Part 2

Everything after that seemed to happen in fast forward. It was a Brazilian navy boat that found them. They provided medical help and nourishment as they rushed them to the mainland. They bombarded them with questions in broken English.

Once on land, they headed to the local hospital in Praia Grande. Initially, the doctors kept the police at bay, but soon they started asking questions using a translator. They had to convince the police that they weren't poachers that were marooned or that they intentionally broke any laws.

Bella cringed as they tried sticking her with a needle for the 4th time. They couldn't find a vein to hook the iv up to. She needed liquids and nourishment delivered intravenously. She'd been poked and prodded at since arriving. The doctors had had to slice her shoulder open to remove two urchin spines that had broken off under the skin. All of this was done without medicine, but the pain from the spines far outweighed the cuts.

Her thoughts were jumbled. She couldn't focus too long without being distracted. There were too many noises and too much artificial light. She desperately wanted Edward and her parents. Her parents, as well as Edward's, were back in the United States and wouldn't be able to get there until the following day. He was being poked and prodded, too, but would eventually join her. They'd promised.

"We got back some results from your blood work. Most of the results were, as suspected, you are severely malnourished."

"What was abnormal?"

"You're pregnant." Her jaw dropped. There was no way. She hadn't had her period since Washington State. It wasn't possible to get pregnant without your period. She assumed stress, then lack of nutrients, had kept her period away. This was all some disturbing dream. "It is highly likely you will miscarry. The fetus just hasn't had the nutritional support it needs."

The doctor kept talking, but it blurred, just like her vision. She didn't know how she could feel so full and empty at the same time. She'd known about the baby for less than a minute, but she wanted it. The situation wasn't ideal, but this baby was made in love. It was made of Edward, of her.

"Bella are you ok?" She found Edward's concerned face as his hospital bed was wheeled into their shared room. He tried getting out of his bed when her sobs came harder, but the IV kept him stuck.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered, unable to look him in the eye. The orderly was nice enough to roll his bed close enough to hers that their fingertips could touch. She could feel his eyes burning into her as they connected him to the monitors. When both the orderly and doctor finally left the room, she met his gaze.

"What'd they tell you, baby?"

"I'm pregnant." He looked confused for a moment and then it clicked and he was smiling.

"I know the timings not great, but I'm-" She hated to interrupt him when he was saying everything she would have wished for, under different circumstances.

"The doctor says I'm going to lose it. The baby hasn't gotten enough of what it needs." He started crying with her. She knew he'd understand. She loved his empathetic nature and ability to just get her.

Despite knowing he understood, she couldn't help but feel guilty. First she'd pressured him into sex and then her body couldn't even care for their child. It seemed a cruel twist of fate after everything that'd happened.

Finally safe, Edward crashed, but Bella couldn't sleep. She was extremely limited in how she could move with the monitors and IV, but she tossed and turned, nonetheless.

"I can't sleep." She whined, trying to find a comfortable position.

"I noticed." Edward's groggy voice grumbled.

"Sorry. Go back to sleep." She blushed, frustrated that she was keeping him up.

"Why can't you sleep?"

"I think I got used to the rocking of the raft." It wasn't the only thing keeping her up, but it wasn't helping. "Can we get a waterbed for our apartment?"

"If you want me sleeping on the couch." She laughed softly, shaking her head. She couldn't wait till they could sleep together again. Him not holding her wasn't helping her sleep either. "Close your eyes." Then he recited poetry from the Brontë sisters' poetry book they'd had on the raft.

'I'd call my women, but to break their sleep,

Because my own is broken, were unjust;

They've wrought all day, and well-earn'd slumbers steep

Their labours in forgetfulness, I trust;

Let me my feverish watch with patience bear,

Thankful that none with me its sufferings share.'