Kit was a little anxious about the party. She wanted everything to go well.
After having her hair done, Alice took her back downstairs and had them all gather in the huge white living room near the staircase to wait for Bella and Edward to come in. She was back in Emmet's arms, leaning heavily against him. If he took even one step to the right, she'd probably fall over.
Outside, Kit could hear Edward laughing. She felt Emmett's body vibrate with laughter.
"Bella asked Edward if he shows up in photos," Emmett told her, grinning, "An old stereotype."
Before she could respond, the door opened and Edward was still laughing.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLA!"
'Oops' Kit jumped. She had totally forgotten to chime in. She was pretty sure Alice had coached them all on yelling happy birthday. It had taken Alice awhile to do her hair and the lights in her bathroom were extremely bright. Kit couldn't remember the last time she had stood this long. She was usually sitting or had to take breaks.
She beamed when Bella approached her, "Happy birthday!" she said, still leaning on Emmett. Instinctively, she tried to move her left arm, but it only twitched at her side.
Bella's eyes lit up when Kit spoke to her and Kit thought she had looked kind of teary. Before she knew what was happening, Bella was hugging her.
"Thank you," Bella whispered to her. Her long brown hair tickled her neck, "I'm so happy you're here. Save me."
Kit laughed out loud, having not expected that. She was still giggling when Bella pulled away from the hug.
A large grin took up most of Emmett's face when Bella and Kit were done, "You haven't changed at all," he said with mock disappointment as if he didn't just see her the other day, "I expected a perceptible difference, but here you are, red-faced just like always."
Kit snickered again when Bella rolled her eyes and her face reddened even more, "Thanks a lot, Emmett."
He laughed and then looked down at Kit, "I have to step out for a second," he frowned a bit, not wanting to leave his mate's side. She looked tired.
Jasper having been leaning against the post of the foot of the stairs, went to Kit's side while Alice skipped forward to greet Bella. He still wanted to keep his distance. It was just a precaution. And it was easier of focusing on Kit's scent. It was…off.
"I've got her, Emmett," he told his brother, gently placing his hand on Kit's shoulder, going to her right side. His other hand went to her waist, "Here, Kit; lean on me," he instructed.
Kit peeked up at Emmett and could see the look of hesitation on his face. Jasper had a firm hold on her, but Emmett didn't let go. She didn't understand why nobody trusted him. She did.
"All right, babe?" Emmett asked her and she nodded quickly.
"Yeah," she mumbled, wobbling as she adjusted to shifting her weight to Jasper's height. He was much shorter and thinner than Emmett, "Of course."
"I've got you, sugar," Jasper promised her. His arm was now fully around her waist. He had never been this close to her and he hid a smile. He could feel Kit's emotions. She trusted him and had even been offended when Emmett had been hesitant to leave.
"I'll be back," Emmett promised Kit. He kissed her forehead and then he was gone.
Kit flinched. Holding onto Jasper tightly with her right hand. Her left arm throbbed from trying to move it earlier. It was kind of itchy, but she wasn't allowed to scratch it. She shifted uncomfortably and watched Alice tow Bella to the table with cake and shiny packages.
She felt envious of Bella all of a sudden. Bella walked normally and laughed like it was easy. She was an adult now and could practically do whatever she wanted. Drive wherever she wan—
Her thoughts were interrupted when Jasper squeezed her shoulder, but he didn't look at her.
'Right,' Kit took a deep breath and cleared her throat. Sometimes, she would take a deep breath and got into a coughing fit. She forgot Jasper could feel her emotions and felt bad, then embarrassed.
The sound of Bella tearing off wrapping paper made Kit turn her attention back to the party and she tried to look attentive. She could see the box. It looked like something electrical, with lots of numbers in the name.
"Um… thanks…?" Bella looked behind herself just as Jasper laughed.
It's a stereo for your truck," he explained. "Emmett's installing it right now so that you can't return it."
"Thanks, Jasper, Rosalie," Bella told them, grinning, "Thanks, Emmett!" she called more loudly.
