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Chapter 9

Hallelujah.

Jeff Buckley.

I pressed my lips to the small, pale-pink slip of paper before smoothing it out over the cool door of the refrigerator. Even though I was able to talk, Edward and I had established a little habit of leaving Post-its, with sweet notes on them, all over the house. We made them just to say hi sometimes, and then other times we made them so that the other would know where we were. I was ready to go swim in Rosalie's indoor, heated pool and so I left Edward a note to find. He was in the shower and was taking a bit longer than planned. With a smile, I turned away from the note and made my way out the back door.

Rosalie lived up the street from us, only two houses down. We cut through the backyard of our neighbor, as they were always away on vacation. I quickly went through the two gates, and speed-walked to Rosalie's back door. She and Emmett left me a key, up on the door-henge, and had both gone to work. It was Rosalie's idea for Edward and I to go to her house and swim for a while. I was excited. With my deep blue bikini and matching towel in hand, I found myself rushing to go over and swim for the first time. I had never gotten to swim as a kid, with my mom's schedule, and so Rosalie's idea wasn't going to be passed up. I was so happy that she moved there.

The warmth of the house sucked me in as I stepped through the small doorway. I let out a deep, comforted breath as the door softly closed behind me. Rosalie's home was quite literally warm. They took great advantage of the heating system during the cold month of January that we were in. It wasn't just physically warm. The house was very welcoming, and inviting. The couple had placed pictures everywhere. Of the two of them, friends whom I had not met, and then me. I smiled, shivering as my body finally became used to the feeling.

Walking over to the mantle, I found the newest editions to their photo collection. Rosalie and Esme had insisted that we take some family pictures on Christmas day. I had gotten a camera from Rosalie, and it was the perfect present. I wanted to start recording my life, remembering the little things with Edward and her. Hence why we took a million pictures of everyone that day. The picture in the middle of the mantle was my favorite though.

Rosalie and I were both seated on Esme's pale loveseat. Our arms were wrapped around each other, our cheeks pressed tightly against each other. We looked so similar, yet different. Both sets of our brown eyes were shining, even brighter than Rosalie's graduation picture. We had the same face, almost. The only difference was our lips. Rosalie had gotten lucky, and she had inherited her bigger lips. Mine were much more straight line, closer to our father's. Rosalie also had a beauty-mark above her lips. Other than these things, we looked almost identical. Identically Happy.

I smiled, walking past the pictures of us with Carlisle and Esme, Edward, and then some of Emmett and I. It made me happy that she was so intent on making me a part of their lives. I liked having people to depend on, even if I didn't ask much of them.

With a smile I reached the back corner of the house. I walked into their pool room, using my foot to push the heel of my shoe down while I walked. The attempt to slip my shoes off was an absolute failure, as I found myself stumbling right over the shoe and into the water.

When I broke the surface, the first thing that I noticed was how ice cold it was. It pierced through my skin, shocking me even more than I already was. I felt as if I had been electrocuted, and I locked up as my body sunk like a deadweight. One reason for swimming was so that Edward could teach me to swim. Of course, that was why I had to fall into the deepest end of the water.

After the moment of pure shock passed, and my jean-clad butt hit the bottom, my mind went into overdrive. I began to panic, having no idea how to get back to the top of the water. I was still wearing my thick sweater and clothing, which weighed me down in the water. My arms flailed on instinct, making me hit my head on the wall behind me. The smack caused me to suck in, out of total reflex. The only thing surrounding me was water, and I found myself inhaling it.

The burn that engulfed my lungs didn't last long as my vision faded to black.

EPOV.

I felt a smile take over my face as I eyed the new, pink Post-it on the fridge. I peeled it of, reading Bella's cute scrawl. She had gone to Rose's, ready to begin her swim-lessons, and made sure to sign off with her love.

The light caught something on the side. I tilted the small slip of paper, revealing her soft-lip prints. Bella never had worn much lip-gloss. I knew that she had planned to do that. Without thinking, I pressed my own lips to it before sticking it back on the fridge door.

I didn't take my time slipping my coat on and rushing out the door. Just being away from Bella made me anxious. The other side of my rush was due to excitement. I loved being with her, hearing her talk to me, and helping her with things. The idea that I was the one who got to teach her to swim made my pride swell.

Jumping the two fences between Rose's yard and ours, I got to Rose's back door. It surprised me that Bella had left it unlocked. I was a bit peeved, as the only reason for us sneaking through the back was so that nobody could see us. After the night that we were followed, I was taking extra precaution with our security. I had no idea what to think, or who to track down. The plates were fake, and a dead end. I shook my head as I locked the door behind me.

