Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, but not Merged Souls
Author's Note: I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Pienuniek who pushed me to try again!
Chapter 3
CarPOV
Bella and Charlie both made it to the ER but were in critical condition, at least they were when we left their backyard. Charlie was unconscious his vital signs were erratic and he'd lost a lot of blood. He'd suffered lacerations from Jacob's claws and there was massive internal bleeding from blunt force trauma caused by landing on the hard packed earth after being launched into the air during Jacob's transformation. He needed surgery and he needed it now.
Right now I was rather ambivalent towards Charlie. I really didn't care much about what happened to him. But for Bella's sake I would make sure that the Chief made it and then we would have words.
Alice had kept us informed of how Charlie had favoured Jacob and what he had hoped would happen once Edward had left. I still didn't understand how a parent could ignore the kind of pain that Bella was going through. How could he not see how deep her feelings were for my son? My son, the pig headed, minding reading, know it all had really screwed up this time and he had a lot to answer for. I understood his fears but I didn't support his actions.
But maybe I wasn't any better than Charlie. Though I didn't ignore Edward's pain I didn't do much to prevent him from leaving either. Esme and I had agreed that he needed to leave in order to see what he was giving up. I know it sounds like bullshit but sometimes you have to experience the pain of loss to understand how much that loss meant to you. Okay so that's the psycho babble I used to justify my inaction. Edward was determined to leave and there was little we could have done to stop him. Instead we stayed to watch over Bella and as Alice said to nag his emo ass to come home.
I had to chuckle at the ladies in my family and that includes Bella. Their campaign of threatening, cajoling and just informing Edward of his general stupidity through texts, and voice mails was brilliant. And I gladly played my part by continuing to pay his cell phone bill which was astronomical. Bella approved of the campaign but didn't participate and she never asked if he responded. And thank god for that because he never did respond, not once. He was totally silent.
Strange as it may seem it was Jasper that had originally insisted that we stay and watch over Bella. He felt responsible for Edward leaving because of the bite he tried to take out of Bella on her last birthday. Bella had never blamed him, she said that Edward had only used it as an excuse to leave. Perhaps she was right Edward had been alone for so long he didn't know how to deal with their relationship especially with how fast it was moving so he panicked. They had both fallen hard and fast but they were deeply in love and they were the best thing that ever happened to each other.
Jasper knew that Edward wouldn't be able to stay away forever and he was bound and determined that Bella would be here, safe and sound when he did. To that end he and Emmett took a different approach, they had traced his location in Rio de Janerio Brazil, after he had responded by letter to a tearful voice mail message left by Esme. So it would seem he was listening just not responding. Jasper was ready to give him another month and then he and Emmett were going after him. Until then they harassed him with letters, which he must have been getting since none of them ever came back undelivered.
I looked down at our Bella worried about her condition and musing about what had led us to the events of today. She was so still, almost vampire like except for the very slight rise and fall of her chest. It was a particularly unnatural stillness for a human. But now I had to decide who should come first I couldn't care for them both at the same time. Tom Stanley was the general surgeon on call tonight. He was good man and though I would have preferred to operate on Charlie myself I couldn't be in two places at the same time. Bella had to be my priority, in my heart she was already my daughter just as much as she was Charlie's. Besides I know that Charlie would want me to focus on Bella. And more importantly this is what Edward would want. I had the ER nurse page Tom and I filled him in on what I suspected was going on with Charlie. I promised to notify the on call OR team, so they could set up and he could just walk in, scrub and get down to business. Tom asked what had happened I told him we wouldn't be sure until both patients woke up, but I had to give him something when he got here. I needed a cover story.
I hate to say this but everyone in my family is a consummate liar and Alice excels at it. Her visions often help us determine the best lie to tell, so I called her into the exam room while Charlie was having X-Rays done. "Alice my dear I need a cover story to give Charlie's surgeon for the injuries he sustained." She opened her mouth and looked aghast. "Alice, I can't care for them both at the same time I had to choose. So what should I tell Tom, he'll be here in 10 minutes and I need a plausible story!" Alice looked around the room like she was expecting someone to eavesdrop but we were alone.
