mean…I mean, with you know, everything that has gone wrong these past couple of months. Do you know where she is?" I asked desperately.

There was silence on the other side of the phone.

An uneasy feeling settled on my stomach, and I had a sudden urge to vomit. "Alice, where's Bella?"

She sighed. "I guess she's in the library right now studying for an exam or something."

"Are you sure? Then why can't I talk to her?" I demanded. What the fuck was wrong with Alice, and why did I have the feeling she's telling a lie?

"Look," she said, "I really have to go now – I…I have a date with Jasper tonight."

"Where are you?"

"In New Jersey. You see, I applied for a job at a fashion agency in New York and I got accepted but Jasper decided to visit Bella with me this week."

I growled in frustration. "Then why can't I talk to Bella?" I argued again.

This time, it took Alice a little longer to reply. "I-I don't know…I mean, I don't know if she would want to be interrupted right now. Finals…you know. They aren't that easy to pass."

"Fuck that shit, Alice. You know exactly why and that's all I'm asking for. I'm her boyfriend, and all I want to do is talk to her. Is that so bad?"

Alice laughed coldly. "I don't think so, Edward. I'm not sure who fucked it up a few months ago but I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to talk to you right now."

"Alice," I warned.

There was a muffled cough on the other side of the phone and then Alice hung up.

Fuck.

I slammed the reception door open and handed back the phone.

"Have a nice night, Edward," the girl behind the counter said.

"Sure," I muttered.

I did not expect this. Was Alice setting me up? Or did Bella really not want to talk to me? My body shook as I imagined her tear-stained face the last time I had spoken to her on the phone.

She didn't say she loved me. It was an irrational thought, but I started to wonder if she had already decided this wouldn't work out.

I thought back to that painful night in the Princeton gardens.

I'm proud of you for achieving this, she had said.

Two more weeks, I reminded myself.

Bella and I had come so far. We both had hopes and aspirations, dreams and desires, and now I felt like everything around me was being destroyed in some cataclysmic mishap.

I felt sick and decided to skip dinner.

My stomach would have to wait. I needed to get my brain working and thinking properly before I did anything else.

"Edward?" I felt Dr. Snow nearing me and I opened my eyes in an instant, though blinded by the sunlight the next second. "Are you alright?"

I sat up and ran my hand through my hair. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. What time is it?"

"Eight o'clock, son. Look, I know you're having a hard time right now but I want to remind you that there are only two weeks left. Then you'll be able to leave this place and things can go back to normal."

He left the room as I got changed quickly into my scrubs and walked into the dining room where everyone was currently having breakfast.

Suddenly, the receptionist from yesterday came running towards me and I realized something was wrong.

"Urgent phone call for you, Mr Cullen," she panted out.

I sprinted into the reception and grabbed the phone on the desk, running back into my cabin.

"Hello?" I asked as a wave of nausea rushed through me.

"It's Alice," I heard my sister sob.

I stood up straight. "What's wrong, Alice?"

"It's Bella."

My stomach dropped.

"Don't mess with me, Alice. What…what happened to Bella? Is she hurt?" I asked frantically.

"Bella's in the hospital. We're still waiting on word of the damages, so I can't promise anything about her present condition. I let this go on for too long now. Oh my God, I'm so, so sorry, Edward!" Alice sobbed.

My stomach churned and my head was spinning. Bella was hurt? She was in the hospital, probably in surgery right now?

"When did this happen?" I was going to explode. I couldn't stay here, not knowing anything, not able to do anything.

"Before we spoke on the phone yesterday," she whispered.

I clenched my teeth in frustration and felt tears prick in my eyes. I blinked them away furiously.

"And why didn't you tell me?" I breathed in deeply before letting my control slip. "Why didn't you say anything at all?"

"I was in shock, Edward! I didn't know how to tell you, but I knew I had to because…" Alice wailed.

"Because she has gotten worse," I finished for her.

I could hear Alice crying on the other side of the phone. "What happened?"

"We were out having a drink at night and she started to vomit. I thought it was because she had too much to drink and was drunk but Angela thought that was ridiculous and wanted Bella to go to the hospital. By then, Bella had passed out and we were all getting a little worried."

"What was wrong with her? Did the doctors find out?" I asked desperately, hating the fact that I couldn't go there myself.