I didn't waste time taking in the sight before me. Esme had helped Rosalie decorate the family room. Rosalie made sure to go just a bit overboard with her pictures. It was one of her ways of welcoming Bella into her life completely. I loved it. The more of Bella's pretty face, the better.

The sight of an empty pool room surprised me. The only evidence that Bella had even passed through was a single boot. It was one of her laced up, brown ones. It looked knocked over and tied. I didn't think much of it at first, but after calling out Bella's name, I realized how peculiarly close to the pool it rested. With much hesitation, I inched my way towards the edge. Leaning over a bit, I felt the air catch in my throat at the sight of a body at the bottom of the pool.

I knew Bella anywhere.

I didn't stop to take off my shoes and coat before diving in, like they do in the movies. Instead, I went head-first into the brisk water. The only thing on my mind was Bella and my thoughts on how long she could have been under. The fact that getting to the bottom felt like a year-long process didn't make me feel any better.

When I finally reached her, I gripped her arms and tossed her over my shoulder. It was a rough jerk, thanks to the obstacle of the water, but that was the least of my worries. As soon as I had a grip on her, I pushed down on the bottom of the floor and kicked my way to the surface. She didn't move as I shoved her onto the wooden floor surrounding the pool.

After we were both out of the water, I began shedding her clothing. I knew that the heavy sweater could have been weighing her lungs down more than needed. She made absolutely no movement, causing my eyes to prick with fresh tears. I fought past the thoughts that were making their way through my mind, attempting to get her in the right position for CPR.

"Bella, beautiful, you stay with me!" I sobbed, turning to grab the house-phone off of a table. I dialed nine-one-one as I tore her shirt open, attempting to begin compressions.

"Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?" The operator asked, her practically robotic voice not breaking my composure.

"I am at," I spoke hastily, reading off Rosalie's address. I was out of breath but the idea of stopping didn't once cross my mind. "I just found my girlfriend in our pool, she's unresponsive and her lips are blue. We'll need an ambulance immediately. This is officer Edward Cullen, and it's an emergency." I repeated, trying to sucker the woman into rushing. I looked down at my Bella, shaking my head. "Come on, love. I just got you back."

"We have a bus on the way, sir."

"Thanks." I grunted, tossing the phone to the side.

She began coughing during my second set of thirty. I felt my heart stop with relief, but didn't stop pumping the air into her lungs. She had yet to spit up any water, and so I knew that it was still in her lungs.

"Eh-Eh..." She spat, her voice so raspy and her words thick. I knew that she needed to work the water out of her system before she began speaking to me.

"No, just cough." I encouraged her, doing one last compression before helping her move so that she could try and cough up the water.

"I can't...I can't breath..." her eyes were still glassy, and they rolled around in a bit of a daze. I gasped, catching the back of her head as she began to tilt backward. She passed out all over again, leaving me panic-filled.

"Here," a male voice spoke from beside me and I watched as she helped her onto a gurney and began checking her vitals. I rushed with them, following them to the bus and sitting where I could hold Bella's hand, but stay out of their way at the same time.

"You hang in there." I rasped, pulling Bella's wet, thick hair from her face. Her face was so pale, even for her, that I felt my stomach churn. They had attached one of those blue pumps to her lips, squeezing the air into her lungs every couple counts. It hurt me to see her so hurt. "It's all going to be okay. You're going to be just fine. We'll just get to the hospital, and Carlisle will help us."

When we pulled up outside of Fork's hospital, there was a large commotion. I was almost left behind as the paramedics rushed Bella out and into the swarm of doctors. Carlisle's face was the only familiar one. I trusted her with him. I didn't want to hold her back, but I did take the time to whisper my love to her and press my lips to her temple before letting them do their jobs. It was such a big commotion that by the time they were in a trauma room, I found myself still frozen in the doorway...dripping wet and freezing.

"Oh God, Bella." I choked out, it finally hitting me that she was in there, on that table, and very close to not waking up. My knees buckled, and I knew that they would be bruised after I landed on them. I didn't care though. All I wanted was my Bella.

"Edward? Edward! What's going on?" I recognized Esme's panicked voice as she came running in to find me.

"Mom." I sobbed the word, not able to say anything more. She wrapped her arms around me and rubbed my back. I finally built up enough to speak. "I found Bella...I found her in...she was in Rosalie's pool, Mom. She can't swim. She couldn't swim. I shouldn't have let her leave early. Oh, God. Bella..."

"Shh. It's not your fault, honey. Bella's a strong girl. She'll get through this."

"She might die because of me!" I cried out, and the gasp that came from behind us.

"What happened? Where's my daughter?" Rose's voice was harsh, and I turned my head to see her cold face staring at me.

