The pain...

It was terrible.

What started as an ache in her shoulder, on the spot where the scar had long since remained, turned into a burning sensation that ricocheted across her spine and the back of her head. And then suddenly, the world went dark.

What's happening? I'm scared. Dad...Carlisle, help me. Someone.

Bella came in and out of consciousness, finding it extremely difficult to open her eyes despite being able to hear Carlisle's calming voice every time. She understood he was trying to soothe her, but was impossible to discern the exact words.

Cool hands caressed her cheek, gentle and feminine—Esme, "We're here Bella. We're all here."

That night was possibly the longest night of Bella's life.

The pain and discomfort continued for what felt like an eternity. At one point, it felt as if Bella was no longer in her body—as if she were observing all this unfold before her from above as she laid in a bed. Watching a stranger take her place.

If sleep tried to claim her, Bella had no way of knowing. Not when her body seemed to rebel against her.

Eventually however, the pain on her shoulder and the rest of her body was gone and she could finally rest. A sea of shards that drowned her from the inside out swept aside by the calming waves of peace. It felt as if she were being ripped to shreds, in her mind and soul. As if another being wanted to take her away.

But even in sleep, her entire being felt weighed down.

Weak.

And worst of all, so scared.

Carlisle stood on Bella's bedside, his keen sense of hearing listening intently to her heart as the heart monitor simultaneously beat rhythmically.

It's been hours since she'd been asleep. Hours...

This had been so much worse than the first time. After her seizure back home, the ambulance arrived and transported her and Carlisle to the hospital. It wasn't long before she had another one on the way to the emergency room.

They'd managed to give Bella anti-seizure medication before another could commence and since then, all has been calm. By some miracle...

Brushing away a strand of hair away from his youngest's face he gently cupped her cheek, "We love you so much, Bella. We're here when you wake up."

She looked so at peace now. Paler than usual and exhausted, but peaceful. Her long lashes fluttered as if in response to his kind words. As if to say, "I'm here."

With a heavy sigh, he stepped back and looked to Alice and Esme, the two had their arms wrapped around each other. Silently observing and carrying a heavy weight in their chests, just as they all did.

Striding out of the room, he quietly slid the glass door closed behind him. Meeting the two brooding boys in the hall. Somehow, Jasper looked as exhausted as Bella—an impossibility on all accounts, however, his eyes looked so empty—defeated.

"She should wake up soon. You all can—"

"We're not going anywhere," Edward said as Rosalie stood from the bench beside him. Without a word, she walked past Carlisle and disappeared into Bella's room.

She hasn't said a word since we left. She must be taking this harder than the rest, Carlisle thought to himself as he watched his eldest go.

"We'll run tests once she's awake. I'm not letting her go anywhere without being certain—

Footsteps approached at a fast speed down the hall, faster than was normally allowed at the hospital.

Carlisle raised his weary gaze towards the human with the pounding footsteps and even crazier heart rate, ready to ask them to slow down when—

"Is she okay?" Flynn asked as he came to a screeching halt, breathing heavily as he tried to steady himself. Cheeks flushed, nearly as red as his disheveled hair, Flynn looked between Carlisle and his sons. Emmett was close behind with a resigned expression on his face. "How is she?"

"Still out. But looks like the worst of it is over," Edward explained.

"For how long? That's the question," Jasper muttered.

Carlisle placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "What are you doing here, son?"

"He wouldn't shut up," Emmett mused, crossing his arms and grinning at Flynn, "The whole ride he insisted on coming here. After he started crying, I had to convince his mom to let me take him."

"I wasn't crying," Flynn mumbled. Making the Cullen men smile at the boy that clearly cares so much for Bella.

"It's been a long night. You should get some rest, Flynn. Don't you have school tomorrow?"

Flynn appeared to be entirely focused on Bella, because it was as if he hadn't heard Carlisle at all, "What's going on with her? She didn't look..."

Carlisle explained as best he could what occurred, even going so far as to mention the first seizure Bella experienced. Flynn appeared to age as he listened intently, a maturity and understanding taking over as he collected himself.

"Is there anything you can do?"

Carlisle stared into his bright brown eyes for a long moment, more than happy that this boy was Bella's friend. Now more than ever.

"I'm going to try my best." Because that was all he could do.

The sound of the door sliding open made all of them turn their attention to Alice. Her smile was dimmed significantly, "She's awake."

Flynn stepped forward, then stopped to glance at him.

Nodding, he motioned, "Go. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you."

Flynn wasted little time. As Esme and Alice strode out of the room to allow him inside, Carlisle watched from the glass window, surprisingly relieved to see Flynn hurrying around to Bella's bedside.

Not even his sons said anything regarding the boy.

They knew him well enough by now to know that regardless of Flynn's growing feelings for Bella with each passing year, he would always be her friend. Her companion through the odd world she'd been dragged into since she was a child.

Rosalie sat on the opposite side, holding the girl's hand, explaining what had happened when Bella appeared visibly confused. A furrow in her brows as she glanced around. It took everything in him not to go to her.

Carlisle didn't need to be an empath to know Bella was devastated—frightened—but it was only when she saw Flynn that she truly registered everything.

"Hey you," he whispered as he gently took her other hand. Bella smiled at him slightly. The relief that could be heard in Flynn's voice was clear as day, "you still with me?"

Bella didn't speak at first.

She didn't need to, it was as if a mere glance was enough for the two to communicate.

Instead she nodded as tears rolled down side of her face, "I'm with you."