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).

What Can't be Broken

'All sanity depends on this: that it should be a delight to feel heat strike the skin, a delight to stand upright, knowing the bones are moving easily under the flesh.' - Doris Lessing

BPOV

Everything was in the dark. It was the deepest, darkest black; endless black. There was nothing to light my way. I couldn't see, hear, or feel anything; all emotion had disappeared.

What was wrong with me?

I felt a soft pressure on my forehead. Someone was touching me.

My eyes fluttered open and widened in shock.

I couldn't believe it was him I was seeing.

"E-edward?" I asked, unable to stop the tears from forming. My vision blurred and the startling green eyes disappeared. I blinked to dispel the tears. I wanted to reach out for him – to hold him and tell him everything; but I couldn't. I was sick and had to learn everything again. Would he be willing to wait for me to recover?

Edward smiled gently.

"Hey," he said, taking in my awful appearance. This wasn't how our reunion should be like; it wasn't how I pictured it to be. I shouldn't be in this hospital; I should've been at the airport, waiting for him and hurtling myself at him the moment he came through security.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked, his hands hovering around helplessly around me.

I was at a loss for words; I didn't know what to say. A thousand questions bubbled up to the tip of my tongue but I just stared at him like a dumb idiot. God, I missed him so much.

I heard him mutter something, but I couldn't place it so I just gave him a small smile and told him what my heart wanted to, "I-I'm so h-happy to s-see you."

He gave me a small smile and I felt my heart stutter a little. "I'm so glad to see you again, too."

I stared at him and he stared back. I'd only spoken to him on the phone once during the unbearable ten months and I was so afraid that he had come back changed.

"S-so," I gulped; disappointed that he hadn't said anything else. "H-how are y-you?"

Edward sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. I was so glad at least that hadn't changed.

"I've been so miserable, Bella. Those people I treated were so sick and I didn't know what to do half the time I was there. Ben was only there for a short time and I was on my own for the rest.

"I learnt how to speak a little of Swahili but it wasn't really necessary – I was pleasantly surprised that most of them knew at least a little English; it made helping and treating them a lot easier. I've met so many wonderful people over there and built so many friendships. The two families I was familiar with treating are like a family to me; it was just so hard to say good bye. The food was some crappy shit though. Every night it was the same thing, just mash potato and gravy, with some celery and carrots."

He took a deep breath after his long ramble, but I was honestly interested. I was happy that he had enjoyed himself over there and that nothing bad had happened to him. With the exception of his encounter with Aro.

"Th..that's great," I said, smiling weakly.

Edward looked down at his hands, and the tension in the room became so awkward I almost wanted to burst out laughing.

"So…what about you?" Edward asked cautiously.

I shrugged. "I-I've been g-good."

He nodded. "That's good."

I sat up, noticing that he hadn't bothered to make eye contact with me.

"W-what's w-wrong?" I asked. My heart felt heavy and I felt like I was going to be sick.

Edward looked back up and I gasped; there were tears in his eyes.

"I missed you so much, Bella. I don't know what to do now, I feel like I've fucked up the best thing that in my life."

"I-I…" I swallowed, but my tongue was playing with me again. My brain felt like crap. I'd never felt this restricted before. I had so much to tell him, so much to explain, but my speech was limiting and I wanted to cry.

"Bella," Edward whispered, leaning over to me to wipe my tears. "It's okay. I'm here. Everything will be fine now. You don't have to worry about anything."

"W-w…" I attempted again, "will y-you w-wait for m-me to get b-better?"

The look on Edward's face was one of pure hurt and pain. "Of course I will. I'll wait forever if that's what it takes. I'm here now and I'm going to help you with whatever you need. I won't leave you again," he vowed, his voice sincere.

"W-what about c-college?" I asked, confused. Surely he still had one more year to go, right?

He shook his head. "Bella," he said firmly. "You're what's more important. Now that I'm back with you, I'm never going to let you go again."

Before I could respond, he leaned over and pressed his lips softly onto mine.

"I love you, Bella," he breathed. "I love you so much."