Alice spoke only loud enough for me and the other vampires to hear, "Honestly Carlisle I've got nothing... how about an animal attack! It's been a sufficient excuse in the past, and then you could tie in Bella's fall from the window as a result of shock when she saw her Dad being attacked in their yard. Say...by a large timber wolf." It wasn't the best story and was thin on details but in the mean time if I needed to I could always 'dazzle' Tom. Bella would really get a kick out of that, she always accused Edward of dazzling her. I just pray that he gets the chance to do so again. I sighed and looked towards the stretcher that held Bella and prayed..."Please come home son, she needs you."
Alice pulled me out of my musings by tapping my arm, when I looked down at her she was biting her lower lip and looked worried. "Carlisle is this Dr. Stanley related in any way to Jessica Stanley?" I confess I had to chuckle at her question seeing where she was headed. Jessica Stanley and her mother were the town gossips and not only did they repeat everything they heard but they weren't above taking creative license to make things more interesting.
"Yes I believe he's her Uncle." Alice groaned and dropped her head, I could hear Emmett, Rose and Jasper growl out in the waiting room. "But you don't need to worry, he's a very intelligent man and a very competent surgeon, in fact he's nothing like his niece. Actually I find it truly hard to believe that he's related in any way at all to the Forks' Stanley's." "Yeah well let's hope your right. I just pray that when it comes to the social graces he comes from the deeper end of their gene pool." I laughed out loud and told her: "Alice he's not a gossip," and to myself I said: "At least I hope not."
Bella was not waking up and that was a serious concern. She had a closed head injury and was exhibiting some of the signs of intracranial bleeding but the signs of increased intracranial pressure were mixed. Her pupils were equal and reactive but she was unresponsive to any other stimulation. Her blood pressure and heart rate were very low, but her breathing was regular. And a CT scan had cleared her of any other internal injury. This was a miracle in itself after falling from that height, and since she is so petite. She did have several broken bones, but no compound fractures again very surprising considering the distance she fell. So currently her left arm and leg were only splinted and would be dealt with after an MRI of her head was completed. But I was very worried that she might go into neurogenic shock at any time.
Time could be very short for this sweet child but I had already made the hardest decision back at Bella's house, a decision that would break the treaty with the pack. And perhaps end my relationship with my first son and oldest companion. Bella was as much a part of my family as any of my other children and I would not lose her. So I was prepared to change her before I'd let her die.
Tom Stanley arrived and took over Charlie's care. Alice snuck back in to tell me that her visions were coming back but only short bursts. She'd had a short vision that Charlie would hang on but that his ultimate survival would depend on Bella. But her survival depended on Edward getting his ass back to Forks. As she was speaking her eyes glazed over as another vision hit her. "Carlisle its Edward, he's on his way! And Charlie's going to pull through long enough to talk to Bella but after that it's all fuzzy."
Alice was beaming as she continued: "Bella's future is a little clearer..." then Alice crumpled to the floor holding her head. "Carlisle! ...oh my god, its all black, I can't see Bella at all...good lord I can't see any of us!"
Reacting to the sound of Alice's desperate cry Jasper burst through the ER door as I was helping her to stand. Jasper wrapped his arms around her, "Alice darlin is it the wolves again are they blocking your sight?" Alice sucked in a breath and leaned into Jasper looking up at him and then to me, "I don't know it didn't feel the same the vision was unfolding before me like usual and then it just went dark. It didn't fade out like it does when the wolves draw near. I was just so surprised when it happened it was like someone had flipped an off switch. And Carlisle...I'm not sure...but it felt like either Edward or Bella that shut it down. I felt them both touch my mind but it doesn't make any sense how can that be? Edward is too far away, and well Bella is still human."
"But if you had to choose one who would it be?"
"Bella, I know the tenor of Edward's mind. Her face was the last thing I saw before my vision stopped. She was looking right at me and shaking her head no, and then it just shut down... I'm sure she's blocking my visions!"
We all turned together to look at Bella. She seemed to be asleep you could barely hear her breathing and she was exceptionally pale, as pale as we are. I walked over to Bella and placed my hand over hers and I was stunned Bella's skin temperature felt almost normal, normal that is to a vampire not a human. I asked them to page me when the MRI was ready and walked Alice and Jasper back to the waiting room warning them not to say anything to the others. I went to the OR to check on Charlie. They were already well underway and had the internal bleeding under control.
I admit that Alice had me worried. It seemed we would be at an impasse with both Charlie and Bella until Edward arrived. Edward seemed to be the key to unlocking what was going on with Bella. I don't think the MRI would show us anything more than a severe concussion. I had a theory that whatever she was doing to Alice's visions was affecting her vital signs. On the surface everything pointed to severe brain trauma with her low heart rate, blood pressure and lack of response to any stimulation. But her lab values were normal, the X-Rays showed very little and I was still waiting for the MRI. But I was sure something else was going on here.