"Yes. After the scan, they found out there was a major bleed in her brain and they had to shave off half her hair for surgery because it was urgent."

"Get me a plane ticket," I ordered emotionlessly. "I need one right now."

"Come back, Edward. Please!" she begged.

"I WILL!" I roared in aggravation. "Why don't you just fucking tell me what it is she has?"

"It's AVM, Edward," Alice said quietly.

I felt like I was going to fall apart. I knew exactly what AVM was and how life-changing the effects can be. But I also knew that one third of the people who suffered the disease wouldn't survive, and one third of them would have significant brain damage, and that the rest were lucky.

I felt annoyed that I hadn't noticed anything, but it really was impossible to know. The birth mark must've been located on her scalp, I thought.

I was angry with Alice for not telling me the truth. I was angry that I was stuck in this situation on the other side of the world. I was angry that Bella – Bella, the most important person in my life, was probably in a very poor state right now. I wasn't there right now to offer her comfort and peace, or at the very least, someone to reassure that everything was going to work out alright.

Someone placed a hand on my shoulder and took the phone off me as my body shook, tears now blurring my sight.

"Hello, this is Dr Snow speaking…"

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts out.

I imagined Bella…shocked, in excruciating pain…her beautiful face scarred and her hair matted with blood.

"Yes, he'll be able to go immediately," Dr Snow responded to Alice.

Yes, it was really that serious.

I bounced my leg lightly as the plane finally began to descend after a tiring fourteen hour flight. The old man next to me shot me an irritating look and I stopped my movements, muttering my apologies.

Finishing the check out process, I breathed a sigh of relief and called Alice.

"Edward?"

"Alice, I just landed in Newark. What the hell do I do now?" I hated to rely on Alice on these things but to be very honest, I had no idea where the fuck I was.

"Okay. Just take the next airport shuttle to the Princeton stop. Then…I think I may be able to pick you up from there, but you gotta call me first, got that? I have a tight schedule today."

The way she had said her sentence made me think she was with Bella, or at least, thinking about her.

"Is…is Bella able to talk yet?" I stuttered out, feeling like the biggest douche of a boyfriend.

Alice sighed. "Not really. You know just little mumbles and stuff. She sleep talks."

I smiled despite the weight on my heart. "I know."

"Well then, I'll see you soon," Alice said softly.

"See you."

I could feel eyes on my back as I stuffed my phone in my luggage and headed towards the gate. Feeling a little sick, I turned my head and realized I had been cornered.

"Edward, how pleasant it is to see you here," James said, stretching the word and smirking at me.

I felt a cold chill run down my back and shuddered inwardly.

"Nice to see you, too," I replied, trying not to squeak even though I was scared shitless.

James had never forgiven my father for not accepting the invitation to work in Aro's hospital and had tried many times to corner him.

"I think it's time for us to have a little chat, don't you think?" James asked, staring at my frozen state. "I just recently heard that Little Eddie has made his father proud by working for the AMREF. Is that right?"

I clenched my teeth. "I can't. I have to leave right now. There's a shuttle waiting for me."

James laughed coldly and I wanted to run away, only to find out that my feet would not cooperate with me at all. "Aro," he called.

I gasped and turned to find him standing behind me.

"Hello, Edward. I believe we have not had the chance to meet but this is the perfect opportunity," Aro looked me up and down and I felt anger coursing through my body.

"Why don't we take this meeting of yours to a safer place? There are people staring at us."

"Of course."

A plan formulated in my head quickly, thinking the quickest way to dispose of these two men were to hide in the toilets. I knew there were three exits, which would mean the harder to corner me again.

"May I?" I asked politely, pointing to the washroom.

"We'll wait right here."

I grabbed my luggage with me, and headed in, feeling my heart beat fast and hard in my chest.

Deciding I would use the furthest exit, I headed out, only to find Aro standing there.

"No running away, little boy. We know Daddy dearest must've taught you all these dirty tricks but they aren't going to work on me." Aro smirked at my horrified expression.

"Follow me," he said icily.

I didn't know what to do or what I did to end up in his position. Why me? What had I done now? I had a girl who was waiting for me in pain at the hospital. A girl who meant everything to me, and everything to my family, who recently had brain surgery. What if she didn't remember me? Would that hurt me the most, or her? I wasn't sure.