"She...she went to your house early, while I was in the shower, for her swim lessons...I don't know what happened, but she fell in, Rose. I found her at the bottom of the deep end." I sobbed and Rosalie let out a strangled cry in response. My mother, who had been comforting me, was already at Rosalie's side. I understood though.

Even if Rosalie hadn't been there for it all, Bella was Rosalie's baby.

"I can't lose her!" Rosalie's voice shot up an octave as I got up and moved to wrap my arms around her.

I knew how she felt.

BPOV.

When I was finally able to peel my eyes open, the light in the room caused me to squeeze them shut again. It all felt so bright, especially in comparison to the darkness that I had been floating in for some time. I was relieved though, even with the migraine. I was alive.

When the pounding in my head had finally dulled enough, I rolled my eyes over to see Edward. He was sound asleep, with circles under his closed eyes. I pursed my lips, moving my hand so that it could rest on top of Edward's warm one. He didn't move, as he seemed to be in a deep slumber. I didn't want to wake him, but at the same time, I wanted him to open his eyes.

"Bella." Rose's voice croaked from behind me. I took my time turning to face her. She was obviously in tears, her eyes and face all blotchy and swollen from crying. I pursed my lips, shaking my head ever so slowly. "You're awake. You literally scared me to death."

"I'm happy to be alive." I finally spoke, my throat incredibly worn and sore.

"You sucked up a lot of water. You're lucky Edward didn't take his time getting to my house...Bells, we almost lost you tonight." She looked relieved and devastated all at the same time. I had never seen her so broken looking, not even when she first returned and found out about how far into my shell I had been driven. "I couldn't breathe."

"Neither could I..." I coughed a bit. "I only just started t-talking. I don't want to stop now."

"I know...Bella...can I ask you something?" She asked me, her eyes softening a bit. I nodded, not sure what she was curious about. I watched as she sucked in a deep breath and swiped at her eyes before speaking again. "Why did you stop talking? All those years ago...what made you stop? Was it on purpose?"

I shrugged, and nodded. I knew that she deserved the truth. She never really had any idea. So, with a sheepish smile, I turned to face her a little better. I grabbed her hand with my closer one, keeping Edward's in my other one. I needed to know that he was there, I just didn't want to wake him up. Instead, I preoccupied myself with Rosalie.

"Mom told me to stop." I spoke simply. "I know she didn't mean it so literally...but I decided to take it all the way. She told me that I asked way too many questions and that I was being a pain in the butt. So, I decided to see if she would feel any better with the silence. Only...I didn't really mean to drag it out. After a while I just had no idea how to speak again."

"She told you to stop...she never...wow." She sighed, palming her face with her free hand. I knew that she must have been stressed and exhausted. The darkness beyond the window proved to me that it was probably the middle of the night.

"I'm sorry. I really am. I never meant to be such a handful. If I could have just started talking, you have to know that I would have. In a heartbeat." I apologized, not really sure where it came from.

"You weren't even a handful!" She gushed, leaning forward to put emphasis on her point. "You were the easiest kid ever...I hate myself everyday for not paying more attention to you. For not making sure that they would. Don't apologize for my mistakes. I screwed up, you did not. You did nothing wrong."

"Thank you. I really am happy that you're back." I smiled at her and she just nodded, grinning.

"You know I love you."

"I love you too."

"And I love you," Edward spoke, startling me a bit. I turned so that I could see his face. "I was such a wreck for you, Bella. I love you, so much."

"I love you too." I grinned at him as he leaned over to kiss me softly. The kiss progressed a tiny bit, and we pulled apart at the sound of Rosalie sitting back and groaning.

"Come on, you guys. Could you at least wait for me to fall asleep or something? I can't handle the mushy-gushy yet. I still see eight-year-old Bella." She laughed nervously, but I didn't take my eyes off of Edward's as I nodded at Rosalie.

"Alright, fine. We'll wait a bit. Now, go to sleep, Rosalie. I'd like to get reacquainted with my beautiful girlfriend." Edward winked at me and I giggled, turning to see a red-faced Rosalie.

A/N: This chapter feels so short in comparison to the last one, but I felt the need to give you all an update in reward for reviewing. I even worked on this while getting over the flu! It was hell, but 17 reviews in one chapter deserves it!

I love you all! And I'm not sure how I feel about that new 'comment' thing. The word 'review' just made it more professional-sounding. I guess it's easier for you all, and all that. So, you know, you should test out that comment part on this chapter!

Anyway, I'm working on the next chapter already. I just wanted to give you guys something before I brought out the big guns. I promise that the next will be longer and more meaningful!

COMMENT/REVIEW, homes!

- Ro (follow me on Twitter at Rosily9)