When I first examined her in the backyard she had all the signs of a basal skull fracture I was sure there was internal bleeding and her other fractures should have been more severe so what was I missing? One other thing that bothered me was her scent it was off just ever so slightly. It was different... yet it was still familiar. It was like a blend of two scents. There was Bella's dominant strawberries and freesia ...and the other? It was like him but it can't be... can it? It was so subtle but it was there, just a trace of honey, sunshine and linen but damn it... how could it be Edward?
I needed to keep busy and I needed to think about this. But I had to stay in touch with both Bella and Charlie. They paged that the MRI was underway so while I waited for it to be completed I assisted Dr. Stanley while he closed the abdomen. I tried while I worked to think of what was happening to my children. There was something there in the back of my mind, something old and something rare. But damn it, it wouldn't come to me. All that came to mind when I pushed for the memory was the face of Marcus of Volturi, a face so full of pain and despair and nothing else. I shook my head and told myself to leave it. Bella, Charlie and Edward will need me so I concentrated on the task at hand.
Tom had to remove Charlie's spleen and part of his liver, he was actually very lucky it could have been much worse. Because of the liver trauma Charlie would have to be closely monitored for some time. He would also have to be sedated since every rib on his right side had been broken, resulting in a flail chest which was taped pretty heavily to prevent paradoxical movement. It impaired his breathing to the point that he would have to be on a respirator for a few days. Once we were done Charlie was moved to the ICU, in an adjoining room to Bella's.
I checked on Bella's MRI it showed signs of a recently healed basilar skull fracture! WHAT THE HELL! There was no swelling or bleeding, but she was still unconscious so she would need to be closely monitored for any changes. Unlike Charlie she was breathing on her own, they both had IV's, with cardiac and oxygen monitors in place. Bella's broken arm and leg had been X-rayed and were now both in casts. I had to chuckle because I'm sure that if she had been awake she would have tried to charm me into putting them into braces, and I probably would have done it. I love her like a daughter and in most cases I have respected the choices she had made, for she is wise beyond her years. She would hate the attention that a cast would cause. So I imposed my will on her while she was unconscious. The irony was not lost on me that a human could hold such sway over me, a vampire. If the truth be told Bella scared the hell out me sometimes especially when she got in a temper. And the thought of casts would have definitely piqued that temper of hers. Now if I can just get my son to see what I see. She knows what she wants and what she wants is him more than anything else in the world. That and to be part of our family forever ... yeah like that will be no small feat.
Alice was sitting at Bella's bedside when I got to her room. I'd never seen Alice look so worried. All she did was sit and stare at Bella like she was trying to see inside her head. I came to her side and put my arm around her giving her a hug. "Where's Jasper?"
She turned to me letting out a huge sigh, "He and Emmett have gone to Seattle to get Edward, his plane will land in two hours and he's not thinking straight. All he wants is to destroy Jacob Black. So Emmett is there with Jasper to sit on him and bring him here first." I immediately pointed out that her visions seem to be coming through again and without any problem since she saw Edward landing and his intentions.
She smiled and shook her head no. "Afraid not Carlisle, after fifty years I just know my brother. Besides that we all want to kill Jacob Black, the difference though is Edward will do it, if he's left unchecked. As far as knowing when he'll land I checked with Sea Tac about which flight he was on under the pretense of a family emergency. He needs to be here. She needs him and he needs her! Jacob Black can wait." We both moved to sit beside Bella.
Behind me the door opened, and my darling Esme entered with Rosalie, both of them looked so concerned. No surprise that Esme would feel this way, but why would Rosalie, she has resented Bella from the start. As if she could read my mind Rose sighed looked at Bella and then at me and smiled sadly. "Carlisle no one deserves this. Not everything that she's gone through and all because she loved a man with the fullness of her heart." she shook her head and moved towards Bella. "Despite everything, even my venomous and self centred bitchiness, it comes down to this... I've been there Carlisle. My dream of happiness was within my reach and then was yanked away. Please don't look sad Carlisle you didn't take it away. My dream was really a nightmare waiting to happen, but hers is the real thing. And besides the man who I consider my brother deserves her love, maybe more than anyone has ever deserved anything. They deserved to be together. And now that I finally understand that we could lose them both."
