Chapter 8

Why Now?

EPOV

I paced nervously across the room, Little E's fever was climbing higher.

I waited for Carlisle to call and give me the blood results, they were taking forever.

Bella fell asleep next to Little E, she was worn out from worry.

Finally, my phone rang and it was Carlisle, he told me to come downstairs to talk.

"Edward, Little E's white blood cells are extremely low. I can't believe he hasn't been sick before this.

They are right in line with Leukemia. I'm not sure what it is yet, so don't let on to Bella, let's keep an eye on Little E for the next few days and see what happens. O.K. If it gets worse, we'll bring him in to have all the proper tests run." Carlisle gave my shoulder a squeeze and I felt tears in my eyes. "Edward, you have to be strong, don't lose it, without all the information, you're a doctor now and know that you have to have all the facts before you can proceed." Carlisle gave me a hug and told me to be strong and call him if we needed him.

I locked the door behind him and went back to Little E's room. I looked at all the pictures of him and Bella and the rest of our family, he can't be sick I thought to myself, there's no pictures of him and I and we haven't even really bonded and now with him being sick, Bella isn't going to leave his side and I'll never get to bond with him. My mind was racing when I felt a tug on my pants, "Daddy, I'm hungry, can you make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" Little E was bright eyed and awake. I motioned for him to be quiet because mommy was sleeping and he put his finger over his lips to signal quiet. I smiled and picked him up and carried him downstairs.

We were eating our 2nd p.b.&j sandwiches with milk, when I heard Bella scream.

I took off upstairs and she was frantically looking around for something.

"Bells, what's wrong baby? Did you lose something?" Her bewilder look, was kind of funny.

"Where is Little E? Did you see where he went?" Bella's eyes were 10x's bigger than usual.

I chuckled and she frowned at me "I don't see any humor in the Edward!"

"Sorry, Little E is downstairs in the kitchen, he's eating lunch, he's o.k." I smiled.

She walked past me and punched me in the arm, frowning at me again.

We walked into the kitchen and I picked her up and placed her on the stool next to Little E.

"Hi mom, love your hair!" Little E smiled.

Bella frowned and mumbled 'thanks'.

Little E and I stated laughing and I handed Bella a sandwich, she was still frowning and just ate her sandwich.

"Momma are you mad at me?" Little E asked.

I saw Bella's face change.

"No baby, mommy isn't mad at you, I was worried that you'd gotten outside or hurt and daddy was laughing at mommy for being so worried, when he knew right where you were. I could never be mad at you baby." Bella smiled and messed up his hair.

BPOV

My heart sank when my baby asked if I was mad at him.

How could I be mad at my little angel, my sunshine, my constant.

"Little E, how are you feeling?" Edward asked.

"Tired and achy, but good, I want to play video games with you dad." He smiled at Edward and you could see his heart jump, he smiled his crooked smile, as did Little E and they walked hand and hand into Little E's room and plopped down in the beanbags.

I went downstairs and busied myself with cleaning, the phone rang "Hello?" I answered.

"Bella, how is Anthony? Your dad said her got sick, he's never sick." it was Jake and he was worried too.

"He's doing better, he said he's tired and achy, so I guess it is the flu." I sighed.

"Well, give him my love and if you need anything, call me. O.K." Jake urged.

"Yes Jake, I always do." I giggled.

I hung up the phone and then heard "BELLA, BELLA, call Carlisle quick!" it was Edward, yelling for me to call his dad.

I picked up the phone and ran upstairs while the phone was ringing.

I stopped at the bedroom door and Little E had a bloody nose and was crying.

Edward was covered in blood and I dropped the phone and ran to my baby.

"Edward, what's wrong?" I screamed.

"I don't know, we were playing the game, he sneezed and whoosh, all this blood came out, not get on the damn phone and get my father!" Edward yelled at me.

I picked up the phone and it was dead, all of a sudden Edwards cell was going off. "Bella, it's in my pocket, get it, it's my dad (Dr./Dr. from the Thompson Twins and 80's group was his ring tone).

"Hello? Carlisle. Yeah, I was trying to call your home phone, yeah, it's Little E, he's got a bloody nose, yeah, still, O.K., meet you there." I snapped the phone shut.

Let's go, we need to take Little E to the ER, your dad is on his way there." I said numbly to Edward.

He got up carrying Little E and I grabbed the keys and a towel for Edward.

We drove in silence to the hospital, he sat in back with Little e, whispering in his ear and kissing his head, my baby was pale and his eyes were glassy.

I pulled up in front of the ER and Carlisle was waiting there, he opened the door and tried to take Little E from Edward, but he kind of growled and refused, he easily got out and him and Carlisle ran inside, Esme was waiting for me, after I parked the car. I just slowly walked towards her, I was in a daze, not really knowing what was going on. I know that they were keeping something from me, but what.

We walked in and Esme sat me down in the waiting room, I tried to struggle away from her, I wanted to see my boy, but she said I didn't need to see him in there with all the tubes and needles in him.

I put my head on her shoulder and cried, she just kept rubbing my back.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, Edward is kissing my cheek and waking me to go see Little E. I stood up and the waiting area was full. Everyone was there, my family and his. Something was wrong and I still didn't know, I'm guessing everyone else did.

"Bella, let's go see our boy, he's been asking for you." Edward smiled, but not reaching his eyes.

We walked into the room and he was sleeping, I grab his hand and stroked it.

"Bella, we need to talk." Edward sighed and ran his hands through his hair, I knew he had something to tell me.

