Where the Streets Have No Name

Chapter 4

2009

Edward finally lifted his face and looked into the beautiful depths of Bella's eyes. This was the face of love. The face of hope. And he was about to extinguish it with his cowardice.

"I did. He... he didn't really have much to offer," he said as he recalled the long and protracted meeting he had that afternoon with Jason Jenks, attorney at law.

He continued. "My case doesn't really fall within the standard mold. He said I could petition a judge. If there's a next of kin who's willing and able to serve as her medical proxy, the judge might take it into consideration.

"But, Bella, I know her family, they will never cooperate. They will drag it out through the mud and make as much of a public spectacle out of it as possible. They would do everything in their power to make me look like a greedy, self-centered, bastard ..." Like I truly am. He couldn't bring himself to finish the statement.

"I can't... I can't risk putting Ella in the middle of it. If they find out about... about..." he couldn't finish the thought. "Bella, I can't lose her. I just can't..." Edward's voice trailed off in shame.

There was a sad frown on Bella's face, though she tried not to show it. She feared as much. After nearly four years she had a relatively good idea of how Edward's mind worked. She knew it wouldn't be easy and she wished she didn't have to put him in the defensive like this. But she found herself in a rather tight corner that didn't really afford her the luxury of going easy on him like she usually did. In fact, of the few avenues open before her, this was by far the easier one.

"I know, I know. I don't want you to go through that either, Edward. And I definitely don't want Ella to be in the middle of it," she said as she lovingly pulled him into her arms.

She loved him unconditionally. It broke her heart to see him so conflicted and lost, and to know she was the reason why he was in such pain. If it weren't for the predicament she was in, she would have willingly carried their secret to her grave. But that was not the case. She was on the clock and time was ticking away.

"How about..." she began hesitantly, hating herself for what she had to suggest. "I mean, have you spoken to him about what Dr. Marvin said? That maybe-"

"No, Bella!" Edward cut her off before she could verbalize her question. "I am not going to petition the court to have her feeding tube removed. I can't. She's Ella's mother. No matter what she did or what mistakes I made, I can't be responsible for her death. Not for my own... happiness.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I know you deserve better, but I can't... I just can't do that."

He expected her to be upset, angry even. But of course Bella surprised him like she always did. Wiping away the tears that had welled up in her eyes, she smiled at him.

Edward searched her eyes with disbelief. Could it be that she would forgive him his weakness even after this?

"It's ok, Edward. It wasn't fair of me to ask that you make decisions like that. I understand. Really." She smiled wider to assure him that she truly was ok with what he just told her. It was a lie, of course. But she had so very little time left.

Since there's no help, come, let us kiss and part...

AN: I'm fighting and quite possibly losing the "Drabble War". Check out these lethal fic-warriors and their work.

Thank you Lulabelle98,HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.

Thank you BelleDean for your wise input re the legal aspect. As you can see, it all flew over my head:)

"Since there's no help, come, let us kiss and part" is a line from Michael Drayton's sonnet.