I looked at Alice but she shook her head no, but I knew she hadn't said anything. Rose cocked her head to the side and smiled at me. "No one said anything Carlisle no one had to. I'm not stupid I have a few medical degrees of my own remember. I know Edward, he won't survive if Bella doesn't...I just wish I could change this...damn I'd like to kill Jacob Black myself for what he has put my family through. So I'll do anything to help Edward and Bella in any way that I can." I got up and wrapped my arms around her and Alice. Esme went and sat beside Bella holding her hand. She leaned over her and was quietly speaking. Apparently Edward had called her from the plane for an update. So Esme was telling Bella he was on his way and that she had a message for her from Edward.
EsPOV
Sitting in the waiting room with Rose and Alice was driving me crazy. Our Bella had looked so broken lying on the ground, without the added horror of what happened to Charlie. I just wanted to scream or cry, I wanted answers. But more than anything I wanted someone to pay. I wanted Jacob Black's hide.
Despite what Edward had done I still thought of Bella as my daughter. I prayed that Charlie was just a man who had wanted the best for his daughter, no matter how misguided his vision was of what was right. But Charlie and I were going to have to talk when he's able. He needed to be reminded of the times we lived in and that Bella was neither stupid nor childish. Charlie reminded me of the way my own human father had treated me. Like she was unable to make her own decisions or even know her own mind. Yes Charlie and I would be having a long talk.
"Rose, are you okay dear?" Rose has been very quiet since Emmett and Jasper left. I wondered what's going on in that head. "I'm fine Esme just thinking about Bella and Edward." She went back to stand by the window, like she was looking for someone or something. I suppose Edward was on all of our minds I swear when he gets here I'm going make him listen to me. I will make him see how much Bella loves him even if I have to rip off his legs so he will never run away again! He will face this like a man and take whatever Bella dishes out. Carlisle had just come out of the OR, he stopped to tell us that Charlie was being moved to his room and Bella would be in the adjacent room shortly. So we would be able to go in and see her. When my cell phone rang I couldn't imagine who it could be.
I should have known it would be my son. I walked away from the others to answer it and Edward's voice carried to me across the miles and it broke my heart. "Hello, Mom ...oh god Mom, I can't lose her." I assured him that his Dad and Dr. Stanley were doing everything they could for Charlie and Bella. I told him that Jasper and Emmett would be meeting him at the airport. But we didn't talk about Jacob Black or what had happened. He asked but I told him it would be better if we talked once he got here since no one person had the whole story. He was sobbing into the phone and my heart felt like it was crushed. My boy needed me and all I wanted was to hold him and tell him everything would be okay. I tried to reassure him that Bella never gave up hope that he would come back. That she had always known that he loved her despite what he had told her in the forest the day he left. And that Alice had helped her find all her birthday gifts that he had left under the closet floor boards. I told him about how she played his CD all the time, And that I often sat with her while she recounted the times they had declared their love to each other, I promised him that we would protect her and keep her safe for him, I only hoped that we could keep that promise.
The sobs finally stopped and there was silence for a few seconds, then Edward said "Mom...please tell Bella that I heard her. Tell her I'm coming, and that I love her... and tell her to keep her heart beating for me...no wait...for us. I'll be there soon and we will have forever together." I smile as I held the phone and clutched my other hand to my chest. "Yes Edward darling I'll tell her. But Edward wait, you said you heard her? How can that be son, surely...?" But before I could finish my sentence Edward interrupted me: "I don't know Mom, but I heard her as clear as if she was right beside me, ...please just give her my message. I love you all and I'll see you soon." He paused and took a deep breath "But I have few things to take care of first."
When he said that I lost it, and yelled into the phone "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen you will not elude your brothers! And you will come directly to this hospital do you understand? Alice says that your presence is essential to Bella's recovery and that means she needs you now! Listen to me young man, there is more going on here than you know about and more than I can tell you right now. So don't make me come after you, it would not be pleasant. And don't think I couldn't take you Edward Cullen we both know better, do you hear me!"