I was crying openly now and tears were streaming down my cheeks. "I-I love you t-too, Edward. I-I always have."

"I…uh…kind of have something for you," he said awkwardly. "I was hoping that you'd be able to come home with me. I'm sure everyone has missed you and Esme's just dying to know how you are."

I looked at him with confusion. "B-but the d-doctors..."

"Carlisle spoke with them, and as long as you keep going to therapy, you can leave whenever. Look," he nodded at the machines that once were attached to me, "the doctors have disconnected it since you seemed fine when you woke up."

Edward held out his hand and gently grasped mine. I grasped onto his tightly and stood up.

"W-wow," I said. This was going to be difficult; and humiliating.

"Bella, don't worry. I'm here and I'll do anything to help you. Just hold onto me tightly and you'll be fine," he said, "I won't ever let you fall."

We made our way to the car park, and I was surprised to see Alice's car waiting.

Edward helped me into the car, his hand outstretched in case I stumbled and fell.

"Hey, Bella," Alice greeted me. "How are you feeling today?"

"I-I'm okay. J-just a little t-tired," I said, unable to stop the stuttering.

"Don't worry, Bella. Once we get home, you can have a shower, and then you can rest," Edward said gently, caressing my face gently. "Everything will be fine."

"Bella; do you want to go somewhere to celebrate Edward coming back?" Alice asked. "Like a restaurant or something?"

Edward glared at her. "Alice."

She looked back at him innocently. "What? This is important!"

"She's sick, Alice. I don't think…" he trailed off, looking down at me.

I shook my head. "S-sure, Alice. But w-where?"

Alice winked at me. "It's a surprise."

Edward and I groaned at the same time.

I hated surprises.

He held out his hand as we got out of the car. We were at Alice's apartment, and I knew she would never live anywhere near the ground floor. "The scenery and view are important! They inspire me!" she had once said.

"What level?" I heard Edward sigh. "Why do you want to rent a place so inconvenient?"

Alice looked at me apologetically and shrugged. "I don't know. There's a lift somewhere."

"T-thanks," I said gratefully. At least I didn't need to climb the hazardous stairs.

Alice's floor was huge. There were three bedrooms and a kitchen, and two bathrooms; it was like a house.

"Do you want a tour?" Alice asked excitedly.

"I don't think so, Alice. She's obviously tired. I'm going to get Bella into the bathroom for a shower, okay? And then she's going to go to bed," Edward said, but looking at Alice's crestfallen face, he added, "If she's up to it, tomorrow's yours. We've got time."

Edward got the bath started and helped me undress.

"Are you okay, Bella?" he asked, concerned. "Are you hurting anywhere?"

I shook my head. "N-no."

I suddenly felt self-conscious being naked in front of him, especially with my hair all gone.

"Oh, Bella," he sighed, pulling me against him tightly. "I missed you so, so much."

"M-me too."

Edward let me go and stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking awkward. "I'll…I'll stay here if you want. Just tell me if you need anything."

I nodded.

The bath was warm but I was already clean, have being showered by the nurse earlier on, so I just played with the bubbles until the water got cold. There was something off with Edward – I could feel that. I could feel there was something brewing under his mask, and I wasn't sure if it was a good feeling. I didn't know if he really did feel the same way anymore. After all, it had been a long ten months, and in my case – an excruciating ten months.

Edward helped me out of the bath. He wrapped a towel around my trembling body and we walked into the spare room in silence.

After I got changed, I opened the door to let Edward in again. My heart was pounding fast and my stomach was feeling uneasy, but I felt braver than I ever did in my life.

"D-do you," I gulped. "D-do you th-think I-I'm ugly now?"

He turned towards me and stared into my eyes. "I see nothing but perfection when I look at you. I've never seen anything more beautiful than you."

"S-so do y-you?" I asked, praying that he knew what I meant.

He furrowed his eyebrows and stared at me, confused. "What?"

"L-love me."

He looked at me, appalled. "Bella, how can you ever think otherwise? Of course I love you. I love you so much."