Kit's heart warmed when she heard Emmett's booming laughter coming from inside.
It looked like Bella was about to reach for Kit's present, but then Alice's voice rang out in a high-pitched trill, "Wait! Open mine and Edward's next," she held a small, flat square in her hand.
"Just in time!" Emmett basically shouted, bouncing in from the front door. He pushed in behind Jasper, but his eyes were on Kit and not Bella.
"Thanks, Jazz," he mumbled to him and Kit shivered, but snuggled up to Emmett when he held out his arms for her. She closed her eyes a faint knit between her brow. Bella was taking her time with the wrapping paper and the lights were so bright. Emmett smelled sweet and it was nice. Her arm was still itchy and she wanted to rest. Just for a second.
"NO!"
"KIT MOVE!"
Bella hated her birthday; she was now a year older than Edward and she knew she looked it too. She had been forced to come to this party and when she sliced her finger open on one of her presents, she made a mental note to tell Edward that this was a sign. This wouldn't have happened if he had turned her like she'd been asking. She gasped when a drop of blood landed on the carpet and quickly, she stuck her finger in her mouth; trying not to throw up at the taste.
But it was too late.
She didn't even have time to scream when Edward threw himself at her. A quick save from Carlisle had kept her from crashing into the table. She couldn't hear or see anything. All the wind had been knocked out of her. The rest of senses were overwhelmed with Jasper. She had never seen his eyes so black. His lips were curled around his teeth, inhumane snarls coming from his chest. If it was possible, he'd be foaming at the mouth, his teeth gnashing and snapping toward Edward who had pinned his arms and was struggling. She was frightened, but couldn't tear her eyes away.
And then Emmett appeared and he had pinned Jasper's arms behind him and easy task. He didn't look phased at all. There was no way Jasper was getting free.
"Carlisle, you have to get Kit," Emmett growled, his grasp on Jasper tightening, "Nice, try Jazz. You heard Carlisle…out ya get."
And then Esme was in front of Bella, obstructing her view from Jasper getting dragged outside. Her eyes darted to the back for a second, just in time to see Jasper disappear through the glass door. There was another flash of blonde.
'Rosalie,' she acknowledged. She could still hear Jasper snarls from outside.
"Sweetheart," Esme breathed. Her kind eyes and heart shaped face comforted Bella, "Are you all right?"
Bella nodded absently. Esme probably thought she was going to shock, "Kit," her head shriveled around and she gasped, "Oh my—
And then Emmett was back, kneeling by Carlisle who looked deeply troubled. Kit was on the floor near a pile of vomit. She looked so pale, rivaling the Cullen's. She wasn't moving.
Bella swallowed thickly, "Kit," she whimpered. She wanted to help, but her stomach lurched when Carlisle stuck his fingers in Kit's mouth, fishing out any vomit that was left over. She turned away when he wiped it on his pants.
"Bella!" Edward's cold hands were on her face and she realized she was still sitting on the ground, "Bella, love; are you hurt?"
"No," Bella promised and moved her shaking hand to touch Edward's face. Immediately, she felt calm, "I'm sorry I—" she cut herself off. Maybe she was going into shock, "Edward. Jasper…and Kit…"
"Bella, are you okay?" Edward frowned, looking angry, "Love, I'm so sorry; I'm so sorry. Jasper—
"Edward, not now," Alice appeared with Carlisle's black medical bag and she set it behind him. She looked so sad, "We'll talk about it later."
Edward growled and Bella moved her thumb over his cheekbone trying to soothe him, "It's okay," she promised, "I'm not hurt at all."
"Blake said that Kit's kidney was really bothering her," Emmett was frantic; one of his hands was on Kit's forehead, "Carlisle, why isn't she getting up?"
Bella bit her lip when she heard Emmett's voice crack. The vomit had been cleaned up and Kit had been rolled over onto her right side. Bella nodded in approval. She remembered this from gym class. Coach Clapp had demonstrated this on an old CPR dummy.