EPOV
Calling Esme on the inflight phone may not have been the smartest thing I've ever done, but one thing was sure. She loved Bella like only a vampire mother could. Esme is a force to be reckoned with if you pissed her off she could be downright scary at times. After she laid the law down and threatened me with bodily harm I quietly responded with: "Okay Mom. The plane is getting ready to land, so I have to go, and yes...yes I heard you. I won't give Em and Jazz the slip I promise. And yes I know you could take me." I swear that woman could stop my heart, if it still was beating, just with that tone of her voice. So taking care of business would have to wait. She's right though Bella needed me now! Jacob Black would pay and perhaps having to wait would make it sweeter for me and more painful for him.
Jazz and Em were leaning on the Jeep when I walked out of the airport, it was good to see them. Emmett had his usual shit eating grin on his face but underneath you could see the worry and the anger. Jasper was on high alert to make sure I didn't run, and he was prepared to help me deal with my cascading emotions. Jasper walked forward, slapped me on the back and said: "Man you look like shit. But I'm begging you to get it under control because I cannot ride back to Forks with you like this. Emotionally you are all over the map brother. If you can't tone it down I'm going to try and knock you out. Make you a blank slate emotionally until we get to the hospital. Oh and I'm warning now if you run I will hunt you down tear you apart and hand you to Bella in pieces for her to reassemble."
Emmett was laughing his head off. "Hey Jazz she might like that." One thing you could count on no matter what, Emmett will always try to keep the mood light. I jumped into the passenger seat of the Jeep. Jasper got in the back and then Emmett put his pedal to the metal and peeled out of the airport and into highway traffic heading out of Seattle. Once we were on the open road Emmett veered off the highway and onto the back roads. There were fewer cars and it allowed him to drive at breakneck speeds cutting the travel time by more than half. Neither Em nor Jazz was sharing much about what happened apparently Esme had gotten to them as well. The order was no sharing until we were all together.
Emmett however couldn't resist telling me that they saw most the wolves naked and what Jasper had done to make them scurry into the forest. He was laughing his ass off while recalling the event but considering that my Bella was being loaded into an ambulance at the same time I just stared blankly at him. Jasper rolled his eyes and Em just grunted and said: "Hmm, well I guess you had to be there."
The rest of the trip was quiet, Jasper was running through Civil War tactics in his head, and Emmett was just being Emmett thinking of Rose and Grizzly bears and not necessarily in that order. Obviously I wasn't going to find out much from my brothers, the pixie must have been teaching the boys how to block me while I was gone. I can see Jazz making it work, but Emmett really surprised me. I had expected him to spill everything as soon as I could hear his mind,... huh maybe there's more to Emmett than I ever gave him credit for.
I hadn't heard Bella's voice since I landed and I was more than worried. Jasper sat up and looked over the seat at me and tried pushing serenity towards me, "jeesh Edward settle down if you had anything to be concerned about, someone would have called." Just as I was about to tell him to knock it off two things happened Jasper's phone rang and I lost consciousness.
JasPOV
As I flipped open my phone to speak to Alice she was already talking a mile a minute and then Edward slumped forward in his seat. "Shit Alice what's going on... EDWARD!" Slapping Emmett in the back of the head I yelled: "Damn it! Pull over! Something's wrong with Edward! Alice what in the sam hill is going on?" Alice buzzed on about what had just happened at the hospital and that we had better step on it. Apparently Bella woke up and asked for Edward and then her Dad. But when Carlisle told her about Charlie she got really, really pissed and refused to let anyone near her until Edward got there.
I had to Interrupt Alice when she said Bella wouldn't let anyone near her. "Ah darling what do you mean she won't let anyone near her? She's human and weighs exactly 110 lbs! You do remember that you're all vampires; you know unbelievable speed and strength. Need I say more?"
"Yeah but Jazz we can't get any closer than 10 feet it's like walking into wall... and something else, her eyes aren't brown anymore they're like ours. Believe me Jazz seeing is really believing; so get our emo brother's ass here pronto!"
Alice sounded pretty sure of her facts and just a little bit scared and that's something I've never seen. Edward was breathing in the front seat but that was all, he wasn't responding to either Emmett or me. I couldn't even feel any emotion registering on him and what was worse Alice hadn't seen any of it. I asked her to put Carlisle on the line, meanwhile Emmett got us back on the road. I explained to Carlisle that it seemed like Edward had passed out just about the time Bella woke up. Carlisle asked me to check his eyes, so I leaned over the seat lifted his eye lid then slid back into my own seat and spoke quietly into my phone: "Ah Carlisle...I feel like I'm officially in the 'Twilight Zone'. Edward's eyes are green, yeah they're emerald green!"