We walked to the other side of the room and he began, "Bella, we've tested Little E for everything under the sun and all signs point to cancer." I fell to my knees when he said cancer. It was a dirty word, I didn't want to hear anymore. "We have to run more tests, but it looks like Leukemia and he'll be fine, there's a 90% chance he'll be fine, after chemo treatments and maybe a bone marrow transplant, we won't know until all the tests are done and come back, maybe for 2 to 3 weeks." Edward was rubbing my back and trying to comfort me. I just cried.

He picked me up and pulled me onto his lap and we sat by Little E's bed all night.

"Edward, are we going to be o.k.? Is Little E really going to be o.k.?" I pressed.

"Bells, we've gone through so much, that I'm sure this will be a walk in the park. You do know that if Little E does have cancer, that he'll have to be home schooled, right? We won't be able to risk his immune system for a while." Edward sighed.

"That's o.k., I won't mind and you know that Esme will gladly help out. Maybe Emmett and Rosalie will keep Kelsi home as well and they can be schooled together. That would make them both happy, they are very close, you know." I smiled, feeling a little better about the situation.

We held each other and Edward whispered loving things in my ear all night, we giggle and kissed and snuggled, until we feel asleep.

"Mommy" a frail little voice spoke and I fell off Edward, onto the floor.

"E, oh my, you gave mommy such a fright, how are you baby." I smiled with tears coming out of my eyes.

Edward sat up and stretched, pulling me back onto his lap.

"Hey sport, how are you feeling?" Edward said.

"Daddy, you're here!!!" he reached out for Edward to hold him.

"Sorry, sport, you've got all those wires and things on you, I can't pick you up right now, but I will soon, O.K., we'll ask Nonno (Italian for grandpa) Carlisle when he comes in." Edward smiled.

"O.K. daddy" Little E smiled.

We sat with him and talked for a little while, until Carlisle came in to do his check up and he had a cancer specialist with him as well.

They asked if we would leave them to do some tests and exam Little E.

Edward said we'd go get some breakfast, since we hadn't eaten at all yesterday.

We walked into the waiting room and everyone was back, looking more rested than us, that's for sure.

"Hey, anyone interested in eating? They're going to be a while, so we're getting breakfast." Edward said.

A chorus of 'yeahs' came from the waiting area.

Alice handed me a bag and informed us it had a change of clothes and stuff to freshen up with.

We thanked her and all headed down to the cafeteria.

We put a bunch of tables together and Edward and I sat in the middle and explained everything that was going on. Alice and Rose both started crying.

"Guys, it's going to be o.k. they've got lots of things that can help him now, he'll be fine, but we've got a question to ask you Rose and Emmett. If all this is true and E has cancer, he'll have to go for chemo and he won't be ale to attend kindergarten, he'll have to be home schooled, so if that's the case, we're hoping that you'd keep Kelsi with him and I will home school them, with Esme and will help as well. They're so close, I'd hate for them not to go through this without each other. What do you say?" I asked nervously.

"YES!" They said in unison.

I smiled and jumped up, hugging them both so tight and crying, yet again.

We all finished our breakfast and Jasper and Alice headed home as well as Jake, Charlie, Billy and Esme.

Rose and Emmett were staying because they had an appointment in 45 minutes for her check up.

EPOV

Bella sat with Emmett and Rosalie for a few minutes, while I went to check on my dad and son.

I walked in and Carlisle was sitting next to his bed, and they were talking.

"Daddy, Nonno told me that I was going to have to have a lot of tests, but not to worry, because these aren't tests I can pass or fail, they just tell him if I'm getting better." Little E spoke softly.

"I know, I have seen those tests and you'll do just fine." I smiled at my son.

"Edward, we'll have to move him to a special room and get his immune system up, Bella and you will be the only ones allowed in for a while, but you'll have to wear protective clothing, so he doesn't get sick." Carlisle said.

"That's fine dad, we can handle that." I smiled.

"I'll stay with him for the next 48 hours, you and Bella won't be able to see him for that long, he has to have his medicine and it'll have to be in his system before you can come see him and if either of you is the slightest bit sick, you can not come in! It is vital! Do you understand Edward?" I shook my head yes.

"Edward you also need to talk to Dr. Morgan and get put on a rotation as well, you can't forget your 1st priority, providing for your family. Also, we've got moving people coming to pack Bella's house and get you moved into the new one, you guys need a fresh start. Please let Bella know." Carlisle asked.

"Will do dad. I'll talk to Dr. Morgan Monday morning. Thanks." I said.

He smiled and gave me a hug.

"Everything will work out fine. You'll see. You and Bella deserve a Happy Ever After. Tell Bella to come in now, we've got to start his medicine in an hour." Carlisle said.

Bella came in and we filled her in on what's happening. She seemed happier and less stressed than before.

She agreed with the terms and agreed that I needed to get to work as well, so at least one of us will be here at all times.

We agreed to go home and get some rest and pack a few things ourselves, Bella wanted to pack up Little E's room herself, so we started on that, I looked over to see her crying as she held his favorite teddy bear.

"Everything is going to work out, right Edward? We're still going to go through with the wedding as well, as soon as he's well enough to be around people, right?" Bella questioned.

I scooped her up and carried her into our room and we made such passionate love, that I thought my heart my burst, because I love this woman so much.

"Bella, I love you so much, I just can't express it. Everything is going to be fine and we're going to have lots of children running around our home. And we'll love them all equally." I stated.

We fell asleep until our phone rang around noon.

"Bella are you and Edward sitting down?" It was Carlisle.

A/N:

Sorry to leave you with such a cliffhanger…

Please Read and Review…

Sorry it took longer than I thought to get this chapter up, but I got hurt and was in the ER this weekend…

Please forgive me!!!

**I OWN NOTHING**STEPHANIE OWNS ALL**