She tried to crawl closer. She thought of offering to get water or maybe a cold washcloth for Kit's forehead. She glared over her shoulder when Edward gently grabbed her arm.
"Bella," he pleaded, "Come with me to the kitchen. I want to take a look at you. I'm worried you're hurt."
"Edward," she sighed, searching his eyes. He looked like he was in pain and she resisted the urge to look at her finger. Was she still bleeding?
"Don't torture yourself," she told him, "Esme caught me; I'm fine."
"Edward," Alice still looked sad, "Why don't you go find Jasper? I'm worried he'll run off and he won't listen to me right now."
"Yes," Bella nodded encouragingly, "Go find Jasper. I want to stay with Kit."
Kit still showed no signs of getting up. And Bella remembered the day Kit had collapsed in gym. Hauntingly, she remembered when Kit was in her coma. Would she go into another one?
"Her blood pressure is low," Carlisle mumbled. He took the blood pressure cuff off her arm, "I don't know how much fluid she's had—Kit? Kit can you hear me?"
"I panicked," Emmett's face was in his hands and he shook his head, "She was so close to him…I shoved her too hard."
'She's so…fragile,' Bella thought, comparing Kit's body to that of Alice. She looked between the two. The vomit was dried up on Carlisle's pants, 'This is why Edward should turn me.'
She turned her head to Edward. He was still crouching protectively in front of her, having ignored both her and Alice telling him to go find Jasper. His eyes still looked weird. Angry and guarded.
She couldn't look anymore. She had changed her mind and wanted to tell Edward to take her to the kitchen. She wanted to talk and briefly, wanted to find Jasper, but then Kit groaned and Bella turned her head back just in time to see Kit's body twitch as she came to.
"Let's go to the kitchen," she finally agreed, "I guess it wouldn't hurt to get looked over. My arm hurts a little. Maybe my back."
The next second she was in Edward's arms and she found herself sitting on the kitchen counter. The air was thick with tension and Bella bit her lip again. She looked around the spacious kitchen. She only saw kitchens like these in movies or in fancy home magazines. It impressed her every time.
"Where are you hurt?" Edward's voice was void of any emotion.
"I'm not," Bella said, "Carlisle caught me. Just a bruise," Edward was still at this, "Is Jasper, okay? Don't be mad at him. It wasn't his fault. It was my fault—cutting my finger in room full of vampires," she tried to smile, but this seemed to make Edward more upset.
"Your fault," he growled, "If you'd cut yourself at Mike Newton's house, with Angela and your other normal friends, the worst that could possibly have happened would be what? Maybe they couldn't find you a bandage? Jasper has been with us for years and we still can't trust him!"
Bella bristled at the mention of the boy, "What the hell does Mike Newton have to do with anything? I hate it when you do this—I'd rather die than be with Mike Newton…and I trust Jasper."
Edward opened his mouth to retaliate, but the sound of coughing interrupted whatever tyrant he was going to go on.
Bella flinched at the sound. It was loud and awful. The sound of Kit coughing could probably wake her whole neighborhood. The coughing only stopped because Kit threw up again and Bella snuggled into Edward, his arms coming to wrap protectively around her.
It still felt wrong.
"If Kit really is going to be spending more time with us; I want to get some more medical supplies and equipment to be able to take care of her here," Carlisle announced. The front door shut behind him.
Emmett nodded his eyes trained on the spot where Kit had thrown up. Where she had been lying motionless.
Edward was taking Bella home and Carlisle had just gotten back from taking Kit to the hospital. He couldn't get her vitals to stabilize and he was worried about her kidneys and then the coughing had started and she had thrown up again…
'And I pushed her so hard,' Emmett thought. His shoulders slumped, 'I just—I had to stop Jazz and she was right next to him.'
"Everly is with her," Carlisle placed his hand on Emmett's shoulder, "You can visit tomorrow."