As soon as I spoke Emmett yelled: "Holy shit," he looked at me in the rear view mirror and floored the gas once again, now we were flying towards Forks.
BPOV
"Damn my head hurts and the light is blinding even without opening my eyes. Where am I and where's my Dad? And Edward I remember hearing him say he was coming and to wait for him...fuck I just wish everyone would stop whispering I'm about to lose it." The light behind my eyes was so bright it hurt, but there were shadows everywhere and one was coming towards me fast. Then I saw his heavenly face and heard his velvet toned voice, it was Edward.
He came at me out of a shadowy mist and more beautiful than I remembered him. His tousled bronze hair was all over the place and he had one hand raised to his head but he stopped and lowered his hand to reach out for me "Bella love? ...Bella is that you?"
I wanted to hold him and suddenly there I was in front of him so I reached out and took his hand in mine. I could feel him and God I could smell his scent of honey, linen and sunshine. We stood there and looked into each other's eyes and all I could see in his eyes was love. But what the hell his eyes...were the most beautiful shade of green with honey gold flecks! I had to be either dreaming or I was dead ...Edwards eyes hadn't been green since 1918! "Edward I don't understand is this a dream?"
"Bella I don't want to scare you, but I don't think this is a dream love. Wait... your eyes aren't brown anymore, they're a deep honey gold but that can't be... Carlisle wouldn't do that! I don't know what's going on but I can smell your sweet strawberry, freesia scent. I can even hear your heart beat and feel your hand in mine...but this can't be happening. Vampires don't dream."
"Edward, are we dead?"
"No love I don't think so. I was just with Jasper and Emmett and then suddenly I was here. And I can still hear them in the background, but it's more like a whisper. I have to really concentrate to hear them and they're just as confused as we are. As Emmett just so eloquently put it, they are 'putting the fucking pedal to the metal' as we speak."
"Edward, how can you be so damn calm about this?"
"Love I can't remember what dreaming was like when I was human. But if I could dream I would only want to dream of you. You're here and so beautiful. I love you so much so I intend to enjoy this while I can."
"Edward this isn't making any sense, usually you would be freaking out by now. So when did you take over being the calm voice of reason?" He just shrugged his shoulders! The man that worries over ever little detail had just shrugged his shoulders! "I don't think this is a dream Edward. If I was dreaming you'd think I would be able to get rid of this pain behind my eyes. But my head is killing me." Edward reached over for my other hand and leaned into kiss me lightly on the forehead. "It's going to be okay Bella. I love you and we will figure this out together." I bit my lower lip and rested my head on his chest over where his heart should beat.
"Bella just humour me, I know you're worried but have you really tried waking up yet?" He flashed me his crooked smile and squeezed my hand gently. Reassuring me that everything would be okay.
"No, I'm afraid that Jacob will be there. I can't hear him or my Dad. But Edward, Charlie saw and heard everything! What if Jacob did something to my Dad...oh god Edward, what if he hurt Charlie!" I was really panicked that I would open my eyes and find Jacob standing beside me waiting to finish what I had started. But if he had hurt my dad I'd kill him!
Edward kissed me again this time chastely on the lips as he wrapped me in his arms, it was wonderful and weird being in his arms again. But I had been dreaming of this for eight months! What if it really was just a dream and he wasn't coming back? What if I had really died? I couldn't think about this right now. It was all so strange seeing him and holding him again... but wait minute he wasn't cold. Why didn't he feel cold? What the hell was going on?
"Bella I know that you're in the hospital surrounded by my family. Jacob Black is not going to get anywhere near you. I think you need to wake up Bella. Because your Dad was hurt and he needs you."
"Charlie was hurt? How? Why? What happened? Oh Edward this is my entire fault! I should have known what Jacob was doing to us! But I didn't see it until it was too late and you were so hurt because I trusted Jacob and..."
Edward chuckled and pulled me closer. "Relax love and take a deep breath. There are a lot of people that are at fault. But let's fix what we can and let the rest go. I promise you we'll take care of this together my darling. Bella darling I think you need to wake up, I'll be there soon and we'll take care of everything together. ..Remember you are my forever, I love you Bella!"
The bright light that had surrounded us started to darken and Edward began to fade away even though I could still feel his hands in mine and his lips on my cheek.
When I opened my eyes I was surrounded by four very concerned vampires and one nurse who looked like she was either going to run or faint. I turned my head towards Carlisle "Where's my Dad and what happened to him?" My voice was rather raspy but I managed enough volume and venom in those few words to make him and everyone else in the room cringe noticeably.