"R-really?" I couldn't believe it. He loved me still – even after months of waiting.

He looked at me seriously. "Bella, I love you because of who you are. You have the most beautiful soul and heart in the world. Anyone would be crazy to let you go."

"B-but I'm s-sick. I-I'm not n-normal," I stuttered out. Edward deserved someone who was as amazing as he was, as bright as he was. I didn't want to feel like a charity case.

Suddenly, Edward's lips crushed to mine and I whimpered slightly.

"Don't you ever feel any less, Bella. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You're smart and beautiful, and you care about me – what more could I ask for?"

He paused and moved towards the centre of the bed, patting the spot next to him. I crawled over and he wrapped his arms around me.

"Bella," he sighed. 'You've never seen yourself clearly. I've only ever been happy when I'm around you. When I left for Uganda, I felt like my heart was ripping into pieces. I didn't want to spend half a year without you, not to mention Christmas. Even when I started to make friends over there, I always felt so alone. It wasn't until I finally reached your bedside that I had finally felt whole. You're my best friend and the love of my life. I could never want anything more.

"When Alice called me about your incident, I almost fell to pieces. I literally had to beg her to organize a plane ticket for me to see you immediately. I didn't want you to be alone, so sick and weak, in the hospital without me. I knew in my heart that when I came back to see you, I could make you whole again. Don't let this disease stop you from what you've been doing.

When I heard about your graduation, I was filled with pride. I knew you could do it. You're brilliant in every single way. I…and I have something I want to give you," Edward added, sounding unsure.

I was so stunned that I could not make my mouth move to form even a word.

"I-I love you, Edward."

"I know," he said simply.

He slid off the bed, and I began to open my mouth to ask him where he was going but he just smiled.

"Just a sec, Bella; I want to give you something."

I fiddled with the bed sheets until I felt a tug. I looked up to see Edward smiling crookedly with a thick parcel-like package in his hands.

I reached out hesitantly for it and untied the strings.

"They're…they're just letters I've written to you about my time while working in Africa. Some are…well, I guess I'll let you see yourself," he said sheepishly.

I realized that there was no way I could make it through all of them tonight. There must be a thousand letters – it was almost insane how many letters there were. I picked up gingerly and saw his elegant scrawl. I took a deep breath and flipped it open gently. I let out my breath and began to read.

Dearest Bella

This will be my last letter to you before I finally see you again. You must know how excited I am for that. I have missed you tremendously. I miss your beautiful smile. I miss your funny and sarcastic remarks. I miss the electricity which appears when we're close. I miss everything about you.

These ten months has been pure torture – to not be able to hold you, kiss you, touch you, and to tell you I love you. I love you so much with every single cell in my body.

Even though I have never regretted my decision to visit Uganda, I knew from the start that I have made some significant sacrifices. I could never forget the hurt and disappointment in your eyes when I told you I had to leave you when we had only begun our relationship. It was like a rocky and steep road – just one mistake and it could've been the end of us.

I was appalled when I heard about your illness. I knew that if I were on the same continent as you were, I would've been by your side in an instant.

But I promise you this, Bella – I will never leave your side again.

I will prove to you that everything between us was magical, and it will continue to be.

Your parents would be so proud of you and your achievements, as am I.

I love you. Always and forever.

Edward Cullen

March 10

I traced my fingers over his words. The tears which had formed in my eyes had spilled over as I finished the note. He had written that note on the plane – just before he unknowingly got into Aro's snare. It was also that night I made myself realize that I may never see him again.

I felt Edward's fingers gently wiping my tears away as I continued to sift through the bag, reading note after note, letter after letter. Some were simply about hoping that I would still want to be with him after all he had put me through, but it was the ones in which he had poured out all the inner turmoil he was feeling and all his frustration and emotions, that made me realize how it really was like for him. They were all so heartbreaking and sad; each was filled with hope and despair.