Emmett nodded again. He had tried to help, but felt powerless. He tried to soothe Kit, but it didn't seem to matter. It didn't help anything and she didn't even acknowledge that he was there. He had tried to hold her hand, but her hand stayed loose in his. He had tried to look into her eyes and she stared right through him. Carlisle had tried to get her to talk and she couldn't. She didn't even cry.
"I had presents for her," Alice skipped into the living room from the back door, "We had missed her birthday and I had presents for her. I even had some extra ones for Bella that I was hiding. I wanted them to open them all together."
Everyone was gathered in the living room now. Except for Jasper. Even Rosalie was there, keeping her distance from Emmett. Jasper had run off and Edward was still with Bella.
Emmett said his thoughts aloud, "I pushed her too hard. I didn't mean to! I was just—I was trying…" he trailed off, unable to come to his own defense.
"Emmett, no," Esme darted towards him, also laying a hand on his shoulder, "What else were you supposed to do?"
"I don't suspect any damage to her ribs or her chest," Carlisle squeezed his other shoulder, "From my understanding, she was already feeling ill before she came to the party."
"And this was a lot for her," Alice chimed in, rocking on her feet, "All the standing; I didn't think to get her a chair or move everything to the living room so she could sit. And remember earlier?" this was rhetorical question, "I had pulled her with me too fast and she almost fell over."
"It'll be an adjustment for all of us," Carlisle told them. His hand dropped from Emmett's shoulder and went to Esme's waist, "It's only her second time here."
"Okay," Emmett said to himself. He clapped his hands together as if getting ready for a football game. The force of it rattled the windows, "Okay," he said again nodding and looked at Carlisle, "More medical stuff for Kit and we can help take care of her here if she needs it?"
"Yes," Carlisle promised.
"I want to visit her too," Alice interrupted, "Tomorrow at the hospital."
"Oh," Esme gasped, "I'll make her food for you guys to take to her. For Everly too. I think they'll like that."
"There's cookbooks for sick people," Alice said matter-of-factually.
Emmett listened to Alice and Esme go back and forth about this. And he briefly recalled another passage from one of Carlisle's books. Something about sodium and kidneys. She couldn't have a lot of salt.
"She can't have a lot of salt," he told them, "Because of her kidney's."
"We'll figure out something," Esme promised him. She smiled and it looked sad, "I—I love her."
It was silent after that. Of course, Emmett knew Kit was sick and after the conversation with Blake he knew she was really sick. But he didn't think it would be like this.
'Two or three years…' he mused in his head, 'More if she can get a transplant—a double organ transplant.'
"It hasn't even been six months since Kit came out of her coma," Carlisle reminded them all. Not that they needed it, "She's still healing. Recovering from a coma is a long and complex process. That along with the other health issues that arose for her both mentally and physically. Things may never go back to how they were before. We need to accept that and we need to be patient. It will take time."
'Time, time, time,' Emmett mocked. If anyone should have understood it should have been Carlisle. They didn't have time.
Before meeting Kit, Emmett couldn't have cared less about the concept of time. Time didn't mean much for vampires. He could stay exactly where he was standing for exactly a year and feel the very same.
"It's not possible to go back to normal," Alice agreed, "Not when we have to be so careful with he—
She cut herself off, gasping a horrifying sound as her eyes glazed over. Emmett's eyes darted over to Rosalie when she took a step closer to Alice. He glared at her, still unable to stand the sight of her.
"Alice?" Carlisle went to her, "What's wrong? What do you see?"
"Edward…" she said. Her voice was monotoned and dazed, "Leave…? No! Bella and Kit…"
"Leave!?" Emmett demanded, "What?"
Right when Alice came out her vision, the front door opened. There was a slight breeze and Edward was there. His jaw was clenched and eyes hard. His fists were clenched at his sides.
"Carlisle," he spat, "We need to talk. Alone," he emphasized, but didn't look at any of his siblings, "Let's go hunting,"
But it was Alice who spoke first or rather screeched first before she lunged at Edward and tackled him to the ground.