Alice came forward and looked at me smiling. Then she frowned and said only two words. "Fuck me." Followed immediately by: "Watch out!" With that I whipped my head around the room, the nurse had already fled. And my vampires...well they were all plastered against the surrounding walls and about six inches off the floor. My mouth was open but no sound was coming out. I could hear a phone vibrating it was Alice's.
Then Carlisle cleared his throat so I turned back to him. "Ah, Bella I'm so glad you're awake and there is a lot to discuss. But first can you let us down and then I'd like to examine you with your permission."
I know Carlisle had my best interests at heart but my priorities were a little different from his at the moment "NO! First what about Charlie? Then you can check me out." Wait had Carlisle just asked me to let them down? Was I really doing that ...yeah I guess I was. I had thought for a split second about pinning everybody down but hell it had actually happened. I did that...wow okay but this shit was getting scary. I thought about letting them go and they all lightly landed on their feet but I wanted them to keep their distance until I got some answers. With that thought the air looked like it had turned liquid a few feet out from my bed.
Esme tried to come to my side but the liquid stopped her dead in her tracks and it seemed to be more rubber like than liquid. She tried to push past and couldn't. But she took it all in her stride and said: "Don't worry Bella, Edward's on his way Emmett and Jasper picked him up at the airport and they should be here any time now. Together we'll take care of everything."
Alice had just finished talking to Jasper on her phone when she let out a little sigh and looked at me then Esme. "Ah yeah about that Mom, Edward may not be his usual self when he gets here. She grimaced then chuckled at little. He's changed just a little bit."
Esme stood up tall and look over at Alice by the door, "Edward Anthony and I have already spoken and he will be on his best behaviour!" Holy shit, Esme used both his names, what the hell kind of talk did they have?
APOV
Well this was going better than I thought it would. I'd really have loved to know what Esme and Edward had discussed for her to use both his names. That rarely happened and when it did it usually meant Mom was in touch with her vampire side. And don't let the petite ingénue look fool you, under that calm motherly demeanour lurked a force that scared the hell out of us kids and even Carlisle at times.
Bella was obviously in a mood and wanted some explanations. I for one didn't enjoy my time as a wall flower so I thought it was best to be honest. "Okay everybody, I'm only sure of a few things, first of all my visions have stopped."
Rosalie sucked in a breath. "Those damn dogs I'll take of them."
"Wait Rose it's not them...its Bella." Now suddenly the old saying you could hear a pin drop made sense to me. "I suggest that everyone just sit down." Bella was not looking amused. "Carlisle I think it would be better if you explained everything that happened up until just a few minutes ago, and then I'll take it from there." Carlisle talked Bella through everything, from my vision of her fall, to the two packs, and what we found when we arrived at the Swan house. Then he told her all about her and Charlie. He told of her fathers surgery. Her tests and his reasoning for casts instead of splints, at which point I think she growled. Bella then filled in the gaps about what had happened before we got to her house.
I could tell she had a ton of questions when she turned to me so I nipped that one in the bud before she got started. "Bella I have had only four visions since this all started. Number one was your fall. Two was Edward getting on a plane. Three was you talking to Charlie. And the last one was you looking really pissed kind like now and shaking your head no at me. At least I'm pretty sure it was me. I mean I couldn't see me, but it felt like it was me. Well you get the idea and then missy you flipped my switch and it's been a total eclipse since. And Bella I felt power lots and lots of power like Witches of Eastwick kind of crazy scary power! And it was all coming from you. Um Bella do you think you could get rid of the rubber wall? It makes you look all blurry and I'd really like to hug you...I mean I thought you were going to die!" All this time I couldn't take my eyes off of Bella. She looked healthier than she should and the eyes... what did it mean? "Oh and Bella honey I don't know why but your eyes aren't brown anymore ...their golden!"
BPOV
I remember Charlie watching reruns of a show from the 50's called the Twilight Zone on late night TV. And I will never forget the opening monologue this weird guy would stand in front of a door and say: "You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone." Now that monologue made sense I mean not necessarily what was happening now. But with Edward and I well...oh screw it, Edward said to just let the rest go okay so I'll let it go.