I felt tears prick my eyes and I refused to let them fall, even when they were burning and blinding me.

We pulled up to Aro's grand house and I felt bile rise up my throat. Alice was going to be worried by now.

"Please sit down," James said kindly, offering me the sofa.

"Aro and I were wondering if this was the best way to do this- talking like old friends, where everyone could be very comfortable," he said softly.

"What do you want?" I snarled, standing my ground. "Don't fuck with me."

Aro gasped theatrically. "Oh Edward! I'm sure Daddy would be very disappointed with you for saying such a rude word."

"Don't," I emphasized. "Do not fuck around with me. What the fuck do you want?"

"Edward, calm down. Settle down. I want to connect with you and see just how much you are like my old friend, Carlisle."

I glared at Aro. "He's not your friend. Frankly, he never even fucking mentioned you and that's because he knows that deep inside you are a fraud, not to mention a dick."

James sighed. "Edward, please. We're not going to bite you. Just sit down, and have a cup of tea. Relax."

I clenched my fingers tightly into a ball by my side. "I can't. I'm supposed to be somewhere else right now."

"Why don't you tell us, and we'll help you get there."

"FUCK YOU!" I roared, losing my patience. "None of you have any idea what I'm feeling right now so just shut up and let me go! I need to go somewhere important right now!"

"Oh, we know that," Aro sneered. "Dr. Snow mentioned that you had to leave two weeks early instead of completing your course."

Dr Snow told them? I thought angrily. What the fuck now?

"Let me out," I insisted.

I ran to the door and found the door locked.

With a horrifying thought, I realized the room was locked inside out.

I was stuck.

I was held prisoner here. There was no way Aro was going to let me go. He was the hunter; I was his prey.

"Not so fast, young Edward," a deeper voice said. Caius, I realized.

"Let me out," I begged. "Tell me what you want from me and let me out."

"That's what I was going to tell you before you bolted, Edward," Aro said with James by his side.

"What we want, Edward is for you to persuade your father to work for me. His medical research and talent is exactly what I want."

I was already shaking my head before he finished.

"No," I said, breathing hard. "Anything else. I'll give you anything. Anything at all."

"Well, that is a disappointment but we would like to discuss alone for a few minutes."

I nodded and wished I had my phone on me. I realized it was in the car, along with my luggage.

Fuck.

I didn't know how so many things in my life could be able to fuck up so quickly.

My thoughts drifted to Bella, the one person who held my heart in her hands, and who would be able to do whatever she wished to it. If she let me go, I would have to let her go. If she wanted me, then I would spend the rest of my life making it up to her, trying my best to make her happy.

I sat on the couch and rested my head on the soft material, the leather sighing underneath me. I was both physically and emotionally drained and before I knew it, I had let the blackness engulf me.

The last thing I had on my mind before I let go was Bella.

"Edward!"

Somebody shook me roughly by the shoulders and I woke with a start.

"The decision took several hours," James explained. "As you know, we needed all members of the Volturi before the decision is final."

I looked over James' shoulder and saw Marcus looking bored, picking at the scruffs of his sleeves.

Aro smiled coldly.

"We have come to a decision, Edward."

"What is it?" I whispered, not trusting my voice.

The Volturi can smell fear.

"We just want the girl. Isabella Swan."

My heart stopped beating.

"Take me, then. Anything but her," I said, because I knew in my heart I would do anything to keep my girl safe. Even if it were to keep me from seeing her ever again.

Aro gloated and walked over to me.

"I'll be honored to have you, Edward."

BPOV

Everything was in the dark. I couldn't pinpoint anything. I couldn't locate sound, sight, or even feel anything.

Where was I?

I gasped as I saw a glimpse of light.

"Alice?" I croaked. "Where am I?"

Alice shook her head and I saw a tear slip from under her closed eyes.

"It's Edward, honey."

I attempted to sit up but the machines around me kept me still.

"He's gone."

Thank you to the people over at PTB, especially Brits23 and ladyglaukopis for all their support and help.

A/N Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between veins and arteries, which is usually life threatening. However it isn't in Bella's case as only one in three people have a chance in surviving.

And yes, this part is based on something I have experienced so that is why I decided to write about this.

Thanks to all the readers and reviewers. You have all made my day.

xx