Dreaming of Something More
We all keep dreaming, and luckily, dreams come true.
Katie Holmes
EDWARD'S POV
Worry for Bella kept me by her side. I had laid her in bed three hours ago, and Carlisle had been in once to change the IV bag and had given her something more to counteract the allergic reaction an hour and a half ago. Her breathing wasn't as shallow as it had been and her heartbeat had eased some but was still erratic.
Carlisle was concerned and wasn't sure if she hadn't slipped into a coma, but he hadn't tried to kick me out, not that I was going to leave her side.
"Alice," I whispered when she and Jasper came into the room. "Do you see anything?"
"No, not even a fuzzy image. I'm not sure what that means. Are you getting anything from her?" she asked.
"No. I just don't understand it—I can't read her mind. Jasper, what are you sensing?"
"There's a strange calm and anger. The calm is stronger than the anger, but the anger is there," he answered.
My gaze moved to Bella's face. What Jasper said was true. Her face was peaceful but every so often her face would contort into a scowl for a moment and then return to the peaceful calm. What are you dreaming about?
"Edward," Bella called out in a hoarse voice, but her eyes didn't open.
BELLA'S POV
I found myself in the cool embrace of Edward, and he offered me a cold drink. I was so thirsty. After I quenched my thirst I fell back into a black void, but I could still see Edward's golden eyes. Strange! His whole family has the same eye color, and I've never seen them eat anything.
Edward's face morphed into Garret's. He was beckoning me to join him. Anger and hate flowed in me and my hands fisted. I went after him with my teeth bared and my claws ready.
"How could you?" I yelled, clawing his face. "How could you do that to me? I was ready to accept our future marriage, and then I find out you were shacking up with some bimbo."
"Isabella, it meant nothing," Garret said, backing away with his hands up. "She means nothing to me."
"I don't believe you," I said, throwing the pictures that had appeared in my hands at him. "There's the proof. You knew of my stipulation and yet you ignored it." I was seething. "I will be talking to my clan council. I will be showing them these pictures." I snapped my fingers and the pictures were back in my hands. "I assure you the marriage contract will be terminated."
He started to argue but I turned around. I felt like I could fly and then suddenly I was. I landed with a soft thud on the ground. I felt tears rolling down my face and didn't try to wipe them away. I was hurting. Garret hurt me, and I hated him.
I wanted someone who would be there for me and never hurt me. Edward's face loomed before me and started to disappear. "Edward," I cried out in a hoarse and confused voice as more tears spilt over.
EDWARD'S POV
I stared at Bella for a moment longer before noticing she was crying. Why had I had delivered those pictures early? This was my fault. She could possibly be in a coma because of the pictures.
"Edward, stop beating yourself up—it's not your fault. It's Garret Gillpatrick's fault. He was cheating on her and you helped her find out. There was no way to know if giving her the pictures later wouldn't have ended this way, too," Jasper threw at me. "She is confused and scared. Do something to help her."
"It was my fault. I won't be able to forgive myself if anything else happens to her," I said.
"Help her," Jasper said, glaring at me before walking out of the room.
"How?" When there was no immediate response from anyone, I started thinking. She was always calm and peaceful whenever she sang. Would music do the same thing? She said she likes classical music—Brahms' lullaby came into my mind. I didn't want to leave her, but I didn't have much choice. I went to my room and located the CD. I was back a minute later with it and a player.
As soon as the music started, her face relaxed. "You're going to be okay, Bella. He can't hurt you here. Push Garret and everyone who ever hurt you from your mind. Just listen to the music," I whispered in her ear, taking her left hand between both of mine, sitting down in the chair once more.
BELLA'S POV
Brahms' lullaby started to play somewhere in the distance. I felt a tingling sensation as it run across my hand and heard Edward's velvet voice telling me I would be okay, that Garret couldn't hurt me, and to just listen to the music and push the hurt and pain away.
The tingling sensation grew stronger going up my arm. It was a wonderful and confusing feeling, but I drew comfort from it. Edward's face once again ghosted in front of me. There was something in his eyes I couldn't identify. Reaching out, I tried to touch his face. "Don't leave me, Edward. Hold me."
EDWARD'S POV
I stiffened, not knowing what to do. "Alice, should I?"
"I see it comforting her," she answered.
"Go ahead, Edward," Carlisle said from wherever he was in the house. "Her heart rate lowered a notch with whatever you did before she spoke."
I released her hand, standing. She whimpered. Lying down on the other side to her, I wrapped my arm around her waist and drew her as close to me as I could. I breathed in her scent. She smelled of strawberries and vanilla.
Carlisle came in a few minutes later. "I just want to remove to IV," he said, efficiently removing the needle from her arm and putting a Band-Aid on. He threw the needle in the basin filled with alcohol and left the room.
BELLA'S POV
As quickly as the tingling sensation started, it was gone. I whimpered but soon was wrapped in its warmth again. Edward's face teased me once more as I heard someone talking softly. They said something about an IV. No, I hate needles, but I never felt the prick or smelled blood.
The warming sensation was comforting, and I wanted more of it. I rolled toward the source, breathing in a wintry and woodsy scent as I came in contact with someone. Whoever it was, they were familiar, and I relaxed against them.
"Bella, my dear child," Grandmother called. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes," I responded.
"I couldn't be happier. This was how it should have been. You choosing for yourself—finding someone who will love you and protect. Forget all about Garret, the council will have no choice but to support you. Rest and talk to Edward when you wake. Promise me."
"I promise," I whispered, falling into a deeper sleep.