I turned to my family and they really were my family. They had been there for me when everything had been hell and had saved me in so many ways. I looked at the barrier I had apparently created. I was having trouble seeing everyone clearly and I just wished the damn thing would go away and it did. Esme, Alice and Carlisle rushed to my bed. "Carlisle I need to see Charlie." I tried to sit up higher and move my legs, but Esme put her hand on my shoulder.
Rose moved over to a huge curtain and pulled it back from the large glass wall that separated my room from the next, and there was Charlie. Esme and Rose rolled my bed over to the wall so that only a pane of glass kept me from reaching for my Dad's hand. Even that came away when Carlisle shoved on it from the other end. Creating one large bay in Intensive Care. My Dad's eyes were closed he was on a respirator. Both his arms and the part of his chest that I could see were covered in bandages. He was so pale it scared me but Carlisle said he was doing fine and would be out of it for a few days. This was probably for the best considering the freaky stuff that was going on.
I turned to Alice, "Okay pixie spill, what's going on." Alice bit her lip looked at Esme then Carlisle and then down at the floor. I've never seen Alice hesitant like this before.
"Bella for some reason, I think you and Edward are linked." I rolled my eyes, like the pixie was telling us something we all didn't already know.
"Yeah I know we've always had a deep personal connection that's part of what made being apart so painful."
But the pixie just frowned like a teacher expecting a better answer from her star pupil. "No Bella, what you're talking about is the mating connection you'll always feel that pain until you consummate your physical need for each other. What I'm talking about is a link, in that you can now share minds and gifts. And I think even combine to share some physical characteristics.
Carlisle looked like he had just been hit with an epiphany. "Bella your souls are linked and it can't be undone. Even if you were to be changed that link would still exist and you could still share all the vampire as well as human characteristics that are either needed or wanted by each other.
I waved my hand in the air to get their attention. "What do you mean that we can share human and vampire characteristics?"
"Well since your souls were bound while you were human, it will make passing for human easier for you and Edward even once you're changed. You will be able to mimic your or Edwards eye colour and you skin will never be as cold as ours and neither will Edwards. Don't ask me why, I don't know, but we'll find out. This is a good thing Bella but I think there is a time limit for this to become permanent.
Carlisle swallowed and Alice giggled before she said: "What he means is it all seems to be tied to you being virgins and mates. You're going to need to ah...mate."
I looked at Alice with my mouth open did she just say what I though she did. "Do you mean Edward and I would have to have sex?"
"Um yeah, you need consummate your physical relationship for this unique bond to become permanent and we both know Edward is going to have a problem with that."
"Alice did you hurt your head when I slammed you against the wall, cause you sound like you're the one with the head injury not me. Carlisle what is she talking about?"
CPOV
"Bella in our histories there is a legend about Merged Soul Mates. Humans use the term soul mates to describe deep love or enduring love for one lifelong companion. But to vampires it means that and much, much more. Merged Soul Mates are exponentially even more in tune with each other. It's believed that their actual souls are merged. You were right all along Bella we do have souls. In all my years on this earth I have never met Merged Soul Mates ...but there was a rumour that Marcus of Volterra and his mate had been Merged Souls. It was the reason that Aro and Caius gave Marcus for Didyme's murder, that others were jealous of their connection. But it is also thought that their connection frightened Aro and Caius so much that they had Didyme killed. What it was about the connection that frightened them no one knows. But Marcus bears a pain so deep, that he once told me that if it was not for Chelsea and others keeping him bound to his brothers that he would have found a way to destroy himself. If you and Edward are truly linked I'm afraid there is no way of knowing exactly how it will manifest itself."
Bella's face crumpled and I thought she was crying but she was actually laughing and then she managed to squeak out between gasps. "That explains the green eyes...oh my god..." Then she caught sight of her reflection in the monitors. "My eyes, they're still gold...what the hell is going to happen to us now?" She started to cry as Esme reached out and wrapped her in a hug.
Bella's heart rate suddenly accelerated and she placed her hand over her heart as the alarm went off. She looked at me wide eyed but with a smile on her beautiful face and laughed yet again. "He's here Carlisle. My mate is here...oh my god, Edward what's happened to us."
Just then I heard Emmett and Jasper pull into the parking lot and load him into a wheelchair. It seemed Edward was unconscious. And there I stood in Bella's room a centuries old vampire with his family. Rose was at my side, Alice and Esme sat with Bella who was still laughing. And I had no answers! What were we going to do? We were in uncharted waters...I just prayed that I wouldn't have to turn to the Volturi for the answers.