Each one of you is awesome and I'm sorry for my slackass reviews. RL drama still rocking on, but posting my new story yesterday, and this one day, helps put a smile on my face.

Location: Forks, Washington

Prompt: Hospital

As Bella walked through the quiet halls of the cancer ward at Forks General Hospital, she felt displaced. The pale green walls and landscape paintings were supposed to make her feel welcomed, but Bella felt anything but. Charlie walked solemnly beside his daughter, knowing full well what Bella was about to face. Charlie had helped Renee through the worst of the cancer and knew first hand how Bella would react to see her mother deteriorating.

Just as they neared the door of her room, Renee's doctor stepped out, scrawling furiously on the clipboard before sliding it in the holder just outside the door. "Charlie, good to see you again."

"Dr. Marcus, I'd like to introduce you to Bella," Charlie announced as the doctor smiled brightly at Bella for just a moment.

"It's nice to meet you, Bella, I just wish it was under better circumstances. Your mother has been talking about you for weeks now." Bella simply nodded her head, unsure of what to say to the man who was trying to make her mothers' final days as peaceful and painless as possible. "Renee is sleeping right now, but you are welcome to go in. Charlie, when you have a few minutes, I'd like to discuss some arrangements with you."

"I'd like to get Bella settled in with Renee and then I can come down to your office, if that's alright?" Bella paused as the men agreed to meet a little bit later in the morning. However, as they spoke, Bella realized she wasn't okay with this. Though she was distant from her mother for the past few years, she suddenly felt a need to be included in the plans.

"What kind of arrangements?"

"Hospice," Dr. Marcus replied simply. "Your mother has reached the point that there's nothing further we can do for her here at Forks General. Unfortunately, her final days are quickly approaching and all we can do is make Renee comfortable."

"So, where is this hospice and how much does it cost?" Bella was jumping right to the point, which surprised Charlie. His daughter had been so closed off about everything regarding Renee and the decline of her health that he didn't expect a change in Renee's final days.

"Well… I have discussed the specifics with your father regarding payment, so you can hash that out with him. As for its location, Dr. Cullen has financed a hospice here in Forks that is run by volunteers and medical staff through a family trust and generous benefactors. The Cullen Hospice is only a few miles from here and is one of the best in the state of Washington. They provide individuals who are dying, and their families, with high quality palliative care in a home-like setting. Talk to your daughter and let me know what you decide." Dr. Marcus smiled briefly at Charlie and Bella before patting Charlie on the back and heading away from them.

Charlie grabbed Bella's arm gently and pulled her down the hallway to the empty family room to discuss what Dr. Marcus had skirted around regarding finances.

"So… the cost of the hospice… is covered," Charlie forced out as Bella's eyes grew wide.

"By who?"

"My medical benefits."

"How is that possible?" Bella questioned. She was completely confused by her father's statement. Charlie and Renee had divorced years earlier, so Bella couldn't comprehend how this was happening. "Did you get married again? Please tell me you didn't marry her again. Please?" Bella's voice cracked as Charlie forced her to sit down and Bella rested her head on his shoulder.

"Listen, there was a screw-up with our divorce and the signed papers were never actually filed and finalized," Charlie admitted as Bella's mouth fell open in surprise. "I know it seems a little rough for you, but when I found out, I didn't even tell your mother. She was already sick and we needed the medical coverage. I hadn't taken her off my coverage at work because I had just forgotten. I had to become a single father to a heartbroken teenage girl. That was my only concern at the time."

"So she gets something else she doesn't deserve?" Bella snapped.

"No, Bella. If anything, this is a blessing for us. Renee doesn't have the money to afford all of her medical treatments. The insurance is covering everything, including her hospice care. I couldn't pay it without incurring hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills, but I also couldn't let her pass away with no dignity whatsoever."

Bella nodded softly against her father's shoulder. Though she didn't particularly like the fact that her father was still married to Renee because of a legal technicality, she could understand the benefit of it in that moment. Cancer treatments were not cheap and neither of them could truly face the financial burden that would befall them if Renee had no insurance coverage.

"Are you okay with all of this?"

"I will be," Bella replied, pushing the tears from her face as she sat up and tried to be as strong as she could. "How soon till they move her to the hospice?"

"Well, I have some forms to fill out, but I think she can probably be moved as soon as tomorrow," Charlie explained softly as he wrapped his arm over his daughter's shoulder. "It's for the best."

"I know."

"Are you ready to go and see Renee now?"

"Not really, but I don't think I will ever be ready."

Charlie took Bella's hand in his own and led her from the room to go and see Renee. As they walked over the threshold of her door, Bella tried not to react, but she almost didn't recognize the woman who was wasting away in the bed in front of her.

Tubes were connected to her sallow, yellowed face and Renee had lost a fair amount of weight. What was left of her hair was covered with a colorful scarf and Bella couldn't help but notice that even her breathing was shallow.

"I didn't know it was this bad." Bella choked out a sob as Charlie hugged his daughter tightly against his side.

"Bella, she's only got days left. Though she wasn't always the best, she was still the only mother you have ever known. Please forgive her or you will never be able to forgive yourself."