There was one day that had been unsettling both him and me. It was the day he was told that he had to stay an extra four months. That day, he had written ten notes and one letter; each piece was filled with more anguish and hope than I could ever imagine. The pain that coursed through me as I read the letter was unnerving. I could tell what he was feeling; hope, longing, hopelessness, and desperation. I felt guiltier than ever for letting those words out of my mouth – the words I had uttered despite the screams from my body to stop. "I have to," I had told him.

I looked over to find Edward with his head in his hands over by the side. He was no longer touching me, looking over my shoulder, seeing my reaction to the words he had so desperately written.

Suddenly, the doubts I ever had about his sincerity in anything he had ever said to me completely vanished.

I crawled over to him as quickly as I could and forced his eyes to look into mine.

"You're a-amazing," I said, with tears streaming down my cheeks again.

He clutched himself to me tightly, and I wrapped my arms around him and held him close, my tears staining his clean t-shirt.

"I could've lost you," he croaked out, gripping me so tight it was almost hard to breathe. "I almost lost you twice. I don't want to lose you, ever."

I wanted to tell him that he would never lose me. It was impossible. I always knew that no matter what we would ever have to go through, I would always come back for him, and likewise. He was the only light in my dark and dim life.

And I knew that I couldn't live the rest of my life without him somewhere in my world.

"I love you," I said.

He stopped his movements, shocked. It was the first time I had uttered a line without stuttering.

"I love you, too," he whispered as he lowered himself down on me and his hands caressed my face gently. He brushed away my tears and gazed into my eyes; the green meeting the brown.

This was how it was meant to be. We were meant to be together.

I slid his pants down slowly as his hand made its way up my shirt. He undid my shorts and tugged them down.

"Are you sure, Bella?" he asked, looking down at me. "God, I want to but…"

"I'm r-ready," I whispered.

He linked his fingers with mine and leaned down to kiss me gently. I could feel his entire length pressed against me and we both let out simultaneous soft moans of pleasure. His hands cradled my face gently. "You're so beautiful, baby," he said softly as he began to press into me. Once he was fully in, he remained absolutely still until the pain subsided; it had been too long.

"K-kiss me," I whispered faintly as I ran my hands across his chest.

Edward slowly brushed his trembling lips against mine as I pulled him down closer to kiss him passionately. He began to move inside me and the pain and burning had now subsided. I remembered all this. I remembered how it felt when Edward was moving inside me. The room was filled with our soft moans.

I traced my fingers through his hair, and down to his neck. I could feel the tension building inside me and I whimpered. He trailed his hands across my ribs to the side of my breast and down to my hips. His hand moved to the calf of my leg and hitched it over his hip. His thrusts began to intensify and our heavy breathing filled the room.

"E-edward," I said breathlessly. "I'm so c-close. I want to f-f-feel you come inside me."

"Bella," Edward moaned.

I felt his pulse inside of me and heat immediately flushed through my entire body.

"Bella!" he panted. He groaned into my neck as my muscles tightened around him.

I felt our bodies trembling together and I realized there was nothing more I wanted right now.

He rolled off me slowly and kept me firmly by his side, caressing my face as we stared at each other. He kissed my forehead, the tip of my nose, and finally my lips.

He pulled the white blanket over our bodies and I sighed with happiness.

"This is how I imagined our future," he said. "I want to wake up every morning to find you next to me, and fall asleep every night with you by my side."

I was always one who didn't want to think about the future but the way Edward said it, it made me feel that it could be reality – that hopefully, it would be reality.

"I-I know," I whispered softly. "I w-want it t-t-too."

EPOV

I was happier than ever, lying in bed with Bella in my arms.

In the past year, we had emotionally endured more than what all our friends had experienced. It brought us closer than ever. With each fight, tear, and obstacle we experience, we grew stronger and would continue to be. It made me feel certain that whatever life threw at us, we would be able to survive it all.

It was our love which couldn't be broken. It was the bond between us.

And I wanted it to stay like this forever.

A massive thank you to the guys over at PTB especially to Aleisha and itsange.

Thank you to all the readers and reviewers who have stuck by me for so long.

There is only one more chapter left, and then an epilogue.

I may do some outtakes if anyone requests one.

Please review and tell me if you do.